November 30, 1919

On November 9, in his speech at the Guild Hall, Lloyd George formally abandoned the Russians. “I do not regret the aid we have given,” he announced, “but we cannot continue our intervention in a civil war which seems interminable.” Clemenceau said this was a capitulation to the Soviets and he sent an angry letter to House, then back in America. “If this step was in any way permissible,” he wrote, “he should have given advance notice to his Allies. The little Welshman is a deserter in the face of the enemy.”

With the President incommunicado I do not think that House will answer this letter, at least not in definite terms. The Russian problem remains now as it was in the beginning, the “acid test,” and the desired solvent seems to defy all research. House commented: “The conference of ambassadors seems to have succeeded the Supreme War Council, and whether they know it or not they would seem to be in full charge. I do not envy them their task.”