Talk:Doullens Conference

Regarding Controversy

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Foch & Milner

In early July 1918, when Foch was promoted to Field Marshal of France, Lord Milner sent him the following message:

"Please accept my warmest personal congratulations on the high and well-deserved honour which your country has just conferred upon you, truly interpreting the feelings of respect and admiration with which all the Allies regard you."

In reply, Foch wrote:

"Very sensitive to your delicate congratulations, I send you my warm thanks and my sincere compliments on the splendid success of the British Army. Marechal Foch."

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References

Foch & Bliss

American General Tasker Bliss was a critic of the Doullens Agreement. Bliss was assigned as the American Permanent Military Representative to the Supreme War Council on 17 November 1917. Although he missed the Doullens Conference, he was present with General Pershing at the Beauvais Conference, where Foch's powers were clarified. He has frequently said that "co-ordinating authority" was no substitute for command, and that this matter was important to address. However, author Duff Cooper, in "Haig", the first and most authoritative biography written about General Haig, corroborates author Terrail's statement that tact, not substance, was on Prime Minister Clemenceau's mind at the time the note was written. Another writing example exists in David Lloyd George's autobiography "War Memoirs". This was a letter written by General Foch to General Haig. Translated, it reads,

24 July 1918
General Foch
Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Armees
to Mr. Marshal Commander-in-Chief
The British Armies in France

Mr. Marshal:
     I have the honor to send you the brief on the current military situation and the forthcoming operations to be foreseen which you were informed about at the meeting of the Commanders-in-Chief of July 24 and on the program of which you were kind enough to declare yourselves OK with me.
     I ask you to kindly let me know without delay the observations that after a more in-depth examination, this program could have suggested to you.
     Also attached is the questionnaire which was read to you; it would be advantageous if the requested information reached me before the next conference, in which I propose to ask you to take part, in about a month.
Sincerely yours
F. Foch

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References