Paris Peace Conf. 180.03401/84
CF–84
Notes of a Meeting Held at President Wilson’s House in the Place des Etats-Unis, Paris, on Monday, June 23, 1919, at 12 Noon
- Present
- America, United States of
- President Wilson.
- British Empire
- The Rt. Hon. D. Lloyd George, O. M., M. P.
- The Rt. Hon. A. J. Balfour, O. M., M. P.
- France
- M. Clemenceau.
- Italy
- M. Sonnino.
- Japan
- Baron Makino.
- America, United States of
| Secretaries— | { | Sir Maurice Hankey, K. C. B. |
| Count Aldrovandi | ||
| Interpreter—Prof. P. J. Mantoux. | ||
1. Mr. Lloyd George said that the British Government were of opinion that the question of surveillance required looking into. He did not condemn those who had been responsible, but he felt that the whole matter required investigation. The Sinking of the German Ships
He would be glad if the Allied Admiralties would express their view as to the interpretation to be put on the term “surveillance” in Article 23 of the Armistice Convention of November 11th, 1918. Supposing, for example, the German surface ships had been interned in French or American Ports, instead of in British ports, he would like to know what precautions the French or American Naval Authorities would have considered themselves at liberty to take in order to carry out as effectively as they were entitled under the terms of the Armistice the surveillance of the German ships.
President Wilson said that in the case of merchant ships, the United States Government had put guards on board.
(Mr. Lloyd George was asked to formulate his proposal in the shape of a letter.)