Paris Peace Conf. 184.00101/158
Minutes of the Daily Meetings of the Commissioners Plenipotentiary, Wednesday, October 1, 1919, 10:30 a.m.
- Present:
- Mr. Polk
- Mr. White
- General Bliss
- Mr. Harrison
I. Mr. Polk stated that Mr. Misu, the Roumanian delegate, had called upon him with Colonel Antonesco. As an instance of the attitude of the French Foreign Office, Mr. Polk pointed out that although Antonesco had been sent to Paris by the Roumanian Government in order to explain their point of view to the conference and had seen M. Pichon and various members of the French Foreign Office, [Page 441] nothing had been said of his visit and no effort at all had been made by the Secretariat General to have him heard by the Council. Call by Roumanian Representatives on Mr. Polk
Colonel Antonesco’s attitude at the conference with Mr. Polk had been at the beginning rather stand-off-ish and he had been much on his dignity but towards the end his attitude had improved. It appeared from Antonesco’s remarks that the Roumanians had taken their cue with regard to their policy of seizures from the French, who on entering Hungary had seized large quantities of rolling stock and other supplies. Mr. Polk assured Colonel Antonesco that he was always anxious to hear anything the Roumanians had to say but at the present moment it was incumbent upon them to supply the arms necessary for the gendarmerie. He observed that they had procrastinated even after promising to furnish the arms. He insisted that the Roumanians comply with the instructions given them in this regard by the Allied generals. Antonesco had tried to evade the issue and had made excuses of various kinds and had also referred to the Allied grab of the Mackensen supplies, which has greatly incensed the Roumanians. Finally, Mr. Polk informed Antonesco that if and when the Roumanians would arm the police force, he would be prepared to discuss other questions.
The most interesting point developed by the conversation was the fact that the Roumanians were in a serious situation, as they had no ammunition. It appeared that the embargo placed by the Supreme Council on the shipment of ammunition and supplies was the real factor in the matter. Mr. Polk had no doubt that the Roumanians would be good as long as the embargo were enforced.
II. The Commissioners inquired what if any action had been taken on General Bandholtz’s telegram No. 59, and expressed an opinion favorable to granting the request made by General Bandholtz in this telegram. Assignment for General Bandholtz
III. The Commissioners approved a recommendation contained in Memorandum No. 576 regarding a request from General Bandholtz that Colonel William E. H. Godson, Jr., Military Attaché at Berne, should be assigned for temporary duty to his Mission. Assignment of Colonel Godson to General Bandholtz
IV. The Commissioners directed that the Secretary General prepare for their approval a suitable reply to the identic letters dated September 17, 1919, addressed to them by the Honorable Edward Voigt with regard to the repatriation of German prisoners of war in Siberia. It was suggested that the Secretary General transmit to Mr. Voigt a copy of the recent decision of the Supreme Council in this regard. Letter From the Honorable Edward Voigt Regarding German Prisoners of War in Siberia
V. General Bliss read a copy of a letter dated September 24, 1919, which he had received from Major General Henry T. Allen, U. S. A., [Page 442] commanding the U. S. troops of occupation on the Rhine, relative to the question of the cost of maintenance and transportation of German subjects convicted by proper tribunals and sentenced to confinement in the United States for grave offenses committed within the American zone of occupation. Cost of Maintenance and Transportation of German Subjects Convicted of Crimes in the American Zone of Occupation
At the suggestion of General Bliss the Commissioners decided that the question should be brought up by the American delegate on the Supreme Council.