Paris Peace Conf. 184.00101/162
Minutes of the Meetings of the Commissioners Plenipotentiary, October 9, 1919, 11 a.m.
- Present:
- Mr. Polk
- Mr. White
- General Bliss
- Mr. Harrison
I. The Commissioners discussed the question of the disposition of the German tank ships now in Hamburg and in particular the last telegram from the Department in regard thereto. Mr. Polk undertook to telegraph Mr. Lansing personally expressing the Commissioners’ views in the matter.
Mr. Polk gave an account of a conversation which he had had with M. di Martino of the Italian Delegation with regard to the Adriatic question. It seemed that there wes now hope of reaching a settlement, although some of the latest Italian demands were not deemed acceptable. It was decided that Mr. White should invite M. di Martino to call upon him in order to explain the Italian proposition in further detail. The Commisisioners also agreed as to the attitude which Mr. White should assume with regard to certain of the Italian demands.
[Page 449]II. Telegram No. 585 of October 3d from the American Minister at Warsaw was read with regard to the appointment of a subordinate Consular officer to be assigned as assistant to Captain Abele, U. S. N., at Danzig. Appointment of a Subordinate Consular Officer to Danzig
In view of the fact that Mr. Huddle’s transfer to the Consulate General in Paris had been recommended by Consul-General Totten and submitted to the Department, the Commissioners did not approve the assignment of Mr. Macatee to Danzig as suggested by Mr. Gibson.
The Commissioners, however, approved in principle the recommendation made by Mr. Gibson in the telegram under reference and directed that the matter should be referred to the Department of State with their endorsement.
III. Dispatch No. 400 of September 23d, addressed by the American Chargé d’Affaires at Bucarest to the Department of State with regard to Sir George Clerk’s visit to that city was read and noted by the Commissioners. Visit of Sir George Clerk to Bucarest
IV. The Commissioners approved the suggestion contained in Memorandum No. 586 that a list of the officers who have been on duty with the Commission should be sent to the Secretary of War together with a copy of the form letter of appreciation of services rendered addressed to them by the Commissioners and accompanied by a suggestion from the Commission that a notation in that regard be made on the records of the officers in question. Commissioners’ Letters of Appreciation To Be Placed on Records of Army Officers
V. Telegram No. 3359 of October 6 from the Secretary of State approving the immediate appointment of an American representative on the Interallied Teschen Commission and suggesting that the appointment be made from Paris, was read. The following names were suggested by the Secretary General of the Commission for the consideration of the Commissioners: General Jadwin, General McCoy, General Sladen, Colonel Bowditch and Colonel Greene. General Bliss suggested the name of General Bandholtz. American Appointee on Teschen Plebiscite Commission
Mr. Polk recalled the fact that the French had appointed a civilian representative, M. de Manneville, and that when the matter had come up in the Supreme Council it had been suggested that civilians only should be appointed to the Commission. It was his understanding that the British would appoint a civilian and he was therefore inclined to think it desirable that the American appointee should be a civilian.
The Commissioners directed that the Secretary General should make recommendations in this regard as soon as possible.