Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, The Paris Peace Conference, 1919, Volume XI

Paris Peace Conf. 184.00101/36

Minutes of the Daily Meetings of the Commissioners Plenipotentiary, Thursday, March 20th, 1919

March 20, 1919

• Present:
  • Mr. Lansing
  • Mr. White
  • General Bliss
  • Mr. Herter

1. Mr. Lansing discussed an embarrassing incident which had arisen the previous day in regard to Marshal Foch’s presence at the Council of Ten. The Commissioners were not quite certain as to the exact status of Marshal Foch, but General Bliss understood that he had been appointed as a Delegate from France because of his position as Commander-in-Chief on the Western front. It was pointed out that this virtually gave to France a sixth Delegate to the Peace Conference, which was an advantage over the other Powers.

2. Mr. White mentioned the fact that Lieut. Condon had just returned and had given him some very interesting information in regard to sentiment in the United States. It appeared that there was tremendous interest in the United States in regard to the Peace Conference, and that Lieut. Condon had been asked by the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce to speak on several occasions, which he had done. Lieut. Condon emphasized to Mr. White the necessity of having persons in sympathy with what the Peace Conference was trying to accomplish go to different parts of the United States to explain just what was being done. This was particularly important because of the fact that such papers as the Kansas City Star had not even published the text of the Covenant of the League of Nations, and was constantly opposing it.

3. Mr. Lansing read a statement which he suggested should be telegraphed to the United States in order to assist in the raising of the next Liberty Loan. With one or two slight modifications, the Commissioners approved of this statement.

4. Mr. White observed that he had on the previous day had a conversation with Mr. Baruch, in which Mr. Baruch had informed him that Mr. Gompers was unable to live in Paris as he claimed he should on 40 francs a day. Mr. Gompers had therefore told Mr. Baruch that he thought it would be only right if he and his secretary were to be given $25.00 a day for living expenses from the Commission, payable from the day of his arrival in Paris. The Commissioners felt that this demand was very extreme, but suggested to Mr. White that he convey to Mr. Gompers that any request of this sort should be submitted to the Commissioners in writing.

5. Mr. White stated that he had had a conversation with Colonel House during which the latter had shown him a suggested text for an agreement between France, Great Britain and the United States which he thought would satisfy M. Clemenceau. The Commissioners discussed the drafting of this text, and felt that the wording could be much improved upon. They therefore drew up a substitute text. The Commissioners further requested Mr. Herter to submit this text to Colonel House with the statement to the effect that in their opinion the subject matter thereof was most prejudicial to the whole structure of the League of Nations, and to the ideal for which the United States entered the war, and that they therefore would desire further time to consider it. They also wished it clearly understood that in redrafting the text they were not expressing any opinion upon the principle involved.

6. Memorandum No. 173 was read recommending (1) that any relief measures taken with regard to Russia should be part of a definite program in respect to this country; (2) that an undertaking such as the feeding of Petrograd should be a Governmental affair since the Red Cross had hot sufficient funds and (3) that the attached memorandum in regard to the whole Russian situation should be considered.

The Commissioners agreed that any relief measure for Russia should be part of a definite program, but were very doubtful whether at the present time the United States had sufficient funds available to undertake such measures on any adequate scale. They admitted that it was a matter which the Red Cross would be unable to handle.

In regard to the memorandum attached, they agreed that it would be advisable to feed and give prompt economic assistance to Finland, Esthonia, Poland, Czecho-Slovakia and the liberated sections of Latvia and Lithuania, but were unable to pass upon the feasibility of such a large program. They disapproved of the recommendations that instructions be sent to General Pershing or to General Kernan such as those recommended.

In regard to the positive measures set forth, the Commissioners concurred except in so far as any declaration setting out the American policy should be changed to a declaration setting out the policy of the Associated Governments. They felt in regard to all these statements, however, that they were ends to be arrived at but that the means to further these ends constituted the gravest difficulties. For instance, they would be very glad to learn how an effective armistice could be insured on all fronts, or how food and medical supplies etc., could be distributed on a democratic basis. They likewise would like to know whether there is sufficient food available for carrying out an effective ravitaillement program in Russia and whether satisfactory financial arrangements could be made to pay for this food in view of the fact that Congress will not be convened for some months.

7. Memorandum No. 171 was read with regard to the desire of Mr. Norman H. Davis to know the wishes of the Commission with respect to establishing credits in favor of the Poles for the purchase of material for the Polish army as well as the civilian population. The Commissioners approved of the establishment of credits for the purpose indicated by Mr. Davis.

8. Memorandum No. 170 was read with regard to a suggestion made by Mr. Norman H. Davis that Mr. Hayden B. Harris be sent to Poland to report on the financial and economic situation. The Commissioners agreed that it would be well to have Mr. Harris go to Poland for the purpose indicated.

9. A memorandum was read which had been prepared by Mr. Stabler in regard to the dissatisfaction caused among certain delegates from South America because of the alleged unfair representation of South America on the Financial and Economic Commissions. The Commissioners requested that the substance of the memorandum in question be incorporated in a much reduced form in a letter to the President with a request for his views in the premises. The Commissioners added that they would be willing to have inserted in this letter a statement to the effect that if the Latin and South American republics were not given larger representations on these Commissions we would receive a large part of the blame and the relations between the United States and Central and South America might be impaired thereby. The Commissioners themselves were quite disposed to insist on a decent representation for these republics.

The Commissioners agreed that the question of giving a dinner for the Central and South American Delegates should be postponed until the answer had been received from the President in regard to the above mentioned matter.

10. Memorandum No. 175 was read with regard to the question of newspaper correspondents in Germany. The Commissioners agreed that in view of the fact that the Peace Treaty would shortly be signed, it would be inadvisable to take any steps to prevent these newspaper men from trading with the enemy and that under no circumstances should the State Department be advised to exercise any regulatory supervision over the activities of these newspaper men.

11. Memorandum No. 165⁷⁸ regarding the sending of a Mission to Turkey which had been read at a meeting of the Commissioners on March 18th was brought up for reconsideration. The personnel of this Commission had been cut down to five officials, … being struck from the original list and the Commissioners approved of the sending of the Mission consisting of five officials and four Field Clerks, and believed that a sum of $18,500 to pay the expenses of this Mission would not be excessive.

12. Memorandum No. 176 was read with regard to the employment by Mr. Jerome D. Greene, Secretary of the Reparation Committee, of Lieut. R. S. Boardman of the American Red Cross for two or three hours a day. The Commissioners approved of Lieut. Boardman being so employed, and believed that 4 francs an hour would not be an excessive stipend.

13. Memorandum No. 177 was read in which Mr. Williams suggested that a draft of a telegram for transmission to the State Department in regard to the attitude of the United States Government toward the Siberian situation be sent to the President for his approval. The Commissioners felt that they would be unable to render any decision in this matter until the last sentence of the first paragraph of Mr. Polk’s telegram of March 9th had been cleared up. In that sentence Mr. Polk spoke of the support the United States was now lending the authorities in Siberia in the shipping of supplies including military equipment and railway materials. The Commissioners were not aware as to what sort of military equipment was being sent to the authorities in Siberia nor for what purpose this equipment was being used. It was therefore requested that a telegram be sent immediately to Mr. Polk asking him to furnish them with the necessary data in the premises.⁷⁹ As soon as this data is received, they will be glad to reconsider the memorandum in question.

14. At the meeting Mr. Herter read a telegram from Mr. Bullitt as well as a memorandum from Dr. Lord in regard to Captain Pettit. The Commissioners agreed that in view of the information in question, all of Mr. Bullitt’s recommendations should be complied with, with the exception perhaps of giving to Sergeant Krause a courier passport. This should be done only in case it were absolutely necessary.

15. Information Memorandum No. 43 was read in regard to the amendment which it was reported that the Japanese Delegation would propose to the constitution of the League of Nations. This memorandum read as follows:

“Equality between nations being a basic principle of the League of Nations, the High Contracting Powers agree to accord, as soon as possible, to all aliens, nationals of states members of the League, equal and just treatment, making no distinction, either in law or in fact, on account of race or nationality.”

The Commissioners requested that a copy of Information Memorandum No. 43 be given to each one of them for further study.

16. Mr. Herter inquired whether, in view of the altered situation in Germany, there would now be any objection for Mr. Osborne to travel through that country on his way from Copenhagen to Paris. The Commissioners decided that it would be better for Mr. Osborne not to travel to Paris via Germany but to come by water if possible.

78. See meeting of March 18, minute 3, p. 120.
79. See telegram No. 1285, March 23, 1919, 3 a.m., Foreign Relations, 1919, Russia, p. 331.