Paris Peace Conf. 184.00101/42
Minutes of the Daily Meetings of the Commissioners Plenipotentiary, Monday, March 31, 1919
- Present:
- Mr. Lansing
- Mr. White
- General Bliss
- Mr. Herter
1. Memorandum No. 189 was read regarding application made to the Commission by Dr. C. A. Harte of the Y. M. C. A., for assistance in getting four Y. M. C. A. workers started from Paris to Germany in order to provide educational facilities and recreation for Russian prisoners. The Commissioners felt that there would be no objection to allowing four Y. M. C. A. workers to go into Germany, and stated that they were therefore willing to give the necessary assistance to Dr. Harte in obtaining the passports for these workers. Passports for Y. M. C. A. Workers
2. Memorandum No. 190 was read. This Memorandum was taken up on March 27th as well as a draft of telegram to the Department of State regarding the proposed Mission to Turkey and Syria. This whole question has now been held up because of the rumored appointment by the President of Messrs. King and Crane as the American representatives to go on some sort of a Mission to the Near-East. As it has been impossible up to date, however, to ascertain just what Mission the President desired the two above named gentlemen to go on, or just what their sphere of investigation is to be, it is impossible for the Commissioners to take any action in regards to the proposed Mission to Turkey. As soon as all the details are available with regard to the purpose of the trip which Messrs. King and Crane are about to take it will be possible for the Commissioners to reconsider these two documents. Regarding Proposed Mission to Turkey
3. Memorandum No. 191 was read regarding the possibility of reducing Mr. Sweetser’s salary now that Mr. Ray Stannard Baker had returned to Paris. The Commissioners felt that it would be distinctly unfair to reduce Mr. Sweetser’s salary in view of the excellent services which he had rendered. It is therefore to continue at the present rate. Reduction of Mr. Sweetser’s Salary
4. Memorandum No. 192 was read regarding a request made by the Delegation of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes that a Mission of investigation be sent to Spalato to examine the facts in the case of reported occurrence in that town. The Commissioners felt that they were unable to make and Slovenes any decision in this matter at the present time. They request that this fact be brought to the attention of the Secretary General of the Peace Conference, together with the statement that inasmuch as it is stated by Mr. Pachitch that American officers were witnesses of all the acts alleged to have been committed by the Italians, the American Mission was investigating these facts and will be glad to communicate a decision in the premises at a later date. Mission of Investigation to Spalato as Requested by Serbs, Croats and Slovenes
The Commissioners further request that an effort be made to ascertain just what officers were in Spalato on the dates in question, and [Page 141] to get from them complete reports in regard to the instance complained of.
5. Memorandum No. 193 was read inquiring whether the Commissioners would receive the Commission of the American Jewish Congress which is now in Paris, and if so at what time and date. The Commissioners agreed that they would be glad to see the Commission in question on Wednesday morning April 2nd at 10:30 o’clock. Commission of American-Jewish Congress
6. Memorandum No. 194 was held up because of the uncertainty with regard to the Mission on which Messrs. King and Crane are being sent.
7. Memorandum No. 195 was read with regard to the opportunities which should be offered to members of the Commission to invest in bonds of the coming Liberty Loan. The Commissioners approved of the suggested telegram to the Department of State as well as the suggested circular. Liberty Bonds
8. Memorandum No. 196 was read in which it was suggested that the Teschen Commission which was operating in the field should be made responsible to the Commission on Polish Affairs of the Peace Conference which is now sitting in Paris. The Commissioners disapproved of such a suggestion, feeling that there was no good reason why the Teschen Commission should be responsible to the Commission on Polish Affairs rather than the Commission on Czecho-Slovak Affairs. They suggested that it would be more advisable to have the Teschen Commission made responsible to the Central Coordination Commission which is presided over by Mr. Tardieu. Regarding Teschen Commission
9. Memorandum No. 197 was read inquiring whether the Commissioners approved of the policy of endorsing the application of certain officers for demobilization in France. General Bliss to whom this matter was referred requested that an extremely polite letter be written to General Pershing, submitting to him all the cases within the Commission which had come to the attention of the Secretary General. General Pershing should be asked just what his policy was in this matter for the guidance of the Commission, it being felt that no injustice should be done either to the officers who are serving on the Commission vis-a-vis officers in the field and vice-versa. The Commissioners requested that they be allowed to see this letter before it left in order that they might be familiar with its contents should the question again arise. Applications by Officers for Demobilization in France