Office of the Historian

Paris Peace Conf. 184.00101/47

Minutes of the Daily Meetings of the Commissioners Plenipotentiary, Wednesday, April 9th, 1919

April 9, 1919
  • Present:
    • Mr. Lansing
    • Mr. White
    • General Bliss
    • Mr. Herter

1. Memorandum No. 209 of March 18th, 1919 was considered, which suggested that an informal and guarded statement be made by the Commissioners to the Press along the lines of a memorandum prepared by Colonel Van Deman, Mr. E. T. Williams, etc., this statement to ostensibly serve to strengthen the conservative forces in the United States against the more radical elements. Statement for Press Prepared by Col. Van Deman

Mr. Lansing felt that it would be very undesirable to make such a statement, and the Commissioners therefore agreed to let the matter rest where it stood without taking any further action.

2. Memorandum No. 210 was read in which Dr. Lord suggested that the Council of Four appoint a Commission to investigate and report on all questions properly coming before the Peace Conference relating to the Baltic countries of Esthonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland. The Commissioners agreed that it would be very advisable for the Council of Four to appoint such a Commission, and therefore request that a letter be drafted to the President most briefly sketching the arguments given by Dr. Lord, and recommending that such a Commission be appointed. Mr. Lansing stated that he would sign this letter. Regarding Commission To Be Appointed To Report on All Questions Relating Baltic countries

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3. Memorandum No. 211 was read but the Commissioners did not feel that they should act on it until it had been ascertained whether Mr. Lynch were receiving the 40 francs a day given to members of the Commission living outside the Crillon. At the same time, Mr. Lansing observed that he had requested Mr. Grew to furnish him with a memorandum regarding the pay of certain clerks and Secretaries on the Commission, and that he would like to consider the case of Mr. Lynch in connection with such material as Mr. Grew may be able to furnish him in the premises. Regarding Employment of Mr. Lynch