Office of the Historian

Paris Peace Conf. 184.00101/50

Minutes of the Daily Meetings of the Commissioners Plenipotentiary, Monday, April 14th, 1919

April 14, 1919
  • Present:
    • Mr. Lansing
    • General Bliss
    • Mr. A. W. Dulles

1. The Commissioners discussed the memorandum regarding Mr. Crosby’s investigations of the Financial obligations of the former Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Excerpts from Mr. Norman H. Davis’ letter to Secretary Lansing, of April 11th, and Mr. Crosby’s letter of the same date to Colonel House were read and considered. It was agreed that a letter should be addressed to Mr. Crosby suggesting that he continue his work on the Austro-Hungarian financial problem, and that he be authorized to discuss the matter with Allied representatives in Paris who may be working on the same problem. Regarding Financial Obligations of Former Austro-Hungarian Monarchy

[Page 152]

2. Memorandum No. 221 was read, together with a copy of a letter which Mr. Davis proposes to send to the Roumanian Premier, Mr. Bratiano, regarding the conditions of the extension of financial assistance to Roumania. Mr. Lansing stated that in his opinion of the question which Mr. Davis had raised did not directly concern the making of peace and therefore was not one which the Commissioners could well deal with at the present time. General Bliss added that if his opinion was asked for he would be inclined to refer to the fact that the Roumanians were apparently seeking to obtain further military supplies from the United States. If credits were to be extended to Roumania for reconstruction and relief purposes the United States should hardly at the same time be extending credits for army purposes. Mr. Dulles stated that the reason for the submission of the memorandum to the Commissioners was presumably because the question of reparation was indirectly involved. Mr. Lansing stated that the priority of claim to reparation money for the repayment of credits extended to Roumania for relief purposes would not be included in the Peace Treaties with Germany, Austria or Hungary, but would result from an arrangement between the United States and Roumania. Regarding Extending Financial Assistance to Roumania

In regard to the method of procedure, Mr. Lansing felt that in the final analysis the matter should go through diplomatic channels and through the State Department in Washington, not through the Peace Commission.

3. The Commissioners approved the recommendation of Memorandum No. 222 regarding the possible repatriation of Esthonians now in camps for Russian prisoners in Germany. General Bliss added that the military representatives of the Supreme War Council had recommended the repatriation of all prisoners in Germany from Baltic provinces, subject to the necessary precautions against persons who might spread Bolshevism. Mr. Lansing emphasized the necessity of care in weeding out future Bolshevist propagandists from such repatriated prisoners. Regarding Repatriation of Esthonians

4. Mr. Dulles brought to the attention of the Commissioners a recent letter from Professor Philip M. Brown in Budapest, giving a description of the character and aims of the communist movement in Budapest. General Bliss read portions of this letter to Mr. Lansing. Prof. Brown emphasized that up to the present there had been no serious disorder, but that the anti-Bourgeois character of the revolution would make a period of “Terror” probable, in case the Bourgeois should endeavor to organize counter movement. Regarding Communist Movement in Budapest

5. Mr. Lansing stated to General Bliss that he had had a conversation with Mr. Paderewski on Saturday, and in the course of their [Page 153] conversation had suggested that the best manner of solving the Teschen question was for the representatives of the Poles and Czechs to get together in Paris and work out a possible compromise or at least to reduce the territorial problem to be solved to the narrowest possible limits, and then to indicate a possible arbiter who would be acceptable to both parties. Mr. Lansing stated that he had pointed out to Mr. Paderewski the necessity of friendly cooperation between the Poles and the Czechs, in view of the menace to which both countries were exposed. Regarding Teschen Question

6. Mr. White entered the meeting.

The Commissioners approved the recommendation of Memorandum No. 223 requesting that inquiry be made through the Embassy regarding alleged negotiations of French officers in the Ukraine, on behalf of the Allied and Associated Governments, as well as the apparent assent of the French government to the proposed negotiations in Paris. Regarding Interest Alleged French Officers in Ukraine