Office of the Historian

Paris Peace Conf. 182/15

Memorandum on Plans for the Peace Conference, Prepared in the Office of the Secretary of State

[ Washington ,] November 16, 1918.

Queries

1.
What nations are to be represented at the Peace Conference?
2.
Are all the belligerents?
3.
If not, on what basis is a distinction to be made?
4.
If all belligerents are to be represented, is the number of Commissioners to be the same for every country?
5.
On the assumption of five or seven Commissioners for each country, and at least 25 countries being represented, the conference would consist of 125 or 175 members. Would not that be too cumbersome?
6.
What is to be the scope of the Treaty of Peace and with what subjects should it deal?
7.
Is it expedient to go further than to establish boundaries, declare adherence to general principles as set forth in the Fourteen Points, create future conferences to work out the details in separate treaties and for restitution for damages done, and provide for certain forms of immediate relief?
8.
Ought or ought not neutral nations to be invited to participate in conferences dealing with such subjects as
  • a League of Nations,
  • Freedom of the Seas,
  • Disarmament,
  • Internationalization of Waterways and possibly Land Routes,
    and
  • Rules of War on Land and Sea and in the Air?
9.
Would it be better for the belligerents to adopt such supplemental treaties and provide for adherence by other nations?
10.
Should there be any general recognition of labor in the general treaty or in the supplemental treaties?
11.
Should there be any general declaration as to commercial or economic interests or the statement of any general principle such as the “open door” or “most favored nation” clause?
12.
In the event that protectorates are created, what special privileges, if any, should be granted the protecting nation?
13.
On what basis should Russia be recognized at the Peace Conference?
14.
Should Finland, Esthonia, Lithuania, Ukrania and Caucasia be received as independent states at the Conference?
15.
Are questions affecting the sovereignty of Schleswig-Holstein, Luxemburg, Spitzbergen, &c, to be considered?
16.
If so, should not Denmark, The Netherlands, Norway and Sweden to be represented?
17.
If so, should the determination be included in the Peace Treaty or in supplemental treaty?
18.
Is it not essential to have prepared an outline of the Peace Treaty and a general scheme of supplemental treaties before the Conference assembles?
19.
Will it not be expected that the United States as the proposer will lay before the Conference a complete and detailed plan for a League of Nations?
20.
Has such a plan been prepared and does it follow the British or French scheme or differ from both?
21.
How far can a provision in the treaty as to making war in support of the League be binding upon the United States in view of the constitutional delegation of the war power?
22.
Is it possible to go as far as guaranties, if their enforcement requires the use of force, without infringing on the constitutional war power?
23.
In what order should the subjects be taken up by the Peace Conference?
24.
What should be the general order of procedure?
25.
Should there be appointed first a committee on program?
26.
What instructions should be issued by the President to the American Commissioners?
27.
What power, if any, should be granted the Commissioners to make recommendations for immediate action by the Governments in order to relieve present needs?
28.
How far should treaties and agreements as to territory made since the war began be considered in reaching a final settlement of boundaries? (Particular reference to the London Agreement of 1916 [1915?] as to Italy, and the division of German colonial possessions in the Pacific by Great Britain and Japan.)
29.
Should the colonial possessions of Germany in Africa be disposed of in the Peace Treaty?
30.
What voice should the present provisional governments of the Poles, Czeeho-Slovaks and Jugo-Slavs have in the general terms of peace?
31.
What particular declaration should be made as to “freedom of the seas”?
32.
What particular declaration should be made against “economic barriers”?
33.
Should any declaration be made as to labor? If so, what declaration?