Paris Peace Conf. 180.03401/111
IC–175B
Notes of a Meeting Held at President Wilson’s House in the Place des
Etats-Unis, Paris, on Tuesday, April 22, 1919, at 11 a.m.
Paris, April 22, 1919, 11 a.m.
- Present
- United States of America
- British Empire
- France
- M. Clemenceau
- Secretary—Sir Maurice
Hankey, K. C. B.
- Interpreter—Prof. P. J.
Mantoux.
1. It was agreed that:—
Alsace-Lorraine Draft Articles prepared by the
French Government in regard to Alsace-Alsace-Lorraine should be examined
in the firs instance by a Committee composed as follows:—
- Dr. Haskins, for the United States of America.
- Mr. Headlam-Morley, for the British Empire.
- M. Tardieu, for France.
2. Italian Representation
President Wilson informed his colleagues that
M. Orlando had sent word that he was unable to be present.
3. Commission to Syrica, Palestine, etc. Emir
Feisal
M. Clemenceau handed Mr. Lloyd George a copy
of a letter he had written to the Emir Feisal. (Appendix I.) The Emir
Feisal commission had replied that he was satisfied and that he expected
soon to be back in paris. M. Clemenceau undertook to give Mr. Lloyd
George a copy of the Emir Feisal’s letter. He asked what was to be done
about the Commission.
Mr. Lloyd George said that he thought the
Commission should soon start. It was settled so far as he was
concerned.
4. Arrangements for Meeting the Germans
M. Clemenceau handed round copies of the
German official reply to the last communication in regard to their
coming to Versailles. (Appendix II.) He said that he could not the
Germans undertake to guarantee to the Germans entire free
intercourse.
Mr. Lloyd George suggested that they must have
communication with their Government at Weimar.
[Page 113]
M. Clemenceau agreed.
President Wilson said that was all they asked
for.
M. Clemenceau said that he would have to take
precautions that they should not have free movement at Versailles as
there would be a serious danger of their being mobbed. He was
responsible for their safety. At M. Clemenceau’s request President
Wilson drafted the following note on which the reply should be based:—
“The Allied and Associated Powers will, of course, grant to the
German Delegates full freedom of movement for the execution of
their mission and unrestricted telegraphic communication with
their Government.”
(This was agreed to.)
5. Demilitarization of the west Bank of the
Rhine
M. Clemenceau handed round the attached draft
representing the agreement reached as regards the demilitarization of
the west bank of the Rhine. (Appendix III.)
President Wilson said he had already
communicated it to Sir Maurice Hankey.
Mr. Lloyd George agreed that it was
comprehensive enough.
Appendix III was approved and Sir Maurice Hankey was instructed to send
it to the Secretary-General for the Drafting Committee.
6. Guarantees of Execution of the Treaty
M. Clemenceau handed round the attached
document headed Guarantees of “Articles concerning Guarantees of
Execution of the Treaty of Treaty”, which had already been agreed to by
President Wilson on April 20th. (Appendix IV.)
Mr. Lloyd George commented on the length of the
period contemplated for occupation, namely, 15 years, which seemed
considerable. He supposed that the British Government was not asked to
keep troops there so long.
M. Clemenceau said all he asked was a battalion
with the flag.
Mr. Lloyd George said he must insist on the
difficulty which the British Government would have in maintaining any
larger number of troops. The people of England insisted on the
disappearance of compulsory service immediately the war was over. He had
had considerable difficulties at home since the election owing to the
extension of compulsory service for 12 months.
M. Clemenceau drew attention to the words “by
International forces” in Article I, which apparently had not been
included in the copy he had left with President Wilson. He said he could
not go to his people and say that there were no forces of the Allied and
Associated Powers. He only asked for a flag to be shown.
Mr. Lloyd George asked if 15 years was the
maximum. He hoped it was not conditioned by the extension of the Treaty.
Indemnities,
[Page 114]
for example,
could not be paid within 15 years. He hoped he understood correctly that
there would not be any question of retaining forces after that,
M. Clemenceau said that was not the
intention.
Appendix IV was agreed to and Sir Maurice Hankey was instructed to
forward it to the Secretary-General for the Drafting Committee.
7. Treaty Between France and the United States of
America
M. Clemenceau handed round a document entitled
“Treaty between France and the United States”, which had been approved
by him and President Wilson on April 20th. (Appendix V.)
President Wilson explained to Mr. Lloyd George
that he had made a point that it was not wise in this matter to have a
tripartite agreement but a Treaty between the United States of America
and France and another Treaty between Great Britain and France.
Mr. Lloyd George said he thought that would do
for Great Britain and instructed Sir Maurice Hankey to show it to Mr.
Balfour.
Subject to Mr. Balfour’s agreement, this was accepted.
(Note by the Secretary.)
(Mr. Balfour agreed to it after the Meeting.)
8. German-Austria
M. Clemenceau handed round an Article
concerning the independence of German-Austria. (Appendix VI.)
This was accepted and Sir Maurice Hankey was instructed to forward it to
the Secretary-General for the Drafting Committee.
9. Dantzing
M. Clemenceau reminded President Wilson that
he had under-taken to complete the Articles in regard to Dantzig in
accordance with certain alterations that had been agreed.
President Wilson then produced the document in
Appendix VII and proposed that it should be sent direct to the Drafting
Committee.
Mr. Lloyd George agreed and Sir Maurice Hankey
was instructed to forward Appendix VII to the Secretary-General for the
Drafting Committee.
10. Archangel
President Wilson asked Mr. Lloyd George if the
British Government were sending additional troops to Archangel. He had
had a communication from General Bliss which seemed to indicate that the
local British Command instead of contemplating withdrawal intended to
take steps to link up the Russian forces in the north with those in
Siberia, which would involve an advance to Kotlas and Viatka. General
Bliss’s communication had also suggested that 12,000 British
reinforcements were being sent.
Mr. Lloyd George said he thought there must be
some misunderstanding. Great importance was attached to secrecy in
regard to the
[Page 115]
withdrawal from
north Russia and possibly this was some local bluff to convey the
impression that no withdrawal was intended. He did not think that the
reinforcements contemplated were nearly so large. He undertook to
enquire into the matter.
Villa Majestic, Paris, 22 April, 1919.
Appendix I to IC–175B
Copy of Letter From M. Clemenceau to
the Emir Feisal
Your Highness: I am happy, on the occasion
of your return to the East, to confirm what I said to you in our
conversation of Sunday, April 13.
The French Government, desirous of assuring to Syria, as well as to
Armenia, Mesopotamia and the other countries of the Orient which
have been liberated by the victory of the Entente, a regime of
liberty and progress in conformity with the principles by which it
has always been inspired and which are the basis of the
deliberations of the Peace Conference, declares that it recognizes
the right of Syria to independence in the form of a federation of
autonomous local communities corresponding to the traditions and
wishes of their populations.
France is prepared to give material and moral assistance to this
emancipation of Syria.
In referring to the needs of the country and the interests of its
people as well as to the historic role which France has played Your
Highness recognized that France is the Power qualified to give Syria
the assistance of the various advisers necessary to establish order
and bring about the progress which the peoples of Syria desire.
When the time comes to work out more detailed plans to assure the
collaboration of France with Syria, they should be in conformity
with the spirit of our arrangements. I take pleasure, on the
occasion of parting from Your Highness, to confirm to you in writing
and to testify to the harmony which will not fail to inspire the
representatives of France in Syria.
Accept [etc.]
G. Clemenceau
Paris
, April
17, 1919.
[Page 116]
Appendix II
Spa, April 21, 1919, 18 h.
30.
From General Nudant, President of the
C. I. P. A.2
to Field Marshal Foch, and Prime Minister,
Paris
No. 802 [892?]
1. German Government supposing that, after the remittance of the
project of the preliminaries, it is intended to negotiate on their
contents, has appointed as delegates with all the necessary powers:
Count Brockdorff-Rantzau, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Doctor
Landsberg Minister of Justice, Mr. Giesberts General-Post-Master,
Mr. Leinert President of the Prussian National Chamber, Doctor
Melchior, Professor Shucking.
Names of the persons who will accompany the delegates will be given
later.
2. The German Government is ready to send to Versailles the
above-mentioned persons if they will be granted their liberty of
movement and free use of Telegraph and Telephone for communications
with the German Government. The German Government keeps the right of
appointing later on experts for certain questions of Peace.
3. Delegates will probably not be able to leave before April 27 or
28.
Continuation of wire 892 of April
21st, 893.
- 1.
- The total number of German delegates and suite will be of
about 75.
- 2.
- Besides, the delegation will be accompanied by a telegraphic
personnel of about 40 men, who will organise and use a “central”
whose installation has been promised by the French Telegraphical
Mission in Berlin as reciprocity for the installation of a
Special Allied “Central” in Berlin.
- 3.
- German Government asks for immediate dispatch to Versailles
for the preparation of the installation of the German
Delegation, an advanced party composed of Mr. Von Wachendorf,
Conseiller d’Ambassade, Mr. Walter, Inspector of Postal Services
and Mr. Dunker, Food Official. This personnel is actually at Spa
and ready to leave at first notice.
Appendix III
Instructions to Drafting Committee
for the [De]militarization of German Territory West of the Rhine
The maintenance or building of fortifications west of a line drawn
fifty kilometers east of the Rhine forbidden to Germany.
[Page 117]
The maintenance of armed forces, either permanently or temporarily,
forbidden within the area defined above, as well as all military
manoeuvers of every kind and the maintenance of physical facilities
for mobilization.
Any violation of these conditions to be regarded as an hostile act
against the signatories to the treaty and as calculated to disturb
the peace of the world.
As long as the present treaty remains in force a pledge by Germany to
respond to any enquiry that the Council of the League of Nations may
deem necessary.
Appendix IV
Articles Concerning the Guarantees of
Execution of the Treaty
(As Approved by President Wilson and M. Clemenceau on
April 20th)
- 1.
- As a guarantee of the execution by Germany of the present
treaty, German territories west of the Rhine, including the
Bridgeheads, are to be occupied by international forces during
fifteen years from signature of the present treaty on.
- 2.
- If the conditions of the treaty are executed by Germany,
occupation to be successively reduced according to following
schedule:
- a)
- to be evacuated after 5 years: the bridgehead of Coin
and the territories north of a line running along the
Roer then along the railroad: Jülich, Düren, Euskirchen,
Rheinbach, then the road Rheinbach to Sinzig, and
reaching the Rhine at the confluence with the Ahr river
(the roads, railroads and localities above mentioned
included in the occupied territory).
- b)
- to be evacuated after ten years: the bridgehead of
Coblentz and the territories north of line to be drawn
from the intersection between the frontiers of Belgium,
Germany and Holland, running about 4 Kilometres South of
Aix-la-Chapelle, then to and following the crest of
Forst Gemiind, then east of the railroad of the Urft
Valley, then along Blankenheim, Valdorf, Dreis, Ulmen to
and following the Mosel from Bremm to Nehren, then
passing along Kappel, Simmern, then following the ridge
of the heights between Simmern and the Rhine and reaches
the river at Bacharach (all localities, valleys, roads
and railroads above mentioned included in the occupied
territory).
- c)
- to be evacuated after fifteen years the bridgehead of
Mains, the bridgehead of Kehl and the remainder of
German territories still occupied.
- 3.
- In case, either during, or after this fifteen years delay, the
Interallied Commission of Reparations recognise that Germany
refuse to execute the whole or part of the conditions agreed
upon by her
[Page 118]
according
to the present treaty, the international re-occupation of part
or the whole of the areas defined by Article 2, will take place
immediately.
- 4.
- If, before fifteen years, Germany meets all the engagements
taken by her according to the terms of the present treaty, the
withdrawal of the international troops would immediately
follow.
Appendix V
Treaty Between France and United
States
(As Approved by President Wilson and M. Clemenceau on
April 20th)
Between the Governments of the United States of America and the
Republic of France it is agreed:—
- 1)
- Any violation by Germany of the engagements taken by her
according to articles Nr Nr and Nr of the present treaty to be regarded as an
hostile act against the signatories to the treaty and as
calculated to disturb the peace of the world.
- 2)
- A pledge to be taken by the United States of America to
come immediately to the assistance of France as soon as any
unprovoked movement of aggression against her is made by
Germany.
- 3)
- This pledge to be subject to the approval of the Executive
Council of the League of Nations and to continue until it is
agreed by the Contracting Powers that the League itself
affords sufficient protection.
Appendix VI to IC–175B
Article Concerning the Independence
of German Austria
(As Approved by President Wilson and M. Clemenceau on
April 20th)
Germany recognizes the independence of German Austria within the
frontiers as defined by the present treaty.
Appendix VII to IC–175B
Draft of Articles to be included in the treaty with Germany
agreeing
- 1)
- To establish the “Free City of Danzig”.
- 2)
- To include the Free City of Danzig within the Polish Customs
frontiers and make it in fact the port of Poland.
- 3)
- To hold a plebiscite in a certain district East of the
Vistula.
- 4)
- To effect agreements granting to Germany and Poland certain
rights to, on and over railways needed by them
respectively.
(1. Map attached.)3
[Page 119]
N. B. If this draft is approved, the treaty articles submitted by the
Committee on Polish Affairs, and concurred in by the Central
Committee, will have to be revised accordingly.
Article 1. The German Government renounces
all rights and title over the following territory in favor of the
Five Allied and Associated Great Powers:
Take a line from—
- (a)
- position latitude 54° 22′ 25″ N; longitude 19° 22′ 05″
E:
- (b)
- in a direction 159° for a distance of one sea mile;
- (c)
- thence to the Light Beacon at the bend of the Elbinger
Channel approximately in latitude 54° 19½′ N. longitude 19°
26′ E.
- (d)
- from this Light Beacon to the easternmost mouth of the
Nogat River bearing approximately 209°.
Keep to the thalweg of this river up to its
junction with the main stream of the Vistula north of Pieckel, and
thence follow the thalweg of the main stream
northward to a point 5 miles below the railway bridge at Dirschau.
Thence continue in a general westerly direction leaving the village
of Mühlbanz on the south, and Rambeltsch on the north, and touching
at Klein Golmkau the tip of the salient formed by the boundary of
Kreis Dirschau. Thence westwards along that boundary to the salient
formed west of Boschpohl.
From the tip of the salient west of Boschpohl continue westward,
leaving the villages of Neu Fietz and Schatarpi on the south. At a
point north of Schatarpi turn north-west to the mid-point of the
lake west of Lonken leaving the village of Lonken to the north.
Thence continue north and northwest to the northern end of the lake.
From there continue almost due north to the southern end of the
lake. From there continue almost due north to the southern end of
the lake immediately north-east of Pollenschin. Thence pass
northeast along the median line of the lake to the northern end of
it. From this point continue north to the Stangenwalder forest
leaving the village of Kamehlen on the west and Neuendorf on the
east. Where the line reaches a point due north-west of the village
of Neuendorf turn north-eastward to the Lappinet lake north of Gross
Cza-pielken leaving Krissau on the northwest and Marschau on the
southeast. Thence continue to the north-eastern end of the lake and
from there north-eastwards as far as the westernmost point of Lake
Ottomin leaving the village of Fidlin on the north-west. Thence
continue in a north-north-easterly direction between the villages of
Klein Kelpin and Mattern. Thence continue northward through the
Olivaer forest leaving the villages of Pelonken, Pulver Mühl and
Renneberg on the east to a point one kilometre north of the road
between Renneberg and Wittstock. From this point continue north
[Page 120]
north-east to the Baltic
coast crossing the railway north of Steinfliess.
In delimiting this line on the spot existing Gemeinde boundaries
should be followed as far as is practicable.
Article 2. The Five Allied and Associated
Great Powers undertake to establish the town of Danzig, together
with the rest of the territory described in Article 1 as an
(independent) Free City (under the title of Freihansestadt
Dansig).
Article 3. A Constitution for the Free City
of Dansig shall be drawn up by the duly appointed representatives of
the Free City in agreement with a High Commissioner to be appointed
by the League of Nations, and shall be placed under the guarantee of
the said League. The High Commissioner will also be charged with the
duty of dealing, in the first instance, with all differences arising
between Poland and the Free City of Danzig of this Treaty, or any
arrangements or agreements made thereunder. The High Commissioner
shall reside at Danzig.
Article 4: The Five Allied and Associated
Great Powers undertake to negotiate (a treaty)* between the Polish Government and the Free
City of Danzig which shall come into force at the same time as the
establishment of said Free City.
This agreement will include provisions with the following objects:
- (a)
- To effect the inclusion of the Free City of Danzig within
the Polish customs frontiers† always provided that
there may be clauses in the agreement establishing a free
port area therein.
- (b)
- To ensure to Poland the full and unhampered use and
service of all waterways, docks, basins, wharves, and other
instrumentalities within the territory of the Free City
necessary for Polish import and export.
- (c)
- To ensure to Poland the control and administration of the
Vistula and of the whole railway system within said Free
City except such street and other railways as serve
primarily the needs of the Free City; and of postal,
telegraphic and telephonic communication between the port of
Danzig and Poland.
- The rights conferred in Article 4 (c) shall extend also to the development and
improvement of the existing railways and other means of
communication therein mentioned, and to the lease or
purchase through appropriate processes of such land and
other property as may be necessary for these
purposes.
- (d)
- To provide against any discrimination within the Free City
of Danzig to the detriment of citizens of Poland and other
persons of Polish origin or speech.
- (e)
- Such foreign relations as may be necessary for the Free
City of Danzig will be conducted by the Polish Government;
and citizens
[Page 121]
of
the Free City of Danzig when abroad will be entitled to the
diplomatic protection of Poland.
Article 5: On the coming into force of the
present Treaty German nationals ordinarily resident in the territory
described in Article 1 will ipso facto lose
their German nationality and become citizens of the Free City of
Danzig.
Article 6: Within a period of two years
from the coming into force of the present Treaty German nationals,
more than eighteen years old, ordinarily resident in the territory
described in Article 1, will have the right to opt for German
nationality. They must during the ensuing two years transfer their
place of residence into Germany.
Option by a husband will cover his wife and option by parents will
cover their children less than eighteen years old.
All persons who exercise the right of option referred to above will
be entitled to preserve the immovable property which they possess in
the territory described in Article 1.
They may carry with them their movable property of every
description.
No export or import duties may be imposed upon them in connection
with the removal of such property.
Article 7: All property situated within the
territory described in Article 1 belonging to the German Government
or to the Government of any German State will pass to the Five
Allied and Associated Great Powers for transfer to the Free City of
Danzig or to the Polish State, as may be equitably determined by the
said Five Allied and Associated Great Powers.
Article 8: In a zone including Kreise Stuhm
and Rosenberg, and those parts of Kreise Marienburg and Marienwerder
which lie to the East of the Vistula, the inhabitants will be called
upon to indicate by a vote by commune (Gemeinde) whether they wish
the several communes (Gemeinden) within the territory to belong to
Poland or East Prussia.
From the time when the present Treaty takes effect, and within a
period which shall not exceed a fortnight, the zone delimited above
shall be placed under the authority of an International Commission
composed of five members, appointed by the Five Allied and
Associated Great Powers, and shall be evacuated by German
troops.
This Commission, accompanied by the necessary forces should occasion
arise, shall have general powers of administration and shall take
whatever measures it may deem proper for holding the plebiscite and
assuring the liberty, fairness and secrecy of the vote, following
the provisions of this treaty regulating the plebiscite to be held
in Allenstein as nearly as may be. All decision[s] of the Commission
shall be taken by a majority vote.
[Page 122]
All of the expense incurred by the Commission, whether in the
exercise of its own functions or in the administration of the zone
subjected to the plebiscite, shall be levied upon the local
revenues.
At the conclusion of the vote, the Commission shall communicate to
the Five Allied and Associated Great Powers a detailed report of the
manner in which the vote was conducted, and a proposal for the line
which should be adopted as the frontier of East Prussia in this
region, taking account of the desires of the inhabitants as
expressed by the vote as well as of the geographic and economic
situation of the locality. The Five Allied and Associated Great
Powers shall then determine the frontier between East Prussia and
Poland in this region, leaving to Poland as a minimum for any
section of this river the full and complete control of the Vistula,
its east bank included, as far east of the river as may be necessary
for its regulation and improvement. The said Great Powers shall at
the same time formulate regulations securing to the population of
East Prussia equitable access to and use of the Vistula for
themselves and their goods and for craft controlled by them or owned
by them as may best serve their interests. These determinations of
frontier, as well as the regulations just mentioned, are accepted in
advance as binding by all parties hereto.
As soon as the administration of the portion of the zone assigned to
it shall have been assumed by the authorities of East Prussia and of
Poland respectively, the powers of the International Commission
shall be terminated.
Article 9. A Commission composed of three
members, including the High Commissioner, who shall be Chairman, one
member named by Germany, and one member named by Poland, shall be
constituted with[in] six months after the time when the present
Treaty takes effect, to delimit in the field the lines provided for
in the foregoing articles.
The decisions taken by a majority vote of the said commission shall
be binding on both parties concerned.
Article 10. The Five Allied and Associated
Great Powers agree to negotiate agreements between Poland and
Germany by which, whether under the form of a general railroad
convention to which both States are partners, or in the form of a
special agreement between the two States, there shall be secured, on
the one hand to Germany, full and adequate railroad facilities for
communication between the rest of Germany and East Prussia over the
intervening Polish territory, on the other hand there shall be
secured to Poland, in the same way, full and adequate railroad
facilities for communication between Poland and the City of Danzig
over any German territory that may, on the right bank of the
Vistula, intervene between Poland and the City of Danzig.
