Paris Peace Conf. 180.03401/124
IC–176I
Notes of a Meeting Held at President Wilson’s House at the Place des
Etats-Unis, Paris, on Saturday, April 26, at 3 p.m.
Paris, April 26, 1919, 3 p.m.
- Present
- United States of America
- British Empire
- The Rt. Hon. D. Lloyd George, M. P.
- France
- M. Clemenceau.
- Sir Maurice Hankey—Secretary.
The Drafting Committee of the Preliminary Peace Conference, consisting of
Mr. Brown Scott, Mr. House Hurst], and M.
Fromageot were present.
1. The Form of the Treaty of Peace The question
was raised as to whether the Treaty of Peace with Germany should be
“agreed” or “imposed”.
(After a short discussion it was decided that it should be an “agreed”
peace and should be prepared in this form.)
The question was raised as to whether the preamble of the Peace Treaty
should state the principles on which peace was being made.
Mr. Brown Scott said it was extremely difficult
when attempted in detail, and it was also pointed out that the Covenant
of the League of Nations contained a preamble stating principles.
(It was decided not to state the principles on which peace is being made
in the preamble.)
(The project for the Treaty of Peace attached in the Appendix was
approved, subject to the addition of a reference to the effect that
Germany had declared war on France.)
2. Naval, Military & Air Terms
President Wilson suggested that it would make
the Naval, Military, and Air terms more acceptable to the enemy if they
were presented as preparing the way for a general limitation of
armaments for all nations.
M. Clemenceau said he would like to see the
formula before agreed. (The following formula was accepted:—
With the object of rendering possible the preparation of the general
limitation of armaments of all nations, Germany undertakes to observe
strictly the Naval, Military, and Aerial Clauses laid down below.)
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3. Date of Arrival of the Germans
M. Clemenceau said that the Germans were due
to arrive on next Date of Wednesday evening, April 30, and that the
first meeting would be held on May 1st at Versailles.
(At this point the Financial Experts were introduced.)
Appendix to IC–176I
The United States of America, the British Empire, France, Italy and
Japan,
these Powers being described in the present treaty as the Five Allied
and Associated Powers,
Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Cuba, Ecuador, Greece, the Hedjaz,
Peru, Poland, Portugal, Roumania, Serbia, Siam, Tcheco-Slovakia and
Uruguay,
these Powers forming with the five mentioned above, the Allied and
Associated Powers.
of the one part, and Germany, of the other part
Whereas on the request of the then Imperial
German Government an armistice was granted on November 11, 1918, to
Germany by the Five Allied and Associated Powers in order that a
treaty of peace might be concluded with her, and
Whereas the Allied and Associated Powers
are equally desirous that the war in which they were successively
involved and which originated in the declaration of war by
Austria-Hungary on July 28, 1914, against Serbia, the declaration of
war on August 1, 1914 by Germany against Russia and the invasion of
Belgium should be replaced by a firm, just and durable peace.
For this purpose the High Contracting Parties represented as
follows:—
The President of the United States of America,
- by the President of the United States, acting in his own
name and by his own proper authority, and by
- The Honourable Robert Lansing, Secretary of State, etc.,
etc.
His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas,
Emperor of India,
- The Right Honourable David Lloyd George, etc. etc.
- The Right Honourable . . . . . . . . .
- The Right Honourable . . . . . . . . .
- The Right Honourable . . . . . . . . .
- The Right Honourable . . . . . . . . .
And for the Dominion of Canada,
- The Right Honourable Sir Robert Borden, G. C. M. G.,
etc
- The Right Honourable . . . . . . . . .
For the Commonwealth of Australia,
- The Right Honourable W. M. Hughes, etc. etc.
- The Right Honourable . . . . . . . . .
[Page 301]
For the Union of South Africa,
- The Right Honourable . . . . . . . . .
- The Right Honourable . . . . . . . . .
For the Dominion of New Zealand,
- The Right Honourable W. F. Massey,
For India,
- The Right Honourable . . . . . . . . .
- The Right Honourable . . . . . . . . .
The President of the French Republic
- Monsieur Georges Clemenceau, President of the Council,
Minister of War, etc. etc.
- . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The President of the Republic of Uruguay,
- Monsieur Juan Antonio Buero, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
formerly Minister of Labour, and formerly Deputy.
The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of Germany
- . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Who having communicated their full powers found in
good and due form have agreed as follows:—
From the coming into force of the present treaty the state of
war will terminate. From that moment and subject to the
provisions of this treaty official relations with Germany
will be resumed by the Allied and Associated Powers.
Section I.—League of Nations
