Paris Peace Conf. 180.03401/37
CF–37
Notes of a Meeting Held at President Wilson’s House, Place des
Etats-Unis, Paris, on Tuesday, May 27, 1919, at 4 p.m.
Paris, May 27, 1919, 4 p.m.
- Present
- America, United States of
- President Wilson.
- Hon. R. Lansing.
- Secretary.
- Mr. L. Harrison.
- British Empire
- Rt. Hon. D. Lloyd George, M. P.
- Rt. Hon. A. J. Balfour, O. M., M. P.
- Secretary-General
- Sir M. P. A. Hankey, K. C. B.
- Secretary.
- France
- M. Clemenceau.
- M. Pichon.
- Secretaries.
- M. de Béarn.
- Capt. de St. Quentin.
- Italy
- M. Orlando.
- Baron Sonnino.
- Secretary-General.
- Count Aldrovandi.
- Secretary.
- M. Bertelé
- Japan
- H. E. Baron Makino.
- H. E. Viscount Chinda.
- Secretary.
- Also Present
- America, United States of
- Professor Coolidge.
- Major Johnson.
- Dr. Clive Day.
- British Empire
- Sir Eyre Crowe, K. C. B., K. C. M. G.
- Mr. Leeper.
- Major Temperley.
- France
- M. Tardieu.
- General Henrys.
- M. Laroche.
- M. Aubert.
- Italy
- General U. Cavallero.
- Colonel d’Etat-Major A. Pariani.
- Commdt. G. Rugiu.
- M. de Martino.
| Joint Secretariat |
| America, United States of |
Lieut. E. C. Burden. |
| British Empire |
Major A. M. Caccia. |
| France |
Capt. A. Portier. |
| Italy |
Lieut. Zanchi. |
| Japan |
M. Saburi. |
| Interpreter—Professor P. J.
Mantoux. |
[Page 72]
1. President Wilson said that the problem the
Council was called upon to solve had reference to the frontiers between
Austria and Jugo-Slavia in the region of Klagenfurt. He thought the
Problem could be stated as follows. As far as the so-called Klagenfurt
Basin was concerned, it would be found that the economic boundary line
ran south of the ethnic line. The ethnic line divided the Basin into two
parts, a northern and a southern part. The southern part, although it
contained a large number of Slovenes, was indissolubly tied up,
economically, with the northern part. Furthermore, the southern part of
the Klagenfurt Basin was itself cut off from the country to the south by
one of nature’s most impressive lines of demarcation, namely, a mountain
range, which was far steeper on its southern side than on its northern
side, thus constituting a most serious barrier on its southern side.
Frontiers of Austria
In his opinion, the question of the delimitation of the Klagenfurt Basin
resembled in every respect the case of the Italian boundary line,
running down the Istrian Peninsula. In that case, although it was
acknowledged that many Slovenes resided on the Italian side of that
line, nevertheless, it had been agreed that nature had made that the
natural boundary line of the Italian Peninsula. A similar situation
presented itself here in the Klagenfurt Basin. The Slovene people in the
southern part of the Basin, were, economically, intimately connected
with the northern people. The question could not, therefore, be
considered merely from a political and ethnical point of view. In other
words, the Council would have to decide whether an unnatural arrangement
should be accepted for political expediency, or a natural arrangement,
thus disregarding purely political consideration. He, personally, felt
very much embarrassed to depart from the principle which he had agreed
to follow in the case of the Italian settlement. He certainly had no
desire to re-consider the arrangement made with Italy which followed the
dictates of nature.
(After some private consultation, between the Heads of Governments, it
was decided to adjourn the further consideration of the question.)
2. It was pointed out that the question of Bessarabia had been omitted
from the despatch to Admiral Koltchak, and that this would probably
cause difficulties with Roumania, when the Despatch to Admiral despatch
was eventually published. Russia. The Despatch to
Admiral Koltchak
(After some discussion, the following addition to the despatch was
approved:—
“Sixthly, the right of the Peace Conference to determine the
future of the Roumanian part of Bessarabia be recognised”.
The original Article “Sixthly” to be renumbered
“Seventhly”.)
[Page 73]
A copy of the complete despatch is attached in the Appendix.1
3. The Council had before them the attached note (Appendix II) dated May
22, 1919, from the Secretary-General of the Commission on the
International Régime of Ports, Waterways, and Railways. Telegraphic and Telephonic Communication With
Czecho-Slovakia Across Austria and Hungary
(The Articles for inclusion in the Treaties with Hungary were approved
and initialled by the Four Heads of Governments.
Sir Maurice Hankey was instructed to forward the Articles to the
Secretary-General for the information of the Drafting Committee after
ascertaining that the experts were unanimous on the subject).
Villa Majestic,
Paris
, 27 May,
1919.
Appendix I
M–190 (Final Revise)
Despatch to Admiral Koltchak
The Allied and Associated Powers feel that the time has come when it
is necessary for them once more to make clear the policy they
propose to pursue in regard to Russia.
It has always been a cardinal axiom of the Allied and Associated
Powers to avoid interference in the internal affairs of Russia.
Their original intervention was made for the sole purpose of
assisting those elements in Russia which wanted to continue the
struggle against German autocracy and to free their country from
German rule, and in order to rescue the Czecho-Slovaks from the
danger of annihilation at the hands of the Bolshevik forces. Since
the signature of the Armistice on November 11th, 1918. they have
kept forces in various parts of Russia. Munitions and supplies have
been sent to assist those associated with them at a very
considerable cost. No sooner, however, did the Peace Conference
assemble than they endeavoured to bring peace and order to Russia by
inviting representatives of all the warring Governments within
Russia to meet them in the hope that they might be able to arrange a
permanent solution of Russian problems. This proposal and a later
offer to relieve the distress among the suffering millions of Russia
broke down through the refusal of the Soviet Government to accept
the fundamental condition of suspending hostilities while
negotiations
[Page 74]
or the work of
relief was proceeding. Some of the Allied and Associated Governments
are now being pressed to withdraw their troops and to incur no
further expense in Russia on the ground that continued intervention
shows no prospect of producing an early settlement. They are
prepared, however, to continue their assistance on the lines laid
down below, provided they are satisfied that it will really help the
Russian people to liberty, self-government, and peace.
The Allied and Associated Governments now wish to declare formally
that the object of their policy is to restore peace within Russia by
enabling the Russian people to resume control of their own affairs
through the instrumentality of a freely elected Constituent Assembly
and to restore peace along its frontiers by arranging for the
settlement of disputes in regard to the boundaries of the Russian
state and its relations with its neighbours through the peaceful
arbitration of the League of Nations.
They are convinced by their experiences of the last twelve months
that it is not possible to attain these ends by dealings with the
Soviet Government of Moscow. They are therefore disposed to assist
the Government of Admiral Koltchak and his Associates with
munitions, supplies and food, to establish themselves as the
government of all Russia, provided they receive from them definite
guarantees that their policy has the same objects in view as that of
the Allied and Associated Powers. With this object they would ask
Admiral Koltchak and his Associates whether they will agree to the
following as the conditions upon which they accept continued
assistance from the Allied and Associated Powers.
In the first place, that, as soon as they reach Moscow they will
summon a Constituent Assembly elected by a free, secret and
democratic franchise as the Supreme Legislature for Russia to
which the Government of Russia must be responsible, or if at
that time order is not sufficiently restored they will summon
the Constituent Assembly elected in 1917 to sit until such time
as new elections are possible.
Secondly, that throughout the areas which they at present control
they will permit free elections in the normal course for all
local and legally constituted assemblies such as municipalities,
Zemstvos, etc.
Thirdly, that they will countenance no attempt to revive the
special privileges of any class or order in Russia. The Allied
and Associated Powers have noted with satisfaction the solemn
declaration made by Admiral Koltchak and his associates that
they have no intention of restoring the former land system. They
feel that the principles to be followed in the solution of this
and other internal questions must be left to the free decision
of the Russian Constituent Assembly; but they wish to be assured
that those whom they are prepared to assist stand for the civil
and religious liberty of all Russian citizens and will make no
attempt to reintroduce the régime which the revolution has
destroyed.
[Page 75]
Fourthly, that the independence of Finland and Poland be
recognised, and that in the event of the frontiers and other
relations between Russia and these countries not being settled
by agreement, they will be referred to the arbitration of the
League of Nations.
Fifthly, that if a solution of the relations between Esthonia,
Latvia, Lithuania and the Caucasian and Transcaspian territories
and Russia is not speedily reached by agreement the settlement
will be made in consultation and co-operation with the League of
Nations, and that until such settlement is made the Government
of Russia agrees to recognize these territories as autonomous
and to confirm the relations which may exist between their de facto Governments and the Allied and
Associated Governments.
Sixthly, the right of the Peace Conference to determine the
future of the Roumanian part of Bessarabia, be recognised.
Seventhly, that as soon as a Government for Russia has been
constituted on a democratic basis, Russia should join the League
of Nations and co-operate with the other members in the
limitation of armaments and of military organisation throughout
the world.
Finally, that they abide by the declaration made by Admiral
Koltchak on November 27th, 1918, in regard to Russia’s national
debts.2
The Allied and Associated Powers will be glad to learn as soon as
possible whether the Government of Admiral Koltchak and his
associates are prepared to accept these conditions, and also whether
in the event of acceptance they will undertake to form a single
government and army command as soon as the military situation makes
it possible.
- G. Clemenceau
- D. Lloyd George
- V. E. Orlando
- Woodrow Wilson
- Saionji
Appendix II to CF–37
WCP–862
The Secretary General of the
Commission on the International Regime of Ports, Waterways and
Railways to the Secretary General of the Peace
Conference
By its letter of May 15th, 1919, the Economic Commission called the
attention of the Commission on the International Régime of Ports,
Waterways & Railways to a question raised by the Czechoslovak
Delegation relative to the international régime of the telegraph and
telephone service.
The Czecho-Slovak Delegation considers that, given its geographical
position, it is absolutely indispensable for it to have certain
[Page 76]
guarantees for its telegraph
and telephone services, without which it would be at the mercy of
the Enemy Powers.
It demands the insertion of stipulations to that effect in the
Treaties of Peace with Austria and Hungary.
In view of the urgency of the matter, instructions were given to me
to cause the question to be examined by a Technical Committee of the
Commission on the Régime of Ports, and to forward to you direct the
result of this examination. This Technical Committee proposes the
insertion of the clause, copy of which is enclosed.
This clause, which bears the number 38a,
should follow Article 38 of the clauses for insertion in the Treaty
of Peace with Austria forwarded as an enclosure in the letter of May
12th from the President of the Commission on the Régime of
Ports.3
It should, by the way, be observed that it would have been most
desirable to insert a similar clause in the Treaty of Peace with
Germany, but doubt regarding the extent of the respective powers of
the Commission on Ports and the Economic Commission, and the fact
that the Czecho-Slovak Republic was not represented on the latter
Commission, delayed the examination of the Régime of telegraph and
telephone services, so that this question could not be settled
before May 21st.
Enclosure to Above
Article 38a
In consequence of the geographical position of the Czecho-Slovak
Republic, Austria Hungary accepts the following modifications in the
International Telegraph and Telephone Conventions referred to in
Article … (renewal of these Conventions—Article 283 of the Treaty
with Germany):
- 1.
- On the demand of the Czecho-Slovak Republic, Austria
Hungary will provide that State with direct telegraph lines
across Austrian Hungarian territory and will ensure their
upkeep;
- 2.
- The annual rent which the Czecho-Slovak Republic will have
to pay for each of these lines will be reckoned in
accordance with the stipulations of the Conventions above
mentioned. However, this rent, in default of agreement to
the contrary, shall not be less than the sum which, in
accordance with those Conventions would have to be paid for
the number of messages laid down by the said Conventions as
conferring the right to demand new direct lines.
- 3.
- So long as the Czecho-Slovak Republic pays the above
minimum annual rent for a direct line:
[Page 77]
- (a)
- this line shall be exclusively reserved for
transit service from and to the Czecho-Slovak
Republic;
- (b)
- the authorization given to Austria Hungary by
Article 8 of the International Telegraph Convention
of July 22nd 18754 to suspend the International
Telegraph Service shall not apply to this
line.
- 4.
- Similar conditions shall apply to the placing at the
disposal of the Czecho-Slovak Republic and to the upkeep of
direct telephone circuits. However, in default of agreement
to the contrary, the rent payable by the Czecho-Slovak
Republic for a direct telephone circuit shall be double the
rent to be paid for a direct telegraph line.
- 5.
- A subsequent Convention between the States concerned shall
indicate the special lines with which Austria Hungary shall
be bound to provide the Czecho-Slovak Republic, and the
administrative, technical and financial conditions not laid
down in the International Conventions or in the stipulations
of the present Article. In case of disagreement, whether
concerning the conclusion of this Convention or its
interpretation, or the interpretation of the present
Article, an Arbitrator appointed by the Council of the
League of Nations shall decide the points which form the
subject of the disagreement.
- 6.
- At any time the stipulations contained in the present
Article may be modified by an agreement between Austria
Hungary and the Czechoslovak Republic. In case of
disagreement between the parties and after the expiration of
a period of ten years from the coming into force of the
present Treaty, the conditions in accordance with which the
Czecho-Slovak Republic shall enjoy the rights given to it by
the present Article may be modified on the demand of either
of the parties by an Arbitrator appointed by the Council of
the League of Nations.
