Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, The Paris Peace Conference, 1919, Volume XI

Paris Peace Conf. 184.00101/101

Minutes of the Daily Meetings of the Commissioners Plenipotentiary, Wednesday, July 2, 1919

July 2, 1919

• Present:
  • Mr. Lansing
  • Mr. White
  • Gen. Bliss
  • Mr. Herter

1. Memoranda Nos. 428, 429 and 430, regarding the political situation in Germany and the status of Mr. Dyar’s office, were read and noted by the Commissioners.

2. Mr. Herter read a memorandum prepared by Professor Johnson. The Commissioners decided that the following concessions should be made to Professor Johnson: Privileges for Prof. Johnson

1) To grant Professor Johnson a vacation of two weeks, without loss of salary, to be taken by him at a time when his services can be best spared.

2) To allow Professor Johnson commutation as a particular favor, in order that he might move from the hotel to other lodgings. In this connection, the Commissioners wished it understood that this was absolutely an exceptional case, and could not be used as a precedent by any other individuals requesting commutation.

3) To authorize Professor Johnson the use of an automobile, as he requested. As in No. 2, this is to be considered as an exceptional favor.

4) To give to Professor Johnson such assistance in the form of stenographic help that he might need.

5) To authorize an increase of $200.00 per month in Professor Johnson’s salary, for the months of July and August.

3. Memorandum No. 431 was read, in regard to a number of informal requests that had been received for space on the Crillon balconies or in the windows facing 4 Place de la Concorde for July 14th. The Commissioners agreed that only the requests of Americans for such space should be considered. In any case, they desired that Mr. Grew furnish them with a list of applicants in order that they might determine the priority of these requests. Space on Balconies of Crillon Hotel on, July 41th, 1919

4. Mr. Herter read a letter addressed to Mr. Harrison by Mr. McNeir, requesting that he be relieved from duty with the Commission on or about July 20th, with permission to travel about thirty days before returning to the United States. The Commissioners approved of Mr. McNeir’s request. They likewise approved of having the vouchers of Mr. McNeir’s office turned over to a guard, for shipment to the United States, at the time of the final closing of the Commission. Release of Mr. McNeir

5. Memorandum No. 432 was read, inquiring if the Commissioners approved of having certain questions in regard to the settlement of the Teschen question put upon the agenda of the Council of Five and wither the Commissioners approved of an additional appropriation to Mr. Howe, the American representative on the Inter-Allied Commission for the Control of Teschen, of from $1,000 to $2,000. The Commissioners authorized the allotment of from $1,000 to $2,000 to Mr. Howe, but felt that they did not wish to pass upon the matter of having the Teschen questions put on the agenda of the Council of Five without first receiving the advice of Professors Johnson and Coolidge on this point. Inter-Allied Commission for Control of Teschen

6. Memorandum No. 433 was read, suggesting that Dr. Manley O. Hudson be named the American representative on a Committee to Examine and Draft a reply to the Austrian Note of June 23 on the League of Nations. The Commissioners approved of Dr. Hudson’s appointment on the committee in question. Committee on Reply to Austrian Note

7. Colonel Greene, Major Devereux and Major Tyler entered the meeting. Colonel Greene summed up, briefly, for the Commissioners the situation in the Baltic States, and, at the same time, submitted a written report as to conditions in that district as he had found them. He, likewise, made certain recommendations as to the way in which the situation in that district should be treated. After some discussion, it was decided that General Bliss and Colonel Greene should see Mr. Bakmetieff, formerly Russian Ambassador to Washington, as to the best course to pursue in regard to the Baltic states. In this connection, Mr. Lansing again outlined briefly the policy which he felt that the United States should pursue in regard to Russia and the small states bordering on Russia which now desire independence. This policy was substantially the same as that which he outlined to the Ukrainian Delegation two days previously. Col. Greene, Major Devereux, Major Tyler

The meeting adjourned at 11:30 and re-convened at 12 noon.

Mr. Hoover entered the meeting.

Mr. Hoover stated that he had come to again discuss with the Commissioners the question of relief in Armenia. He stated that he understood that General Harbord was to be sent to Armenia to investigate conditions in that country and to report as to the total number of troops which would be required to repatriate the Armenian population and keep the country in order. To send General Harbord in this capacity, Mr. Hoover felt would be very unwise, and, at the same time, to realize the difficulty of giving to General Harbord an administrative position without supplying him with a great number of troops. At the same time he felt that by sending General Harbord to Armenia, the American Commission would be doing an involuntary piece of propaganda, looking towards the acceptance by the United States of a mandate over that country.

Mr. Hoover then described the work which had been done in Russian Armenia by the Commission of the Far [Near?] East, to assist in relieving hunger and want. … In Mr. Hoover’s opinion, a single competent official should be sent to Armenia, to whom Mr. Hoover could turn over all the foodstuffs now in that district for distribution and to whom the Commission of the Far East should be required to turn over its funds for relief purposes. Such a person, if invested with proper authority by the Supreme Council in Paris, could become a virtual dictator in that country and could develop a proper and competent administration.

Mr. Hoover read a memorandum which he had prepared in regard to the whole Armenian situation. The Commissioners agreed that the substance of this memorandum should be embodied in any reply that was sent to the telegram which had been received by the Commissioners from a committee, of which Charles E. Hughes was the chairman, and which had asked certain specific questions in regard to Armenia.⁹⁹ Mr. Hoover felt, however, that if this were done, there should be added to this memorandum a statement to the effect that no action should be taken by the United States in Armenia without a complete and very thorough investigation of the geographical boundaries which would be given to this country because of the tremendous economic importance of these boundaries.

The Commissioners decided that Mr. Hoover, with Mr. Morgenthau and Mr. Buckler, should draft an appropriate reply to Mr. Hughes.¹

99. For this telegram, see Foreign Relations, 1919, vol. ii, p. 824.
1. For the reply as sent, see ibid., p. 825.