Paris Peace Conf. 184.00101/102
Minutes of the Daily Meetings of the Commissioners Plenipotentiary, Thursday, July 3, 1919
- Present:
- Mr. Lansing
- Mr. White
- Gen. Bliss
- Mr. Herter
1. General Bliss stated that General Pershing had recommended that the American to be designated on the Schleswig Commission, provided for by the Treaty of Peace, should be General Sladen. The Commissioners agreed this would be a better appointment than Col. Solbert, and requested, therefore, that a telegram be drafted to the Department of State, asking it to take up with the War Department the question as to whether General Sladen would later be available for this post, and, at the same time, stating that the Mission feels that, because of Col. Solbert’s association with the Legation at Copenhagen, which the Commissioners had just discovered, he would not be the most suitable person. General Sladen for Schleswig Commission
2. Mr. Herter brought to the attention of the Commissioners four suggestions which the Steering Committee desired to have considered.2 These suggestions were the following: Suggestions of Steering Committee
(a) It being understood that the American representatives are not attending some of the meetings of the Commissions on the subjects relating to the Treaties with Bulgaria and Turkey, the opinion of the Commissioners is desired as to whether our experts should not attend all such meetings and participate fully in the preparatory work for these treaties. If decided that they shall participate in such meetings, we recommend that instructions be issued to that effect.
The Commissioners decided that the American experts on the various commissions should participate fully in all the work aiming toward the preparation of the Treaties with Bulgaria and Turkey, and desired that a circular to that effect be issued to all the members of the Commission who might be affected thereby.
(b) The Steering Committee requests that a memorandum from Professors Day and Coolidge, asking certain questions in regard to the Near-East, be referred to a Special Committee, as a membership for which the following individuals are suggested: [Page 266]
- Dr. Johnson
- Professor Coolidge
- Mr. Buckler
- Mr. Dominian
The Commissioners approved entirely of the formation of this Special Committee, with the exception of Mr. Dominian, whom they felt it would be unnecessary to include.
(c) The following subjects appear to require prompt attention, and as far as the Committee knows, have not been definitely settled:
- (1)
- The appointment of Commissions of Control, etc. called for to execute the terms of the Treaty of Peace with Germany as shown in a list which we have prepared.
- (2)
- It is suggested that the Commission may decide to designate a committee to ascertain the desirability of designating Americans to do some preliminary work in anticipation of the definite establishment of Commissions required by the Treaty. In many cases the labors of these Commissions will be such, and the time within which they are to accomplish their work so short, that unless some preliminary work is done for them, it will be difficult to execute the intended treaty.
It was decided that in regard to these two unsettled questions, a committee consisting of Mr. Harrison, Mr. Dresel, Mr. Foster Dulles and Mr. Grew should be constituted to consider the whole question of appointments on these commissions, as well as the extent to which the American appointees should begin their preliminary work therefor at once.
(d) It is recommended that the policy of the United States in regard to Russia and the countries formed from the old Russian Empire should be confidentially circulated among the assistants to the Commission for their guidance.
The Commissioners agreed entirely with this recommendation and requested Mr. Herter to draft a short statement for their approval which could be circulated to the members of the Mission interested.
3. Memorandum No. 434 was read in which Mr. Morgenthau requested the assignment of certain military personnel to be attached to his Mission to Poland. The Commissioners stated that, before taking any decision in this matter, they desired that Mr. Morgenthau ascertain informally from General Pershing whether there would be any objection to these officers and men being assigned to the Mission in question. Military Personnel for Mission to Poland
4. Memorandum No. 435 was read in which it was inquired whether the Commissioners would be willing to authorize Mr. Grew to give to Mr. Shepardson, for use in connection with the work which he is about to undertake on the International Secretariat of the League of Nations, the Minutes and Proceedings of the Council of Ten, the Council of Five, etc. and the various commissions appointed by [Page 267] the Conference. The Commissioners decided that since they were unable to grant Mr. Shepardson any official recognition at this time in connection with his proposed work for the International Secretariat of the League of Nations, they could not give him the Minutes in question, since he would soon have only the status of a private citizen. Minutes of Council of Four, etc. of Allied and Associated Governments
5. Memorandum No. 436 was read, inquiring whether the Commissioners desired to authorize the payment by the Disbursing Officer of a sum of $225 per week for the maintenance of the Committee on Public Information News Service from the New York office. The Commissioners approved entirely of the authorization of the payment of the sum in question. Committee on Public Information
6. Memorandum No. 437 was read, stating that Mr. Whitney Shepardson proposed to assist Mr. Raymond Fosdick, whom Sir Eric Drummond had asked to assist him on the International Secretariat of the League of Nations, subject to the approval of the Commissioners. The Commissioners stated that they were unable to express either approval or disapproval in this matter, since it was none of their business what Mr. Shepardson did after leaving the Commission, as he would then become a private citizen. Mr. Whitney Shepardson’s Proposal To Assist on International Secretariat of League of Nations