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

Paris Peace Conf. 184.00101/108

Minutes of the Daily Meetings of the Commissioners Plenipotentiary, Wednesday, July 9th, 1919

July 9, 1919

• Present:
  • Mr. Lansing
  • Mr. White
  • General Bliss
  • Mr. Harrison

I. Mr. Grew and Mr. McNeir entered the meeting and discussed the question of the re-organization of the Commission. Changes in the Organization the American Commission To Negotiate Peace

The Commissioners and Mr. Grew approved the two following orders submitted by Mr. McNeir:

“It is hereby ordered that the office of the Personnel Officer of this Commission be abolished and the duties of that office transferred to the office of the Executive Secretary.

All records affecting the army officers shall be transferred to the Commanding Officer of the Headquarters Detachment who will, in the future, keep such records as are necessary for the military service of the Commission.”

“It is hereby ordered that the office of the Administrative Officer be abolished and that the duties of that office be transferred, together with the archives of the office, to the office of the Executive Secretary and that the personnel of the now existing office of the Administrative Officer be released as soon as army requirements allow.”

It was decided that Mr. Grew should issue a general circular notifying the various members of the American Commission regarding the changes in the present organization.

II. Memorandum No. 446 of July 8th, submitted by the Committee on Appointments, was read out:

(a) The Commissioners approved the appointment of Mr. Osborne to serve as Secretary of the Committee;

(b) The Commissioners disapproved of Mr. Osborne’s appointment as a member of the Committee; Memorandum Submitted by Committee on Appointments

(c) The Commissioners approved the appointment of Colonel U. S. Grant as a member of the Committee;

(d) The Commissioners thought that it would be unnecessary to request that a personnel officer should come to Paris for consultation regarding the appointment of army officers, as it was understood that G. H. Q. was moving to Paris by the 15th of July.

III. The Commissioners approved Mr. Frank L. Warrin, Jr.’s request for release from the Commission, to take effect either on the 14th or 20th of July, as transportation and other arrangements may permit. Release of Mr. Frank L. Warrin, Jr.

IV. Memorandum No. 447 was read out. The Commissioners approved the acceptance of the resignation of Miss Babeuf, and the appointment of Army Field Clerk de Serres for service in the Translation Bureau. Change in Personnel of Translation Bureau

V. Memorandum dated July 7th, submitted by Major Tyler regarding the appointment of Baron von Lersner as Chairman of the German Delegation, etc., was read out, and the contents noted by the Commissioners. Appointment of Baron von Lersner as Chairman of German Delegation

VI. Memorandum No. 448 regarding the salary and release of Mr. D. L. Ullman was read out. The Commissioners approved Mr. Ullman’s release and the payment of salary and transportation, as stated in the Memorandum. Payment of Salary and Release of Mr. D. L. Ullman

VII. Memorandum No. 449 regarding the request of the Chief Engineer of the A. E. F. for the temporary release of Colonel T. H. Dillon from duty with the Commission was read out. The Commissioners directed that a message should be sent in the name of the American Commissioners to the Chief Engineer stating that the services of Colonel Dillon are so valuable to the Commission at this time that he cannot be spared. Request for Temporary Release of Col. T. H. Dillon

VIII. Memorandum No. 450 regarding the request submitted by Captain Simon Reisler, now attached to the Inter-allied Rhineland Commission, that the Commission authorize the issuance of a passport to his wife and two children, was read. Request of Capt. Reisler for Passports for His Wife and Children

The Commissioners had no objection to the issuance of the passports in question, provided the War Department has, likewise, no objection thereto.

IX. Memorandum No. 451 regarding the assignment of military personnel to the Mission to Poland was read.

The Commissioners gave their approval, and directed that a request for the assignment of the army personnel mentioned in the memorandum be addressed to General Pershing by the Secretary General. Assignment of Army Personnel to the Mission to Poland

X. The Commissioners approved the payment of 100 francs to each barber, as outlined in Mr. Patchin’s memorandum to Grew of June 26th, and directed that the question of the settlement with the tailors be referred to Mr. McNeir. Payment of Gratuities to Barbers and Tailors Serving in the Crillon

General Bliss introduced Major General Summerall who had been named the American representative on the Inter-allied Commission of Inquiry to Fiume.

Mr. Lansing gave General Summerall a brief outline of the recent events at Fiume according to the information which he had received and also stated briefly what had occurred in the Council of Five at the meetings of July 7th and July 8th.⁸

Mr. Lansing suggested that General Summerall should obtain the information which Admiral Knapp received from Admiral Andrews and directed Mr. Harrison to see that the General received all the papers in the case.

The Commissioners requested General Summerall to keep them advised by telegraph of the results of his investigation which it was thought he would have no difficulty in doing through the Navy wireless, as there was already an American destroyer at Fiume and it would not be long before the cruiser already ordered there would arrive.

8. See HD–1 and HD–2, vol. vii, pp. 32 and 45.