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

Paris Peace Conf. 184.00101/112

Minutes of the Daily Meetings of the Commissioners Plenipotentiary, Tuesday, July 15th, 1919

July 15, 1919

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

I. Memorandum No. 471 recommending the designation of Mr. Herbert Putnam, Librarian of Congress, as special librarian to the American Commission to Negotiate Peace, was read. Mr. Putnam Designated Special Librarian of the Mission

The Commissioners approved this designation and authorized the Secretary General so to inform Mr. Putnam.

II. Memorandum No. 472 regarding an inquiry addressed to the Secretary General by Mr. J. B. Brown, inquiring whether or not the United States is to be a party to and bound by the Treaties to be signed with Bulgaria and Turkey, was read. Signature by the United States of Peace Treaties With Bulgaria and Turkey

The Commissioners desired that a telegram be sent to the President stating that this question had been put to them by one of the technical advisers, and that they had referred to the President’s statement made to the Press before his departure, to the effect that the United States would sign the Treaties with Bulgaria and Turkey, and that, consequently, the United States would be bound by these Treaties. The Commissioners thought it well that the President should also be informed that our experts had stated that if the United States were not to guarantee these Treaties, the position which they would take in drawing up the terms of the Treaty might perhaps be different. The President should be asked whether the Commissioners’ action in the matter had his approval.

III. Memorandum submitted by Mr. Tyler, dated July 12th, containing certain information regarding the Austrian Delegation, was read, and the contents noted by the Commissioners. Memorandum From Major Tyler Relative to Austrian Delegation

IV. The Commissioners decided to make the following reply to the recommendations submitted in Memoranda Nos. 464 and 465, dated July 10, 1919:

“Colonel Greene should be informed that at the last meeting of the American Delegation, prior to the departure of Mr. Lansing, it was unanimously held that the American Peace Commission cannot properly advise the Liquidation Commission on such matters. The sale of public of the United States left in France by the Army is prescribed in a law of Congress. If the sales in question can properly be made under that law, it is assumed that the Liquidation Commission will be glad to make them. If the Commission holds that these sales cannot properly be made under the law, it is not competent for the American Peace Delegation to advise, but it would seem that the interested parties should have the matter brought to the attention of the Attorney General.” Sale of Arms, Munitions and Military Equipment by Liquidation Commission to Russian Volunteer Forces and to Esthonia, Latvia and Lithuania

V. The Commissioners decided that a reply be made to the recommendations contained in Memorandum No. 463 of July 10, 1919, based on the following memorandum presented by General Bliss: Mission to Finland, Esthonia, Latvis and Lithuania

“In the light of the discussion in the American Delegation before the departure of Mr. Secretary Lansing, I suggest that the following reply, in substance, be communicated to Lieut. Colonel Greene:

(1) That Mr. Secretary Lansing disapproved the designation ‘Mission’, on the ground that it is competent neither for the State Department nor this Delegation to send a Mission, but only a ‘Commission’.

(2) That the Commission should be for the Baltic States, including Lithuania, and excluding Finland.

(3) That the only duties which can be assigned to the Commission by this Delegation are ‘to investigate and report on political, economic and military conditions:’ that this Delegation may assign such duties because information on these subjects may assist it in solving problems which may come before it in its official capacity as the American Peace Delegation; and that additional functions can be assigned to it only by the government in Washington.

(4) That the American Delegation is empowered solely to take part in the negotiations of a Treaty of Peace with the Central Powers with which it had been at war and that it can have no other policy than to accomplish this task as soon as it can properly be done; and that it cannot, therefore, authorize any policy to be carried out by anyone other than itself.

In paragraph 3 (c)¹⁰ there is noted a reference to the ‘British Military Mission’. It is believed association with this British Military Mission has given a natural, but wrong impression as to the character of the American Commission in the Baltic Provinces. The British Military Mission was sent out by the British Government and not by the British Peace Delegation in Paris. It is a governmental agency and may exercise such powers and perform, such functions as its government may assign to it. The case is entirely different with the American Commission. The natural misunderstanding as to the powers and duties of the members of the American Commission must be the explanation of the statement in the footnote at the bottom of Colonel Greene’s memorandum, and which is to the effect that Colonel Dawley is now, as Colonel Greene understands, acting as Military Governor of Riga. I am obliged to invite the attention of the American Delegation to this extraordinary fact, because I very much fear that it may lead to the War Department directing the withdrawal of all army officers of this Commission. The American Peace Delegation is now in the embarrassing position of having an officer, who was sent at its request to collect certain information, acting as Military Governor of a foreign city belonging to a country with which we have never been at war and acting under the orders of a foreign general. In his capacity as Military Governor he may at any moment be obliged to resort to measures resulting in the loss of many lives. I think that the American Peace Delegation would be in an indefensible position were it to become known that an officer attached to it may be occupying the position which Colonel Greene thinks it possible that Colonel Dawley is now occupying. I urgently recommend that this Delegation immediately, in writing, direct Colonel Greene to immediately communicate with Colonel Dawley and should he actually be performing the functions of Military Governor of Riga, that he be ordered to immediately surrender this position and return to his proper functions.”

VI. The Commissioners heard Mr. Homer Johnson regarding Mr. Morgenthau’s request for additional personnel to be assigned to his mission, as stated in Memorandum No. 469 of July 11th. Additional Personnel for Mr. Morgenthau’s mission to Poland

Mr. Johnson pointed out that the list given in Memorandum No. 469 was not up-to-date. The correct list was that given in Major Otto’s letter of July 11th. He would point out, however, that Mr. H. C. Jacquith was coming back to Paris, that 1st Sergeant John P. Lawton might be stricken off the list as he had not gone with the automobiles to Warsaw, and that three of the six remaining chauffeurs would return to Paris as soon as the cars had been delivered in Warsaw. Mr. Booth was also coming back to Paris.

Mr. Johnson felt that all the remaining personnel mentioned in Major Otto’s letter of July 11th were necessary, with the possible exception of Captain G. C. Stefaniak and Second Lieutenant W. S. Gunbeck. These men, however, were both fine types of Americans, and both came from a part of the country where the population was very mixed, realized the difficulties to be faced, and knew how the problem had been solved in the United States. Mr. Johnson felt that the Mission needed just such a steady American flavor.

Mr. Johnson also stated that if he were unable to obtain the services of Captain George Gordon, he would like to employ Mr. Tyng.

After talking the matter over somewhat further with Mr. Johnson, the Commissioners approved the list as given in Major Otto’s letter of July 11th, with the exception of 1st Sergeant John P. Lawton, whose services were not desired. The Commissioners also approved of the confirmation of the assignment of Lieutenant Colonel M. C. Bryant, who had already left for Poland, and whose name did not appear in Major Otto’s letter.

VII. General Bliss introduced Brigadier General Sladen, whom the Commissioners had appointed as American representative on the Inter-allied Mission to Schleswig. Brig. Gen Sladen, American Representative on the Inter-allied Mission to Schleswig

The Commissioners suggested that General Sladen should see the Secretary General, from whom he should obtain his letter of appointment, instructions, and any information which he might desire. The Commissioners stated that they would be glad to receive General Sladen tomorrow morning if he were ready, but certainly sometime before his departure.

VIII. M. Hymans and the Comte de Gruin (?) were received by the Commissioners. M. Hymans explained that he had come before his departure to ask that the American Delegation give its approval to the proposed convention between Belgium and Great Britain relating to German East Africa, which was to be considered at the meeting of the Commission on Mandates on the 17th instant. This convention had been negotiated between Lord Milner and M. Orts. The part of German East Africa to be assigned under the convention to Belgium was less large than the part that Belgian troops had occupied and administered for the last three years. M. Hymans was pleased to state that the way in which Belgium had administered this territory had given the greatest satisfaction to the natives, as he was prepared to prove by the submission of various documents. He hoped that the American Commissioners would examine this question favorably, as he considered it to be of the greatest importance to his country. He explained further that this convention was known to Colonel House, the American member of the Commission on Mandates, who had sat in when the agreement between France and Great Britain on the Togo and the Cameroons had been approved. M. Hymans was leaving this evening for Brussels, and during his absence the Comte de Gruin would have charge of the matter on his behalf. Proposal Convention Betweeen Belgium and Great Britain Relating to German East Africa

Mr. White informed M. Hymans that the American Commissioners had no feeling of antagonism to any arrangement between Belgium and Great Britain. Nevertheless, there was the question of American participation in such matters before the treaty had been ratified on the part of the United States.

M. Hymans stated that the Council of the Principal Allied and Associated Powers had referred the general question of mandates and this matter to a special commission set up for the purpose before the Treaty with Germany was signed. He again expressed the hope that the American Delegates would see their way to give the matter favorable consideration, as it was of great importance to Belgium.

10. Of Colonel Greene’s memorandum.