Office of the Historian

Paris Peace Conf. 184.00101/129

Minutes of the Daily Meetings of the Commissioners Plenipotentiary, Saturday, August 2nd, 1919

August 2, 1919
  • Present:
    • Mr. Polk
    • Mr. White
    • General Bliss
    • Mr. Harrison

I. The Commissioners approved the release of Lieutenant Amory, as stated in Memorandum No. 518. Release of 2nd Lieut. Copley Amory, Jr.

II. Memorandum No. 519 from the Disbursing Officer regarding Mr. Hudson’s request for an allowance of $300 for his passage to America on the S. S. Baltic was read. Transportation for Mr. Manley O. Hudson

The Commissioners approved Mr. Hudson’s request for an allowance of $300 to defray the expenses of his passage to America on the S. S. Baltic, sailing on August 8th. The Commissioners hoped, however, that Mr. Hudson would see his way clear to remain until the various questions connected with the Bulgarian Treaty are decided.

III. Memorandum No. 520, submitted by Major Tyler regarding his conversation with Baron Eichoff and General Slatin was read and noted by the Commissioners. Major Tyler’s Report of Conversation With Baron Eichoff and General Slatin

The Commissioners directed that the matters contained in the first paragraph of Major Tyler’s memorandum should be brought to the attention of Mr. John Foster Dulles for consideration and report, and that the question brought up by General Slatin as reported in the last paragraph of Major Tyler’s memorandum should be referred to the American Representatives on the Prisoners of War Commission for consideration and report.

[Page 357]

IV. Memorandum No. 521, recommending the withdrawal of all Field Missions as soon as possible, with the exception of the Rhineland Commission, the Missions to Austria and Germany, and the Tiflis Section of the South Russian Mission, and an allotment of $2,000 to the last named Mission, was read. Field Missions

The Commissioners questioned the necessity for maintaining the Tiflis Section of the South Russian Mission, in view of the report concerning the Mission that had been received from Mr. Ravndal, at Constantinople. It was believed that Colonel Haskell could secure any necessary information from the American Consul.

The Commissioners therefore directed that this question be referred back to the Secretary General for further consideration.

The Commissioners approved the other recommendations submitted in the Memorandum in question, namely, that the Rhineland Commission, and the Missions to Austria and Germany should be maintained, and that all other Field Missions should be withdrawn as soon as possible.

V. Memorandum No. 522, regarding military personnel of the Commission was read.

General Bliss explained that his check marks on the list of officers now with the Commission was not to be considered final, and was based on his understanding that the officers in question were attached to Field Missions and had been, or were about to be relieved. The General had not checked the name of Lieutenant Milton Garver, listed as doing current intelligence summaries, as he did not feel in a position to state whether this officer was indispensable or no. If Lieutenant Reginald C. Foster was not to be relieved but was to be demobilized in Europe, this was a matter for the State Department to decide, as he was attached to the Legation at Warsaw. The General had checked the name of Major Martin, as he was on the list as a Field Observer. The General would have no objection to his remaining with the Mission if this was thought desirable. Military Personnel of the Commission

The Commissioners desired that the Secretary General submit as soon as possible a complete list of regular army personnel, officers, field clerks and enlisted men, which General Bliss might communicate to General Pershing, with a resquest that he endeavor to detail them for service with the Commission.

The Commissioners also desired that the Secretary General should prepare a list of the temporary officers whose services with the Commission are found indispensable, and who could not be substituted by regular officers.

The Secretary General was further requested, with this list, to submit a memorandum of the expense which would be entailed in each [Page 358] case, as suggested in the ante-penultimate paragraph of the memorandum under consideration, with a view to final reference to the State Department, with a request for necessary appropriation.

In this connection General Bliss requested that Major Tyler furnish him as soon as possible with a list of the personnel to be relieved immediately under the decision regarding Field Missions.