Paris Peace Conf. 184.00101/134
Minutes of the Daily Meetings of the Commissioners Plenipotentiary, Monday, August 11, 1919
- Present:
- Mr. Polk
- Mr. White
- Gen. Bliss
- Mr. Harrison
I. Mr. White introduced Mr. Buxton who had recently arrived from Budapest, having left there last Wednesday evening.
Mr. Buxton stated that the Rumanians were requisitioning cattle, flour; that they had cut off all telephone communication in private houses; that they were seizing all sewing machines, factory machines and motor cars. In a word he considered the present Rumanian action to be an efficient looting expedition and tried [carried?] on by a second rate state in the face of the wishes of the Conference. Moreover, the Bratiano Government had been about to fall and he believed that the Rumanian counterattack against the Hungarians had been a desperate effort on the part of Bratiano to re-establish his position. As it happened it had turned [out] to be a magnificent success. Mr. Buxton asked whether any means had been found to coerce Rumania. In reply Mr. Polk stated that the Conference seemed to have no immediate means. While the Rumanians now seemed to be independent, they would shortly find themselves in a difficult position, say in about six months, when they would undoubtedly present requests for financial assistance from the United States and Great Britain. The Rumanians had been told that they could not expect such economic assistance from the United States and he knew Mr. Balfour felt the same way as regards assistance from England. Hearing of Mr. Buxton From Budapest
Mr. Buxton observed that the Rumanian Government was not representing the Rumanian people but was, in fact, a small clique … Mr. Buxton also spoke of the attitude of the Rumanian soldiers in Budapest and stated that a Rumanian soldier had bayonetted a woman in whose house he was billeted. He pointed out, however, the chief type [Page 374] of outrage now being practiced was against the former Reds and that the whites were undoubtedly hunting suspected Bolsheviks. He believed that disorder would have been less if the compromise government of Peidl had been kept going. He said that the Rumanians had refused to let him depart by train, and that he finally got away by motor. The foreign press representatives in Budapest had reported rumors of pogroms, also that 300 to 500 persons had been killed. It was uncertain whether this was true. Just before Mr. Buxton left Budapest arrangements had been made to get some food into the city from Vienna. The reactionary Hungarians who had taken refuge in Austria were now streaming back to Budapest.
As regards the Archduke Joseph, Mr. Buxton said that he was a good fellow, that he was very popular and had been one of the few who had not run away on the event [advent?] of the Reds to power.
Mr. Polk asked Mr. Buxton how far the Rumanians had been responsible for the overthrow of the Peidl Government and the setting up of the Government under Archduke Joseph.
Mr. Buxton answered that General Gorton was of the opinion that the change in government had been entirely due to the support given by the Rumanians. The latter had got together with Hungarian Gendarmerie and had armed them. Moreover, the Gendarmerie had been able to feel that they were backed by the Rumanian forces. As a matter of fact, however, even before the coup d’état, the Peidl Government machine had been lying idle as they had no means of enforcing their authority in the presence of the Rumanian occupation.
Mr. Buxton said that the food situation on Wednesday had been very bad, that there was no food at all, even for the hospitals. The situation had been critical until the Americans managed to get some food in on Thursday.
Mr. Buxton then withdrew.
II. The Commissioners approved the request of General Harbord’s organization for permission to take to Armenia certain reports belonging to the Commission as stated in Memorandum No. 537. Loan of Archives to the Mission of General Harbord
III. General Bliss said that he had received a letter from General Weygand asking for the appointment of the American officers to the Organizing Commission of Control in accordance with the decision taken by the Supreme Council at its mating of August 8th.26 The General pointed out that he had already informed Marshal Foch that it would be impossible for the United States to appoint representatives to take part in commissions under the Treaty with Germany until the ratification of the Treaty by the United States. He would therefore have to answer General Weygand’s letter in that sense. American Participation in Commission of Control
[Page 375]General Bliss also suggested that in approving the creation or appointment of commissions, it would be well for purposes of record to state that the United States would be unable to participate in such commissions until the treaty had been ratified.
IV. The Commissioners had before them a memorandum from Mr. Nielsen asking that military and naval representatives be appointed to attend the meeting to be held tomorrow, August 12th, regarding the revision of the Treaties of 1839. Appointment of Military and Naval Experts To Attend the Meeting of the Commission To Treaties of 1839
General Bliss designated Colonel Embick to attend the meeting as military representative, and the Secretary was directed to request Admiral Knapp to designate a naval representative for this purpose.
V. The Commissioners directed the Secretary to consult Admiral Knapp regarding action to be taken on Department’s telegram No. 2767, August 8, 8 p.m., regarding cable communication between Manila and Shanghai. Cable Communication Between Manila and Shanghai
VI. Mr. Polk stated that he had had a conversation with Mr. Hudson of the Editing Committee. Mr. Hudson had recommended the recasting of the Austrian Treaty, an opportunity for which was presented in making the reply to the Austrian observations, and had requested instructions from the Commission in the matter. Recasting the Austrian Treaty
Mr. Polk stated that he agreed with Mr. Hudson’s views.
The Commissioners decided to authorize Mr. Hudson or his successor on the Editing Committee to support the proposal of their British colleague, looking to the recasting of the Austrian Treaty.
VII. The Secretary read certain telegrams which had been received over Mr. Hoover’s wires from Budapest since the last meeting of the Commission. First, a telegram dated August 7th, from Colonel Causey to Mr. Hoover regarding the railroad situation; second, a telegram dated August 8th, from General Gorton to Colonel Twiss of the British Mission; third, a telegram from Archduke Joseph to Mr. Clemenceau dated August 8th; fourth, a telegram from Colonel Causey dated August 8th, to Messrs. Hoover and Atwood; fifth, a telegram from General Gorton, dated August 9th, to Mr. Balfour. News From Hungry
VIII. The Commissioners had before them telegram No. 2750 of August 7th, 6 p.m., from the State Department, addressed to Mr. Polk, asking that he confer with General Bliss and Mr. Parker of the Liquidation Committee with a view to supplying the forces acting under General Yudenitch with military equipment from American supplies in France. Military Equipment From American Supplies in France for General Yudenitch
[Page 376]General Bliss undertook to investigate this matter, and directed the Secretary to request Major Tyler to report to him immediately for a conference in regard thereto.
- HD–27, minute 9, vol. vii, p. 632.↩