Office of the Historian

Paris Peace Conf. 184.00101/135

Minutes of the Daily Meetings of the Commissioners Plenipotentiary, Tuesday, August 12, 1919

August 12, 1919
  • Present:
    • Mr. Polk
    • Mr. White
    • General Bliss
    • Mr. Harrison

I. The Commissioners approved the recommendation contained in Memorandum No. 538 for the demobilization of Major Royall Tyler and Captain Hayford Peirce, and their employment by the Commission at their present army salaries.

In this connection the Commissioners desired the Secretary General submit a list of temporary officers now attached to the Commission whose demobilization in Europe should be requested of the War Department, and that a telegram to the Secretary of State be prepared for their approval, giving the names of these officers, requesting the Secretary of State to ask the Secretary of War to permit these officers to remain with the Mission as long as possible, say until September 20th, and that the Secretary of War instruct General Pershing that they be demobilized at that time. Retention of Major Tyler and Captain Peirce by the Commission

II. Memorandum No. 539 regarding the assignment of officers for duty in the neutral zone between the Czecho-Slovak and Hungarian Forces with particular reference to the assignment of Captain Wheeler for this duty was read. Assignment of Officers for Duty in Slovakia

The Commissioners approved the recommendation submitted in the memorandum that Captain Wheeler be informed that the Commissioners are not in a position to make the assignment suggested by him. Furthermore, this question is a matter resting entirely between the American Minister at Prague, the State Department and the War Department and does not concern the American Commission to Negotiate Peace. The Commission has simply assisted in the transmission of the request presented by Mr. Crane27 to the Department of State.

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III. The Secretary read a communication from Admiral Knapp dated August 10th, quoting a telegram received from Rear Admiral Andrews to the effect that the Commission would finish their labors Saturday, that they would leave Sunday for Venice, and that they would arrive in Paris Tuesday morning. Return of General Summerall

IV. The Commissioners approved the telegram prepared by General Bliss in reply to the Department’s Telegram No. 2750 of August 7, 6 p.m., with regard to supply[ing] the forces acting under General Yudenitch with military equipment from American supplies in France.28 Military Equipment Contingent for Force of Occupation in Upper Silesia

V. The Commissioners approved a telegram to the Secretary of State requesting that the question of American participation in the occupation of Upper Silesia under the Treaty be laid before the President and his wishes ascertained in the matter. American Contingent for Force of Occupation in Upper Silesia

VI. The Secretary read a very urgent telegram No. 731 of August 9, 5 p.m., from Mr. Halstead, suggesting that the liquidation of the Austro-Hungarian bank be delayed until December, and also transmitting an appeal submitted by a delegation from Marburg. Modifications in the Austrian Treaty Proposed by the Austrian Government

The Commissioners directed that the first two paragraphs of the telegram in question be brought immediately to the attention of Mr. John Foster Dulles, and that the last paragraph be referred to Prof. Coolidge.

  1. Richard Crane, Minister to Czechoslovakia.↩
  2. For the telegram as sent, see Foreign Relations, 1919, Russia, p. 700.↩