Paris Peace Conf. 184.00101/153
Minutes of the Daily Meetings of the Commissioners Plenipotentiary, Tuesday, September 23, 1919
- Present:
- Mr. Polk
- Mr. White
- General Bliss
- Mr. Harrison
[I.] Mr. Polk gave a brief account of what had occurred at the meeting of the Council of the Heads of Delegations during the morning session35 and spoke of the report from Sir George Clerk transmitting a summary of the Roumanian reply to the notes of the Allies. It had been [Page 425] agreed to postpone consideration of the Hungarian-Roumanian problem until the arrival of Sir George Clerk. Roumanian-Hungarian Situation
[II.] The Commissioners discussed the present situation with regard to Fiume, the possible results, the danger of revolution in Italy and the attitude of the Yugo-Slavs with regard to the Franco-British proposal that the city of Fiume should be given to the Italians. Fiume
[III.] Mr. Polk stated that he had a conversation that morning with Mr. McNeir with regard to the future of the Commission. It appeared that Mr. McNeir had also discussed the matter with Mr. White and General Bliss. The Future of the Commission
Mr. Polk was inclined to think that the present plant was very large in comparison with the number of persons engaged in Conference work. He believed that a good many matters should from now on be properly left to the foreign offices and handled by the State Department and the Embassy. It might be possible to close up the press room at once and commence the transfer of certain matters to the Embassy. He had requested Mr. McNeir to submit a list of persons who might now be released. Mr. Polk also stated that he understood from Mr. McNeir that it would be impossible to give up the hotel on the first of October as it was necessary to give the owners thirty days’ notice. Consequently, it would be impossible to leave the hotel until November first. On the other hand, a number of persons could be got rid of by October 8 and perhaps by October 25 the Communication Office and such other offices as it was necessary to keep after that date might then be moved into the buildings on the avenue Montaigne or into the Hotel d’Iéna.
[IV.] Mr. White stated that the Archbishop of Alessio had called upon him and protested vigorously against the occupation of pation of Koritza and Argyrokastron by Greek forces, should the French troops be withdrawn from Albania. Greek Occupation of Koritza
(At this point Mr. Polk left the Meeting, having an important engagement.)
[V.] The draft of a letter to be addressed to M. Clemenceau pointing out the dangers attending Greek occupation of Western Thrace, was read.
The Commissioners approved the draft with an amendment proposed by General Bliss. Occupation of Western Thrace by Greek Troops
The letter in question reads as follows:
Paris, September 23, 1919.
My dear Mr. Clemenceau: The Council of the Heads of Delegations in its session of September 18th36 and 22nd37 has determined upon [Page 426] an Inter-Allied occupation of that portion of West Thrace which is to be taken from Bulgaria under the terms of the Treaty of Peace. In the discussion of this question I pointed out to the Council the grave apprehension which I felt in permitting Greek troops to participate in this occupation, but did not consider myself in a position to insist on their entire exclusion, as I felt would have been wise, in view of the non-participation of the United States in this occupation.
The formula which was finally accepted contemplates the initial occupation of West Thrace by Allied troops to the exclusion of Greek troops, but leaves it to the discretion of the Commander-in-Chief, General Franchet d’Esperey, eventually to make use of Greek troops exclusively in a restricted and carefully defined zone in the western part of Bulgarian Thrace, which ultimately may be ceded to Greece.
I venture to call your attention to this decision of the Council and to emphasize that I consider it of the utmost importance that every precaution should be taken by General Franchet d’Esperey to prevent any violation by Greece of the prescribed zone which may eventually be accorded to her troops of occupation. The unfortunate experiences which the Conference has already had through attempts to create faits accomplis by the extensions of military occupations, have led me to bring this matter to your personal attention.
I am, my dear Mr. Clemenceau,
Very sincerely yours,
(Signed) Frank L. Polk
[VI.] The memorandum dated September 21 submitted by Captain Pierce reporting a conversation with Mr. Theodorov of the Bulgarian Delegation on September 20 was read and noted by the Commissioners; particularly the statement of M. Theodorov, to the effect that he would in all probability ask for a two weeks extension of the 25 days accorded him in which to submit his observations on the terms of Peace. Departure of the Bulgarian Delegation
The Commissioners considered that such an eventuality would be very unfortunate and approved the suggestion that instructions be sent to the Chargé d’Affaires in Sofia to urge the Bulgars to make all haste possible in submitting their reply. It would be to their best interests to have the answer delivered to the Conference before the 25 days were up.
[VII.] Despatch # 379 of September 10 from the American Chargé d’Affaires at Bucarest reporting the visit of General Bandholtz to Bucarest was read and noted by the Commissioners. General Bandholtz’s Visit to Bucarest
[VIII.] A despatch addressed to the Mission by the American Chargé d’Affaires at Sofia dated September 11, reporting the decision of the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Armies of the Orient to send Roumanian Gendarmes into Southern Dobrudja, against which a protest had been lodged by the Bulgarian Government, was read and noted by the Commissioners. Sending of Rumanian Gendarmes Into Southern Dobrudja
[Page 427][IX.] The Secretary read a copy of the letter from the Emir Feisal to Mr. Lloyd George with regard to the desire of the former to visit England; also a memorandum submitted by Mr. William Yale under date of September 16, on the subject of the Emir’s letter, and a further memorandum submitted by Mr. Yale on September 19, reporting a conversation with M. Berthelot regarding the 11 points put forward by Mr. Lloyd George in the aide-mémoire in regard to the occupation of Syria, Palestine and Mesopotamia, presented by him to M. Clemenceau on September 13 and circulated at the meeting of the Supreme Council held on September 15.38 Occupation of Syria, Palestine and Mesopotamia, Pending the Decision in Regard to Mandates
- See HD–59, minute 4, vol. viii, p. 328.↩
- See HD–56, minute iii, vol. viii, p. 263.↩
- See HD–58, minute i, vol. viii, p. 300.↩
- See HD–53, minute 5, vol. viii, p. 205.↩