Paris Peace Conf. 184.00101/157
Minutes of the Daily Meetings of the Commissioners Plenipotentiary, Tuesday, September 30, 1919, 3:30 p.m.
- Present:
- Mr. Polk
- Mr. White
- General Bliss
- Mr. Harrison
I. The Commissioners discussed with Admiral McCully the latest news regarding the Adriatic. Mr. Polk stated that after the meeting of the Council that morning, Mr. Clemenceau had said that he was withdrawing the French troops from Fiume and that he was leaving the French base and the supplies there, valued at some 16,000,000 francs in the charge of the Italians. Mr. Polk also said that he had spoken with Sir Eyre Crowe with regard to the intentions of the British Government and had discovered that Sir Eyre Crowe was not informed in the matter. Sir Eyre Crowe, however, promised to take up the matter with London and ascertain whether the British Government intended to send any naval units. Situation in the Adriatic
Mr. Polk asked Admiral McCully to see the French naval authorities with a view to ascertain[ing] what steps, if any, they proposed to take. He also asked that Admiral McCully telegraph Admiral Knapp suggesting that the latter should endeavor to discover the intention of the British Admiralty.
II. The Commissioners approved the release of Captain Walter Peirce, head of the translation bureau, as stated in Memorandum 575. Release of Capt. Peirce
III. The Commissioners asked Mr. McNeir to attend the meeting and informed him that they had reconsidered their decision that notice should be given to the management on the first of October that the Commission would give up the Hotel on the first of November. Delivery of the Hotel Crillon
Mr. McNeir stated that it would be possible to give up the Hotel without necessarily giving the management a month’s notice as he felt that they would be only too glad to get the Hotel at any time.
[Page 440]There was, however, the question of the French help. The law required that they should receive thirty days’ notice. It would therefore be necessary to give them this notice or pay them a month’s salary, if they should be suddenly discharged. It was agreed that Mr. McNeir should inform the help that it was probable that the Commission would give up the Hotel on the first of November. Mr. McNeir believed that there would be no difficulty in keeping on the help as long as was desired as they would receive a month’s pension from the Hotel’s management in any case.
As regards giving up certain sections of one or more floors of the Hotel, Mr. McNeir stated that the management would be glad if this could be done. They hoped to have the hotel ready for regular clients by the first of the year and they desired, if possible, to have sixty days to put the hotel in shape.
The Commissioners approved Mr. McNeir’s suggestion that as soon as possible a floor of the hotel might be closed up for repairs. He suggested that a start be made with the fifth floor. In order that this should be done, the Commissioners approved Mr. McNeir’s recommendation that from now on he should refuse all applications for permission to reside in the hotel, and likewise restrict the sale of dining room tickets.
The Commissioners decided, however, that rooms should be found in the hotel for those regularly attached to the Peace Commission, the members of the field missions and departmental officials. Any applications from members of the Army for permission to reside in the hotel should be referred by Mr. McNeir to General Bliss.