Office of the Historian

Paris Peace Conf. 184.00101/48

Minutes of the Daily Meetings of the Commissioners Plenipotentiary, April 10th, 1919

April 10, 1919
  • Present:
    • Mr. Lansing
    • Mr. White
    • General Bliss
    • General Kernan
    • Mr. Herter

1. General Kernan who had just returned from Poland that morning gave to the Commissioners a very complete picture of the conditions in Poland in particular, and in Central Europe generally. He dwelt particularly upon the difficulties which he had had in trying to bring about an armistice between the Poles and Ukrainians fighting about Lemberg, likewise the difficulties which he encountered in regard to procedure and methods of work among the various members of the Inter-Allied Mission to Poland. The Commissioners requested General Kernan to draft a short report of his impressions which was to be forwarded to the President. General Kernan Reports

Mr. White and General Kernan withdrew.

2. Memorandum No. 211 was read in which Mr. Bullitt requested that a telegram be sent to the American Consul at Helsingfors instructing the latter to send a message through reliable sources to Tchitcherin respecting Mr. Lansing’s contemplated scheme for relief to Russia. After some discussion, the Commissioners redrafted the telegram in question to read as follows: Regarding Relief in Russia

“Please send Kock or other reliable person immediately to Petrograd to Schklovsky Minister of Foreign Affairs with following message for Tchitcherin sent on my personal responsibility ‘Individuals of neutral States are considering organization for feeding Russia. Will probably decide something definite within a week.[’] Bullitt.[”]

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3. Memorandum No. 212 was read regarding the repatriation of Russian prisoners of war in Germany. The Commissioners agreed with the recommendation made by Col. Taylor of the American Red Cross Commission in Germany, namely, that the Russian prisoners in Germany be returned immediately to some part of Russia regardless of whether their return would add to the strength of the Bolshevik forces. The Commissioners were not certain, however, as to what steps they should take in order to facilitate the course recommended by Col. Taylor, and therefore requested further information as to the authorities who were competent to give the Inter-Allied Commission in Berlin proper authorization to bring about the repatriation of these prisoners. Recommendation for Repatriation of Russian Prisoners of War in Germany

4. Memorandum No. 213 was considered submitting a draft of a telegram to the Department of State in Washington regarding the question of supplying food by the American Red Cross authorities in Berlin to certain persons claiming American citizenship in Germany. The draft of the telegram in question was approved by the Commissioners. Supplying Food by Red Cross to Germans Claiming U. S. Citizenship

5. Memorandum No. 214 was read regarding the advisability of having the Red Cross in Washington publish the substance of a telegram which it had received containing certain information with regard to the situation in Siberia and European Russia. The Commissioners felt that it would be inadvisable for either the American Commission to Negotiate Peace or the State Department to give its approval to the publication of the information in question. They further felt that the majority of the reports that were received, though always stated to be based on reliable evidence proved to be incorrect and overdrawn. They therefore felt that in any reply to be made to the State Department in the premises it should be stated that the Mission did not approve of the publication of the information in question. Regarding Publication of Information Regarding Situation Siberia & European Russia

6. Memorandum No. 215 was read recommending that Prof. Coolidge be granted an additional allotment of $15,000 for the expense of his Mission. The Commissioners approved of the authorization of the additional allotment in question. Additional Allotment to Prof. Coolidge’s Mission

7. Memorandum No. 216 was read inquiring whether it would not be advisable to have a clause inserted in the preliminary Peace Treaty providing for direct restitution to China of the rights in Shantung formerly pertaining to Germany. The Commissioners agreed absolutely that such an article should be inserted, and requested therefore that Mr. Williams and [Page 150] Major James Brown Scott collaborate in drafting the text of such an article. This text should then be sent to the President for his approval, and for the consideration of the Council of Four. Restitution to