Office of the Historian

Paris Peace Conf. 184.00101/56

Minutes of the Daily Meetings of the Commissioners Plenipotentiary, April 23, 1919

April 23, 1919
  • Present:
    • Mr. Lansing
    • Mr. White
    • General Bliss
    • Mr. Herter
1.
At the meeting of the Commissioners this morning, Memorandum No. 241 was read with regard to Mr. Bradley Palmer’s desire that Mr. Lee J. Wolfe be permitted to make certain investigations in Germany on behalf of the Alien Property Custodian. The Commissioners stated that they had no objections to Mr. Wolfe’s going if he had in mind obtaining legal information only, but that they did object to his taking a chemical expert with him. They likewise were not quite clear as to why Mr. Wolfe required a military escort to go with him, or what facilities he required from the Commission in order to enable him to procure the desired information. The Commissioners therefore requested further data on these questions. Mr. Wolfe’s Contemplated Trip to Chemical Works in Germany
2.
Memorandum No. 242 was read with regard to requests made by Ambassador Wallace, General Harts and Lieut. Col. Davis on [Page 162] behalf of the Secretary of War that Major William C. Rigby, a Judge Advocate of the army, be given office space in the Hotel Crillon. The Commissioners felt that the army had plenty of available space for Major Rigby in Paris, and that it would be unfair to those persons connected with the Mission who had not been given rooms in the Crillon to allow Major Rigby, who had no connection with the Commission to occupy such rooms. They likewise requested that if possible, all the room space in the Crillon be filled, in order that should similar requests to the present one be presented at a later date, the Commissioners would have a valid excuse for refusing them. Rooms in Crillon for Maj. Rigby
3.
Memorandum No. 243 was read quoting a letter from Admiral Benson giving the text of two telegrams received by him from Rear Admiral Andrews in regard to the assignment by the Jugo-Slavs of the Serbian General Wassitch to a post other than the one he is at present occupying. The Commissioners requested that Mr. Grew authorize Admiral Benson on behalf of the Commission to confer with Minister Vesnich regarding this matter, and to make such suggestions to the latter as he might consider appropriate. Regarding Serbian General Wassitch
4.
Two memoranda dated April 21st and 22nd 1919, prepared by Dr. Lord were read to the Commissioners. These memoranda dealt with certain Polish Ukrainian negotiations which had been carried on by Captains Reisler and Bachman, and about the status of Col. Riggs’ Mission in general. The Commissioners agreed with Dr. Lord in disapproving of the action taken by Captains Reisler and Bachman, and likewise agreed with Dr. Lord’s recommendations that Captain Reisler receive orders not to return to Galicia, but either to remain in Paris or to go by the most direct route to join Col. Riggs; and that a telegram be sent to Captain Bachman ordering him to return to Paris. They likewise agreed that Col. Riggs’ Mission, though hampered by the Allied evacuation of Odessa, should not be withdrawn. Regarding Col. Riggs’ Missions