Office of the Historian

Paris Peace Conf. 184.00101/78

Minutes of the Daily Meetings of the Commissioners Plenipotentiary, Saturday, May 31, 1919

May 31, 1919
  • Present:
    • Mr. Lansing
    • Mr. White
    • Gen. Bliss
    • Mr. Herter
1.
Memorandum No. 309 regarding the release of Lieut. Allen, U. S. N. by the Commission was read and approved. Release of Lt. Allen
2.
Memorandum No. 310 was read regarding the assignment of Mr. W. W. Thayer to the Commission to assist Mr. Vance McCormick in connection with the blockade and other work of the Commission and particularly to handle some of the work formerly cared for by Mr. J. F. Dulles. The Commissioners inquired, whether, in view of recent information which had reached them to the effect that Mr. Dulles was to remain with the Commission, Mr. McCormick would still require the services of Mr. Thayer. Upon receiving this information they stated their willingness to reconsider this memorandum. Assignment of Mr. W. W. Thayer
3.
Memorandum No. 311 was read inquiring whether the Commissioners desired to take steps to have a passport issued to the wife and two children of Dr. J. T. Shotwell, who at the moment is a member of the Commission and intends to remain in Europe for the coming year. The Commissioners stated that they were unable to take any action in this matter without the approval of the President and requested, therefore, that a letter be drafted to the latter putting the case in as strong a light as possible and adding that his colleagues on the Commission were in favor of granting the necessary permission. Request for Passport for Wife and Children of Dr. J. T. Shotwell
4.
Memorandum No. 312 was read inquiring whether the Commissioners approved of Mr. A. W. Dulles seeing Slatin Pasha of the Austrian Delegation who had asked for such an interview. Mr. Lansing stated that he had already told Mr. Dulles that in his opinion this would be inadvisable and the Commissioners concurred in Mr. Lansing’s action in the matter. Request for Permission for Mr. A. W. Dulles To Interview Slatin Pasha of Austrian Peace Delegation
5.
Memorandum No. 313 was read with regard to the action which should be taken in respect to an attack, that had appeared in a newspaper published in Naples, on Miss Margaret Wilson. The Commissioners concurred in the action suggested by Mr. Grew to the effect that a letter should be sent [Page 195] to the American Consul General at Genoa stating that the Commission felt that the case should be left to the discretion of the American Ambassador at Rome. Italian Newspaper Attack on Miss M. Wilson
6.
Memorandum No. 314 was read in which Dr. Lord recommended that an American Mission of investigation should be sent to Poland and Roumania to investigate the actual facts in connection with alleged Pogroms in those countries. The Commissioners felt that it would be unnecessary to have a special American Mission of Investigation sent out for this purpose, but requested that complete instructions be sent to the American Ministers at Bucharest and Prague to investigate and submit a report as soon as possible to the Commission and State Department. Suggested Mission To Investigate Programs Alleged To Have Taken Place in Poland and Roumania
7.
Memorandum No. 315 was read submitting a report by the American Vice-Consul at Geneva on the activities of Dr. Herron in Switzerland. The Commissioners felt that a copy of this report should be sent to the President for his information, and that instructions should be sent to the Legation at Berne to issue such statements as might be necessary to counter-act the belief that Dr. Herron is in any way connected with the Peace Commission. Mr. White also offered to send a line to Mr. Balfour notifying him that Dr. Herron has no connection with the Commission. Activities of Dr. Herron in Switzerland
8.
Memorandum No. 307 regarding the increase in salary of Sgt. Major Toren and Pvt. Lambing and which had been taken up on May 29th was again considered in connection with Memorandum No. 267 regarding increases to other members of Mr. Crane’s and Dr. King’s Mission. The Commissioners felt that they would be unable to approve of the increases suggested on behalf of Sgt. Major Toren and Pvt. Lambing, but suggested that any extra expenses that might have to be borne by these two men in connection with personal outfit, etc., for their trip should be considered by the Commission as necessary expenses of the Mission to be covered by the $10,000.00 appropriation previously granted. Increases in Salary for Sgt. Major Toren and Pvt. Lambing
9.
Memorandum No. 308 regarding the assignment of Lieut. Linton B. Swift to the Mission was reconsidered by the Commissioners and in view of the fact that Mr. James Brown Scott had approved of the assignment in question the Commissioners authorized it. Assignment of Lieut. Linton B. Swift