Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, The Paris Peace Conference, 1919, Volume XI

Paris Peace Conf. 184.00101/86

Minutes of the Daily Meetings of the Commissioners Plenipotentiary, Thursday, June 12th, 1919

June 12, 1919

• Present:
  • Mr. Lansing
  • Mr. White
  • Gen. Bliss
  • Mr. Herter

1. Memorandum No. 247 [347?] was read relative to a telegram received by the Commission from the Department of State inquiring whether the Commission would give a ruling as to the policy of repatriating approximately 2500 German Internees in the United States in case the German Government should refuse to sign the conditions of Peace. It is expected that these Internees would be repatriated within the next ten days. The Commissioners felt that this was not a matter for the Peace Commission to decide, but Mr. Lansing as Secretary of State was of the opinion that we should in any case repatriate all those individuals whose repatriation was contemplated by the Prisoner of War Agreement signed by representatives of the United States and Germany at Berne on November 11th, 1918⁹⁶ and that there would probably not be any harm in repatriating the other individuals whose case was not covered by that agreement, but whom the Department of State apparently intends to repatriate if Germany signs the Treaty. Release of German Internees

2. Memorandum No. 348 was read with regard to the assigning of automobiles from the Commission’s pool to certain Missions at present in the field connected with the Peace Commission. The Commissioners felt that they had no authority to authorize the assignment of automobiles to any Mission operating outside of France or Occupied Territories and that in the case of Mr. Noyes, two cars would have to be sufficient in view of the present shortage of cars in the pool. Assignment of Automobiles to Mission Outside of France & Occupied Territories

3. Mr. Herter read a memorandum prepared by Major Tyler in regard to the coming arrival of the Turkish Delegation. The Commissioners agreed with Major Tyler’s assumption that as the United States was not at war with Turkey he was to take no share in the activities of the liaison commission in connection with the Turkish Delegation. Turkish Delegation to Peace Conference

4. Mr. Herter read a memorandum from Dr. R. H. Lord, requesting that the Commission employ for his use Miss Marjorie Ford as stenographer and secretary, at a salary of $175.00 per month. The Commissioners approved of employing Miss Ford at the salary indicated. Assignment of Miss Ford

5. Memorandum No. 349 was read, enclosing a memorandum prepared by Dr. Morison, which the latter requested to have transmitted to the President. The Commissioners approved highly of having the information contained in that memorandum brought to the attention of the President, but stated that they did not desire to send to the President a memorandum containing phrases such as that used by Mr. Morison in the last paragraph. They, therefore, requested that Mr. Morison re-draft the memorandum, altering the last paragraph so that it would not contain phrases which might be considered as being distinctly offensive to the President. Memo Prepared by Dr. Morison Regarding Recognition of Koltchak Government

6. Memorandum No. 350 was read with regard to the expenses of the American representative on the Inter-Allied Trade Commission at Vienna, which Mr. McCormick stated could no longer be paid by the War Trade Board after June 30, 1919. The Commissioners felt that this was not a matter for the Commission to decide, but Mr. Lansing, as Secretary of State, agreed that Mr. Upson’s expenses could be paid from the State Department emergency fund, beginning with July 1, 1919. Expenses of American Representative Inter-Allied Trade Commission at Vienna

7. Memorandum No. 351 was read with regard to the suggested assignment of 1st Lieutenant David W. King, Infantry, U. S. A., as Assistant Military Attaché to the American Legation at Warsaw. The Commissioners agreed that they had no authority to appoint Lieutenant King as an assistant military attaché, since such appointments could only emanate from the War Department. They would be glad, however, to recommend Lieutenant King to the War Department if such a procedure was deemed necessary and advisable. Assignment of Assistant Military Attaché

8. Memorandum No. 352 was read, in which an inquiry was made on behalf of the Chargé d’Affaires in London, as to the policy to be followed with respect to a refusal by the British authorities to allow Mr. R. S. Armington, of the Aluminum Company of America, to visit the British sector of the occupied territory. The Commissioners felt that this matter was in no way one which could be handled by the Peace Commission, and that they were unwilling to allow the Chargé d’Affaires in London to pass the “buck” on to them. It is entirely a matter for the Embassy in London to handle as it sees fit. British Refusal To Allow Mr. Armington of the Aluminum Co. of America To Visit British Occupied Territory

9. Memorandum No. 353 submitted by Prof. Coolidge was read. This memorandum, enclosing a telegram from Dr. Alonzo Taylor at Warsaw regarding the Hungarian-Czech situation called attention to Prof. Coolidge’s previous recommendation that France be allowed to advance upon Buda Pest. The Commissioners felt that there would be no objection to sending the substance of the telegram in question and Prof. Coolidge’s memorandum to the President, but that there was probably no need of this now as the Council of Four had sent an ultimatum to the Hungarian Government. Hungarian-Czech Situation

10. Memorandum No. 354 was read, appending a letter from General Harts regarding the arrangements made for the Headquarters Battalion to remain on duty with the Peace Commission as long as it was desired. I he Commissioners approved entirely of the arrangement described by General Harts, and requested that Mr. Grew write him a suitable letter of appreciation in the premises. Retention of Hq. Battalion Peace Commission

11. Memorandum No. 355 was read, suggesting that Lt. Col. Warwick Greene be attached to the Military Mission to the Baltic countries, headed by General Gough, of the British Army. The Commissioners were uncertain as to whether General Gough’s mission was purely British or Inter-Allied, and whether or not it was expected that an American officer should be assigned to it. In any case, however, they thought it inadvisable to have Lt. Col. Greene as the American representative, since it was contemplated sending him on a different Mission. Re American Representative Baltic Commission

12. Memorandum No. 356 was read, regarding a suggestion made by Mr. Ray Stannard Baker that, if possible, it would be advisable for the American newspaper correspondents to give a dinner to the British and French correspondents in Paris, which might possibly be paid for by the Commission. The Commissioners agreed that this was a matter which Mr. Lansing alone should decide. Mr. Lansing stated that he felt it would be very advisable for the Commission to pay the expenses of such a dinner, but that it should only be done if it could be accomplished without arousing too much criticism. He therefore asked that Mr. McNeir be consulted as to the best way of covering these expenses. Dinner to British and French Correspondents

96. Foreign Relations, 1918, supp. 2, p. 103.