Office of the Historian

Paris Peace Conf. 184.00101/98

Minutes of the Daily Meetings of the Commissioners Plenipotentiary, Friday, June 27th, 1919

June 27, 1919
  • Present:
    • Mr. Lansing
    • Mr. White
    • Gen. Bliss
    • Mr. Herter
[Page 250]

1. Memorandum No. 409 was read, regarding an interview between Dr. Ussher and Damad Ferid Pacha. The Commissioners approved of Dr. Ussher’s having the interview, provided the proper arrangements could be made therefor. Dr. Ussher’s Interview With Damad Ferid Pacha

2. Memorandum No. 410, quoting a memorandum from Brigadier-General C. H. McKinstry, U. S. A., requesting that he be released from the Commission as soon as practical, in order to return to the United States. The Commissioners agreed that they would approve of General McKinstry’s release from the Commission on or about July 15th. Release of Brig. Gen. C. H. McKinstry

3. Mr. Herter read a memorandum addressed to Mr. Lansing by Mr. Mills, the secretary to Mr. Vance C. McCormick, with respect to the latter’s returning to the United States and taking with him as personal property copies of the Minutes of the meetings of the Council of Ten and the Council of Five which had been sent to his office for official use. The Commissioners agreed that there would be no objection to Mr. McCormick’s retaining the documents in question. Request of Mr. McCormick for Copies of Minutes

4. Memorandum No. 411 was read, inquiring whether the Commissioners were willing to appoint immediately an American representative on the International Schleswig Commission, and whether they desired that instructions be sent to the American Ministers in Stockholm and Christiania, to urge the Swedish and Norwegian governments respectively to likewise appoint members on the International Schleswig Commission. American Representative on the International Schleswig Commission

The Commissioners referred to General Bliss the matter of suggesting the name of an Army officer who would be properly qualified to serve on the International Schleswig Commission, and, at the same time, stated that they approved of having instructions, as indicated, sent to the American Ministers in Stockholm and Christiania.

In connection with the above, the Commissioners requested that letters be drafted for Mr. Lansing’s signature to Messrs. Pichon, Balfour, and, if necessary, Tittoni, stating that the United States favored strongly the appointment of a neutral chairman on the International Schleswig Commission.

5. The Commissioners discussed the question of the appointment of an arbitrator or arbitrators, as provided by Article 339 in the Treaty of Peace, provisionally to study the questions connected with the cession and distribution of river craft on the Danube, pending the ratification of the Treaty of Peace. The matter was referred to Admiral Knapp with the request that he suggest, if possible, the name of some Naval officer who would be properly qualified to undertake this work. Appointment of an Arbitrator for Danube River Craft