100 Years Ago Today

[Sailor Steve]

January 15, 1919


Pianist Ignace Paderewski becomes first premier of Poland.

After four days of searching Spartacist leaders Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg are found in an apartment in the Wilmersdorf section of Berlin. They are questioned by Freikorps officers under orders from Hauptmann Ernst Julius Waldemar Pabst. After this the pair are beaten and then shot. Liebknecht's body is left at a nearby morgue while Luxemburg's is dumped in the Landwehrkanal where it will not be recovered until June 1. The official story put out was that Luxemburg was attacked by a mob and Liebknecht was shot while trying to escape.

At the Purity Distilling Company in Boston, Massachusetts, a storage tank bursts and 2.3 million gallons of molasses flood the city's streets. In what has become known as the "Great Molasses Flood" 21 people are killed and 150 injured. Rescue efforts are begun by cadets from the training ship USS Nantucket, who are soon joined by the Boston Police, Red Cross and other Army and Navy personnel. One result of the disaster is one of the first class-action lawsuits in Massachusetts and the beginning of corporate regulation in the United States. The company would claim that the tank was blown up by terrorists.

Buenos Aires, Argentina, is at peace for the first time since "Semana Tragica" ("Tragic Week") began on January 7. It had begun with a Communist-led strike at the Vasena Metal Works, which quickly turned into several days of rioting, looting and killing, which was finally put down on January 14 by the Argentine Federal Police with the aid of the Argentinian Army, Navy and Marine Corps. Communist newspaper Vanguardia claimed that there were 700 killed and 2,000 injured, while Conservative paper La Nación had the number at 100 killed and 400 injured. Police forces suffered 3 killed and 78 wounded, and more than 50,000 people were imprisoned.

[Jimbuna]

16th January 1919

Aftermath of War

Allies defeat Bolsheviks in fight for Merv.

Destroyed ruins of a French coal mine. German reparations to the Allies for the damages of war will be a key issue in the upcoming peace conference.

[Sailor Steve]

January 16, 1919


Nebraska becomes the 36th State to ratify the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and the "manufacture sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes" is outlawed in the United States. The amendment passed both houses of Congress on December 3, 1917, and it took just over a year to gain ratification by two-thirds of the States.

The 18th Amendment:

Section 1. After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all the territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.

Section 2. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.

The Amendment's supporters were overjoyed at first due to the immediate drop in alcohol-related arrests and alcohol-induced violent crime rates, which fell to half of their pre-prohibition levels. Then the shock set in, as the numbers started rolling in on how many "good citizens" willingly became criminals, cheerfully buying massive quantities of smuggled alcohol products. The prospect of money to be made via the smuggling itself, coupled with a growing market for illegally brewed spirits, led to the rise of organized crime in the United States, which in turn led to increased violence between gangs vying for the brewing and smuggling markets. Even one very famous visitor noted the problems involved:

"The prestige of government has undoubtedly been lowered considerably by the Prohibition law. For nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced. It is an open secret that the dangerous increase of crime in this country is closely connected with this."
― Albert Einstein, My First Impressions of the U.S.A., 1921

[Jimbuna]

17th January 1919

Aftermath of War

M. Paderewski Prime Minister of Poland.

Germany signs new Armistice Terms. Armistice extended.

American troops pose on a 14-inch railway gun in France before it is to be disassembled and shipped back to the U.S.


Ship Losses:

Glenogle (United Kingdom) The cargo liner ran aground on the Syriam Flats, off Rangoon, Burma. She hogged and broke in two and was a total loss.

[Sailor Steve]

January 17, 1919

PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE
In a preliminary meeting held at 10:30 ground rules are discussed for the Conference.

1. A telegram is read from Marshall Foch regarding the Armistice and especially disposition of the German merchant fleet.

2. The status of the Press is discussed, including what meetings they should be allowed into and excluded from. While they had been guaranteed access to all meetings it is decided that they should not be allowed into conferences concerning territorial claims.

3. The status of the Kingdom of Hejaz is discussed, and it is decided that they should be allowed two representatives at the Conference.

4. The status of certain South American States is discussed. Also decided is that there will be an afternoon meeting each day to decide the next day's order of business.

5. Discussion over protests by Belgium and Serbia at only being given two delegates each to the Conference. It is decided that due to their special status as invaded nations and their contributions to the war that they should each have three delegates.

6. Discussion concerning how the Conference should be conducted and how each day's order of business should be decided.

7. The discussion returns to the status of the Press. It is argued that they should have maximum possible access to the meetings, but there are still some subjects which, if made public before official publication, could influence the outcome of the Conference.

At 15:00 a second meeting is held, further discussing the status of Belgium and Serbia, and other items.


The influenza epidemic worsens as several cases of smallpox are noted.

[Jimbuna]

18th January 1919

Aftermath of War

British National War Bonds subscribed to date £1,645,337,734

The Paris Peace Conference opens, chaired by French prime minister Georges Clemenceau. The Conference will create a League of Nations following President Wilson's Fourteen Points (8 Jan. 1918). Settling the terms of the peace treaty with Germany will prove far more difficult.

Polish pianist, composer, and statesman Ignacy Jan Paderewski becomes the new Prime Minister of Poland (he will play an important role in securing the independence of Poland).

[Sailor Steve]

January 18, 1919


PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE
Day 1

1500 The Paris Peace Conference officially opens. The date has been carefully chosen, as it is the anniversary of the creation of the German Nation, which took place on January 18, 1871. This is the first use of the Peace Rooms at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the preliminary meetings from January 12 through 17 being held in the suite of Stephen Pichon at the Quai d’Orsay, Paris.

The meeting opens with a lengthy speech by French President Raymond Poincare detailing all the major events of the war, including shifting alliances from the major combatants right down to the most minor players in the hostilities, and ending with a recounting of President Wilson's "Fourteen Points". The entire speech is then read in English by official translator Paul Mantoux.

Georges Clemenceau, acting as temporary president, opens proposals for electing a permanent president for the Conference. President Wilson immediately nominates Clemenceau himself for the job. Prime Minister David Lloyd George seconds the nomination. Both of these gentlemen give fairly lengthy speeches recounting M Clemenceau's actions on behalf of France. Italian Prime Minister Sidney Costantino, Baron Sonnino, also seconds in a much shorter declaration and Georges Clemenceau is named permanent President of the Conference.

Clemenceau's first action as President of the Conference is to ask for nominations for Vice Presidents for different duties. When this is done he makes another long speech about the job and goals of the Peace Conference.

The last order of the day is to establish the rules for the Conference. Who is to do what and how they are to do it, orders of preference for delegates and what will be discussed in turns is laid out and agreed upon.

[Jimbuna]

19th January 1919

Aftermath of War

Polling in Germany for National Assembly.

Russian Bolsheviks launch an offensive against U.S., Canadian, and White Russian troops at the town of Shenkursk, Russia, forcing the Allies to retreat. Canadian troops in Siberia.


Prince John, the youngest son of King George V and Queen Mary, has passed away at the age of 13 after a severe seizure.

[Sailor Steve]

January 19, 1919


After one day of settling orders of business, the Paris Peace Conference is closed, this being a Sunday.

The first German Federal Election is held. The voting age has been lowered to age 20, from 25 in the 1912 Reichstag election. The Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (Social Democratic party of Germany, usually shortened to SDP) wins handily.

[Jimbuna]

20th January 1919

Aftermath of War

Harry S. Truman, currently serving in France, writes that U.S. troops “don’t give a whoop (to put it mildly) whether Russia has a Red Government or no Government and if the King of the Lollipops wants to slaughter his subjects or his Prime Minister it’s all the same to us.”


French aviator Jules Védrine wins a 25,000-franc prize by successfully landing his aircraft on top of a department store in Paris.

[Sailor Steve]

January 20, 1919


PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE
Day 2

1030: The Big Four (Leaders of Britain, France, Italy and the United States) meet in Stephen Pichon's office suite at the Hotel Quai d’Orsay. The entire meeting is given over to French Ambassador to Russia Joseph Noulens, who gives a detailed account of the state of affairs in that Country. Noulens urges the Delegates to adopt a single joint policy toward Russia, and that all the Entente powers should be agreed on their attitude and actions concerning the Bolshevik Government. Under questioning Noulens states that the majority of Russians support the new government, but that the Bolsheviks are waging a campaign of tyranny against the intellectual and well-to-do classes.

It is briefly discussed whether there are enough Allied troops at Archangelsk to fight the Russians should that become necessary. Noulens then speaks of Trotsky's reign of terror, mass shootings, deliberate starvation, drownings, live burials and mutilations. The final question was who was in charge in Russia - Lenin or Trotsky? Noulens replied that Lenin was the more popular of the two, but Trotsky was more capable and willing to use force to achieve his ends.

The Delegates agree to meet tomorrow at the same time, then the meeting is adjourned at noon so that those so inclined can attend the luncheon given by the French Senate in honor of President Wilson.


Born today:

British orchestra conductor Alistair Royalton Kisch (died 1995).

Czech composer and World War 2 resistance fighter Štěpán Lucký (died 2006).

[Jimbuna]

21st January 1919

Aftermath of War

Bolsheviks attack Archangel front at Shenkursk, 180 miles south of Archangel; Allies withdraw.

The Dáil Éireann, the parliament of the revolutionary Irish Republic, meets in Dublin and declares the independence of Ireland.

The Soloheadbeg Ambush takes place when members of the Irish Volunteers kill two Royal Irish Constabulary officers. The Irish War of Independence against Great Britain begins.

Ahmed Muhtar Pasha, former Ottoman Grand Vizier and war hero of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78, has passed away.


Ship Losses:

SM UC-40 (Imperial German Navy) The Type UC II submarine foundered in the North Sea (54°55′N 4°47′E) with the loss of a crew member.

[Sailor Steve]

January 21, 1919


PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE
Day 3

1030: This morning's meeting is again held at Stephen Pichon's office hotel suite. More testimony is given concerning the situation in Russia, this time by former Danish Foreign Minister Erik Scavenius.

Scavenius states that the Bolshevik takeover was supported by the soldiers, who are no longer soldiers but peasants, and that they are neither Monarchists or Socialists. The Bolsheviks are now supported by the Red Army, which consists of Letts, Hungarians, Germans and Chinese. He testifies that there are 20,000 to 30,000 Chinese in that army. He estimates the total size of the Red Army as around 300,000 men. He doesn't think they would be of much use against a trained foreign army, but they are excellent in keeping unarmed Russian civilians in line.

Since any attempt at force against the Bolsheviks would likely be used as propaganda, stating the Allies wanted to destroy Russia, Baron Sonnino and President Wilson propose treating the Bolsheviks as a legitimate government and giving them access to the Peace Conference as the proper representatives of Russia. M Clemenceau says he is against this in principle, but that sometimes it is necessary to deal with criminals at their own level and since the Allies must appear to be unanimous on everything he was ready to accept Wilson's proposal. The Japanese delegate, Baron Makino, agrees with the rest.

2. The appointment of committees to manage the League of Nations question is discussed.

3. The question of sending the Polish Legion to Poland with the French army is raised. It is decided that this will be discussed at a future meeting which will include Marshal Foch.

4. Mr Balfour suggests that a committee be appointed immediately to discuss the disarmament of Germany. President Wilson suggests that this be postponed until all the delegates can compare their opinions on the subject.

1500: The second meeting of the day is again held in M Pichon's suite.

1. The Russian question is further discussed. President Wilson suggests that all the representatives of various Russian views should meet somewhere else, possibly Salonika. Baron Sonnino points out that some Russian representatives are already in Paris, and asks why they should not be heard. President Wilson replies that he feels all the parties should be heard together at the same time. Mr Balfour says that this may not be possible, and that representatives already in Paris should be heard now. Baron Sonnino replies that there are some representative from every party in Paris already, except the Soviets, whom they do not wish to hear. Mr Lloyd George points out that the Soviets are the very people that some of them do wish to hear. Baron Sonnino says that the Allies are at this moment fighting against the Bolsheviks, which makes them enemies.

Mr Lloyd George points out that this would mean they would hear from a long string of people all saying the same thing, but would not hear from the people actually controlling Russia at this time. He then points out that while not changing their opinions the Bolsheviks were trying to change their methods, and would likely wish to make peace with the Allies. He then asked what kind of army the other Allies would be willing to raise in order to fight the Bolsheviks. M Clemenceau and Mr Wilson both replied that they would not be willing to send any men to Russia; that was a purely British idea. Signor Orlando said that he agreed, Italy would also send no troops to Russia. Mr Lloyd George and Mr Balfour eventually agree to follow Mr Wilson's lead and try to have a discussion with the Bolsheviks.

2. M Clemenceau again raises the question of assigning duties to the various delegates. Mr Lloyd George states that organizing the League of Nations should take primary importance. Mr Wilson points out that he has already drafted a Constitution for the League. Mr Balfour proposes that Mr Wilson's draft be submitted for discussion. It is agreed that this will be further considered at the next meeting.

3. M Pichon again brings up the Poland question, and it is agreed that this will be discussed at the next meeting.

4. Mr Balfour brings up the urgency of the German disarmament question, and it is agreed that he should set about organizing a committee to address this problem.

Born this day:

Eugenia "Jinx" Falkenburg, American actress and cover-girl model, is born in Barcelona, Spain. She and husband Tex McCrary helped pioneer the radio talk-show format (died 2003).

Died this day:

Gojong, Emperor of Korea, known as the Gwangmu Emperor (born July 25, 1852)

[Jimbuna]

22nd January 1919

Aftermath of War

Prinkipo proposal approved by Peace Conference.

Civil and Military Allied Mission announced to be sent to Poland.

Act Zluky (Unification Act) is signed by the Ukrainian People’s Republic and the West Ukrainian People’s Republic to create a unified Ukrainian state.


Ship Losses:

Espada (United States) The schooner ran aground on the Mumbulau Reef, Fiji and was wrecked. Her crew survived.
325 (French Navy) The torpedo boat struck a mine and sank in the Gulf of Gabès off the Kerkennah Islands, Tunisia with the loss of eighteen of her crew.

[Sailor Steve]

January 22, 1919


PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE
Day 4

1100: This morning's meeting is again held in M Pichon's hotel suite.

1. With Marshall Foch in attendance the Polish matter is the topic of discussion. It is generally believed the best thing is to remove the Polish army from French control and send them to Danzig to protect against possible Bolshevist attacks. When M Orlando mentions Polish troops then in Italy, Marshall Foch replies that with the combined power in France and Italy it might be possible to raise as many as four full divisions of Polish troops. The Poles say that the Germans hold Danzig, and would not allow Polish troops to land there. It is decided that the troops should take the southern railway to get to Russian Poland only, and Marshall Foch estimates one month to complete the operation and have the troops in place.

Mr Balfour points out that the Poles want more than just Russian Poland, but that Danzig is comprised mostly of Germans who do not want to be part of Poland. President Wilson shares his doubts about all this, and states that he believes the Allies should support Polish occupation of Russian Poland only. His reasoning is that "If you have to take a thing by force, the inference is that it does not belong to you". Further, Polish Prime Minister Paderewski has stated that he doesn't need Allied troops, just arms and ammunition. Mr Lloyd George points out that the Romanians are in a similar situation but have not asked for help. President Wilson replies that Mr Paderewski has asked for help specifically for Eastern Poland, and doesn't mention Danzig in his telegrams. Lloyd George says that the Poles are not united, and Paderewski might not be able to maintain order or control once things get started. Wilson urges caution in dealing with this matter.

The last discussion of the morning meeting concerns British sea support for Poland. It is decided that discussions must wait until the British delegates can consult with London over the matter.


1515: The afternoon meeting is again held in M Pichon's suite.

1. The question of how to deal with the Russians is again raised. A proclamation written by President Wilson is read and adopted, saying that the Allies support the Revolution, will in no way interfere with internal Russian matters, and will respect whatever Russian government comes out of the current strife.

2. Mr Lloyd George presents a preliminary draft of resolutions for a League of Nations. It is mainly concerned with preparing a Constitution for that Body. Baron Makino gives the Japanese view of the League, but when asked if these opinions can be made public replies that he prefer they remain private. President Wilson points out that Lloyd George's draft contains nothing new, so Japan's feelings on the subject should be known to all involved. Mr Lloyd George inquires as to whether Japan wishes to not be represented on the League committee. Baron Makino replies that, to the contrary, Japan does wish to be represented. He further states that Japan agrees to most of the points, but would like to be able to adjust their views when further developments warrant it.

Mr Lloyd George proposes that two delegates from each nation be appointed to the League Drafting Committee. President Wilson suggests that the drafting committee only involve delegates from the Great Powers, with the smaller countries sending delegates to a "Criticizing Committee" to approve or reject the Drafting Committee's proposals. Mr Lloyd George then suggests that the Great Powers form the Drafting Committee, but then invite Lesser Powers of their choosing to join. President Wilson counters with the idea that, rather than allow delegates from the Lesser Powers, the Drafting Committee call in the best minds from those nations to advise and consult on the proposals of the Drafting Committee. M Clemenceau points out that, while the Lesser Powers would likely contribute nothing more than following the lead of the Great Powers, it was nevertheless necessary that the Lesser Powers see themselves as contributors and not just bystanders. He proposes that the Lesser Powers consult among themselves and between them select five delegates to sit on the Drafting Committee. M Sonnino points out that each of the more important Small Powers will want a delegate of their own, which will already total more than five. He suggests a larger committee. President Wilson objects that the Committee would be to unwieldly to get anything done. He proposes that the Drafting Committee remain small, but as soon as any draft is prepared it be immediately shown to all the Lesser Powers for consultation and approval or rejection. Mr Lloyd George states that the Smaller Powers are already complaining about being excluded from the current proceedings. He further points out that a draft of sorts has already been created, so a larger Committee should be able to handle it fairly quickly. M Clemenceau states that this discussion and its resolutions should be presented to the full Peace Conference this coming Saturday.

3. Mr Lloyd George proposes a Labour Committee to be comprised of two representatives from each of the five Great Powers and five representatives total from the Lesser Powers be formed to discuss industrial relations between the nations. President Wilson suggest that a note be placed in the resolution to make it absolutely clear that the documents drafted by this committee have nothing to do with the League of Nations. It is agreed and Mr Lloyd George says he will write a new draft including the statement.

4. Mr Lloyd George proposes a committee be created consisting of three representatives from each of the Major Powers plus Belgium and Serbia, to discuss the indemnity to be paid by the Central Powers nations. President Wilson suggests that the word "indemnity" be dropped in favor of "reparation". Mr Lloyd George agrees. M Pichon points out that Greece has been excluded from representation. Mr Balfour does the same for Russian Poland. M Sonnino mentions Romania. President Wilson suggests that Belgium, Greece, Poland and Romania be given two representatives each. M Pichon suggests that Greater Poland also be included. It is agreed that Mr Lloyd George will prepare a new draft to be presented at the next meeting.