100 Years Ago Today

[Sailor Steve]

Friday, February 14, 1919

PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE
Day 24

M Pichon's hotel suite, Quai d’Orsay, 15:30

President Wilson presents the First Draft of the plan for the League of Nations. After he reads the draft several members spend the next three hours making speeches giving their thoughts on the Draft.


M Pichon's hotel suite, Quai d’Orsay, 18:30

1. Mr Balfour apologizes for calling a meeting at such a late hour, but there are some points that he feels need to be decided before President Wilson's departure. The first of these is that the Military Advisors have told him that the only way to keep British troops on the Rhine supplied except by passage through Holland. While this only concerns Britain Mr Balfour feels that it would be best if agreed upon by all the Allied Powers. He wishes that those Powers press the urgency of this matter upon the Dutch.

Army commanders from each Power state their current state of affairs in this regard. It is decided that if the Dutch refuse to cooperate some means of pressure will be found to coerce them to allow British passage to the Rhine.

2. Mr Balfour's second point is the meeting with the various Russian governments at Prinkipo. Mr Winston Churchill has been invited to the Council Meeting to give the views of the British Cabinet on the subject. Mr Churchill says that British soldiers are dying in the Russian conflict, and the British people want to know if this is part of a vital war for freedom or just a holding action until the Council had made up their minds. If the latter then they desired that British troops in Russia should be brought home immediately. Further, if all the different Russian governments were going to meet at Prinkipo then it could be hoped that something might be accomplished. If only the Bolsheviks were going to show up he didn't see the purpose of having the meeting at all.

M Clemenceau says that a matter of this importance could not possibly be settled in a short impromptu meeting.

President Wilson expresses his opinion that Allied troops are doing no good in Russia at all. The don't know who or what they are fighting for and they are not helping bring order to the whole of Russia, but merely assisting local groups such as the Cossacks, who in their turn refuse to leave their own territories to assist other Russians in their struggle. For these reasons he believes that all Allied troops anywhere in Russia should be brought home immediately.

Mr Churchill agrees that bringing home all Allied troops is a logical and clear policy, but warns that doing so will result in the complete destruction of all non-Bolshevik armies in Russia.

President Wilson replies that the Allied forces now in Russia cannot stop the Bolsheviks, and not one Allied Power is willing to send more troops there.

Baron Sonnino asks whether the Allies could not continue supplying arms to non-Bolshevik forces.

President Wilson replies that those forces aren't fully utilizing the weapons the already have.

Mr Churchill agrees that more arms will not help, but sending specialists to advise and major weapons such as aeroplanes and tanks might be furnished.

President Wilson says that once these weapons are in the hands of Russian forces the Allies will have no control over their use. There for if asked exactly what they are supporting they will be required to answer "We don't know".

Mr Churchill asks whether the Council will agree to supplying arms to non-Bolshevik Russians if the Prinkipo meeting fails.

President Wilson replies that he has stated what he would do if he were acting alone, but since he is not he will cast his lot with the rest when a decision is arrived at.

At this point the meeting is adjourned.

[Jimbuna]

15th February 1919

Aftermath of War

President Wilson leaves France for U.S.A.

The conference room at the Hotel Crillon in Paris where delegates are discussing the creation of the League of Nations.


British occupation troops in Cologne, Germany enjoy a trip to the zoo.


Ship Losses:

Hans (Norway) The cargo ship ran aground and sank in Fjensfjord, Norway.

[Sailor Steve]

Saturday, February 15, 1919

PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE
Day 25

M Pichon's hotel suite, Quai d’Orsay, 15:00

Mr Churchill continues where he had left off the previous evening. More than a month has passed and still no policy decision on the Allied Forces in Russia has been reached. At the same time conditions in Russia are deteriorating rapidly. The British Government feels that a decision on the Prinkipo Conference must be reached immediately. Either all the Russian Governments must be present at that Conference and allowed to negotiate freely or the Allied Forces must be withdrawn and Russia left to her own devises.

The Bolshevik Government has offered to discuss terms for repayment of loans taken by Russia from the Allies. Mr Churchill makes it clear that this is not the object for Allied interference in Russia. The sole desire is for peace in that country. The Bolsheviks have accepted the invitation to Prinkipo (or Prince's Island, as Mr Churchill calls it), but at the same time they are attacking the non-Bolshevik Russians on several fronts. February 25th is set as the date by which all Bolshevik attacks must cease or the Prinkipo Conference will be cancelled. If the Bolsheviks have ceased all attacks and withdrawn their forces by the 20th then the Allies will give the same ultimatum to the non-Bolshevik forces.

Mr Churchill also proposes setting up an Allied Council on Russian Affairs. This Council will draw up plans for war against the Bolsheviks if they do not cease their attacks on Allied and friendly forces.

Mr Lansing, speaking for President Wilson, says that with a few minor textual changes this proposal is satisfactory to the United States. M Clemenceau says he is not in favor of leaving Russia to her own devices, as she would quickly fall prey to the Germans.

At this very moment it is announced that a telegram has been received saying the Germans have begun attacking Poland on several fronts. It would appear that when they met Marshal Foch to discuss the Polish situation the Germans wanted to be able to argue from a point of being already in possession of the Polish lands they desired. Several Delegates to the Council give the opinion that the Allies' best interest would be served by using this German tactic to persuade undecided Governments to join the side against Bolshevism.

Baron Sonnino opines that the Allies must get out of the Prinkipo proposal. Mr Churchill says the British Government has too much invested in the Prinkipo Conference and will oppose abandoning it at this point, unless it can be shown that the Conference was proposed in good faith and everything possible was done to make it work.

Mr Balfour says that several points of great difficulty have been raised, and proposes postponing further discussion until Monday the 17th. This is agreed to, and the meeting adjourned.

[Jimbuna]

16th February 1919

Aftermath of War

Elections held in Austria for National Assembly.

A prolongation of the ceasefire between the Allies and German helped end most of the major fighting between the Germans and Polish rebels in Greater Poland, although skirmishes continued until the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28.

British diplomat Mark Sykes, co-author of the Sykes-Picot Agreement that divided up the Middle East between France and Great Britain, dies of the Spanish flu at the age of 39.


Soldiers of the Ukrainian People’s Republic massacre around 1,500 Jewish residents of Proskurov (Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine). There is still debate on the responsibility of Symon Petliura (pictured), head of the Directorate of Ukraine, in the massacre.

[Sailor Steve]

Sunday, February 16, 1919

The Peace Conference has the day off.

[Jimbuna]

17th February 1919

Aftermath of War

Extension of Armistice; Terms signed.

Edward, Prince of Wales and General Pershing inspect American troops stationed in France.


Austria holds its first elections since the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Social Democratic Workers’ Party led by Karl Seitz wins the most votes.

[Sailor Steve]

Monday, February 17, 1919

PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE
Day 26

M Pichon's hotel suite, Quai d’Orsay, 15:00


1. Marshal Foch has returned from meeting with the German representatives on the 14th. Herr Erzberger has taken the papers relating the Allied views and returned two demands from the German side:


1) Repatriation of German prisoners.


2) To the action taken by the French in Alsace-Lorraine against German industrialists holding property removed from France and Belgium.


Marshal Foch relates his reply to the Germans:

a) Full repatriation is impossible at this time, but everything will be done to send home sick and wounded prisoners as soon as possible.


b) Herr Erzeberger’s view is that proceedings cannot not be taken against private individuals holding property removed from France and Belgium during the war, because they had received it from the German Government. The Allied point of view is that these goods could be recovered wherever found. Marshal Foch has told the Germans that these points will be submitted to Judicial Authorities qualified to decide points of law.


c) Marshal Foch had delivered an Ultimatum to the German Representatives. Since they have shown great reluctance to signing a Renewal of the Armistice, he will depart Treves and the Armistice will expire at 0500 on the 17th. At this point the Germans agreed to sign the renewed Armistice.


After the new Armistice was signed, Her Erzeberger handed Marshal Foch a declaration prepared by Herr Scheideman with the following objections:


I) The agreement ignores the fact that the German Government has been constituted by the popular will, in an orderly manner. The agreement imposes harsh restrictions on the Germans while ignoring Polish attacks on the German population, and taking what they want for their own.


II) Germany can prove that she has done everything possible to carry out the terms of the original Armistice.


III) Rather than a lasting Armistice with equitable terms Germany has been forced into a short Armistice that can be terminated on only three days' notice.


Marshal Foch proposes a telegram to the Germans stating that a cease-fire must be maintained by the Poles as well as the Germans. The Germans have asked for protection for the 400,000 Germans living in Polish territory. Marshal Foch says he cannot deal with this from a distance and requests that these questions be dealt with by the Inter-Allied Commission at Warsaw. It is agreed that such a telegram will be sent by Marshal Foch.


2. British Vice-Admiral Browning reports that the Germans want to bring an end to the submarine question. 45 submarines are still to be handed over, but it is reported that two of these have sunk at the mouth of the Elbe River. The Allies demand that these be replaced with engines and electrical plants. The Germans are also handing over submarine docks and lifting equipment.


3. Admiral Browning has also reported that the Germans are using naval wireless equipment to spread propaganda, and warned them that this must cease.


4. Admiral Browning has also pointed out that the Germans are reluctant to surrender merchant shipping until some minor financial problems have been straightened out. He says this does not sound like a country desperately in need of food.


5. Mr Balfour brings up the many requests from German Admiral Goette that merchant shipping restrictions be relaxed to allow German troops to be repatriated. He suggests that this be referred to the Military and Naval Committees. M Clemenceau asks whether this might no be better off in the hands of the Blockade Committee. Col House says these questions are more military than financial. It is finally decided to ask all Committees to submit reports.


6. M Clemenceau says that he has received a telegram from Mr Pachitch that the Serbian government intends to submit their case against Italy to President Wilson for arbitration. M Clemenceau makes it clear that this is not a request for discussion from the Council, but merely to inform them of the fact. Baron Sonnino says that Italy cannot give itself to arbitration on matters which they thought was part of the reason they fought the war.


7. A discussion is held on the Russian situation, with the verdict being that once again the matter will be postponed



8. M Clemenceau announces that the Serbian question will be discussed the following day. Baron Sonnino says that this is a delicate question, and that the Serbs should be heard with the Italians absent, or that if held in front of the Italians that no discussion should ensue. M Clemenceau says that there is precedent for this, and that the Serbs will be heard.


He then pronounces the meeting closed.

[Jimbuna]

18th February 1919

Jack Palance was born on this day.


American and French soldiers building coffins during the Allied intervention in Russia against the Bolsheviks.


African American soldier of the 369th Infantry, the Harlem Hellfighters, marching in a victory parade in New York City.


Princess Ōyama Sutematsu, the first Japanese woman to earn a college degree, has passed away due to the Spanish Flu.


American Red Cross tents with the Eiffel Tower in the background.

[Sailor Steve]

Tuesday, February 18, 1919

PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE
Day 27

M Pichon's hotel suite, Quai d’Orsay, 15:00


1. M Clemenceau opens the meeting asking the Serbian delegation to make their statement.

Mr Vesnitch begins by stating that the real cause of the war was German expansion toward Asia Minor and the Yugoslav people. Since 1848 Austria-Hungary had sought to bring under its rule all Serbian peoples. This had led to the Balkan War, which resulted in a victorious Serbia become a refuge for all Yugoslavian peoples, which ultimately led to conflict between Serbia and Austria-Hungary which ultimately led to the Great War.

Since the beginning of the war the Great Liberal Powers - Britain, France, Russia and later Italy, had fought not for National advantages but for certain Principles, among these Nationality, the Right to Self-Determination, and Freedom of the Small Nations. M Clemenceau had said that there is no difference between the Great and Small Powers. Herr Jagow, on the other hand, had prior to the war said there was no longer room in the world for the Small Powers.

Mr Vesnitch then spends some time explaining, with the aid of Dr Zolger, the proposed Yugoslavian boundaries. After the proposed boundaries are laid out the Serbian delegation withdraws.

2. M Clemenceau says that Mr Tchaikowski has asked to speak on the Arkhangelsk Government and Northern Russia. It is agreed that Mr Tchaikowski will speak at the next meeting.

a) Mr Balfour asks whether Mr Tchaikowski's appearance will really be part of a systematic attempt to hear from all Russian sides or just because Mr Tchaikowski happens to be in Paris at the time. M Clemenceau responds that two or three Russians in Paris whose statements might be of interest. Mr Balfour says he believes some investigation is in order. Mr Lansing agrees, otherwise there is a chance that only one side of the evidence will be heard.

b) Mr Balfour says that the case for Yugoslavia has now been heard, and asks for opinions on the matter. Baron Sonnino says that due to her involvement in the question Italy cannot take place in any Council or discussions on the subject.

3. M Clemenceau raises the subject of the Agenda for the next Council Meeting. Some suggestions are made, but nothing is decided.

4. Mr Lansing asks whether there should be an Inter-Allied Commission to Syria. The question is postponed.

5. Sir Robert Borden suggests that time might be saved if it were decided now what questions were to be sent to which Committees. Mr Lansing says that since this was discussed before President Wilson's departure. It was thought that several delegations waiting to make statements to the Council might be disappointed if they had to make them to Committees instead.

6. Mr Balfour presents a list of subjects still awaiting discussion:

Schleswig Holstein.

The Baltic Provinces.

Poland (Delimitation).

Luxembourg.

Albania.

Zionism.

Armenia.

The report of the Economic Drafting Committee.

a) Baron Sonnino suggested the hearing of the Persian statement. Mr. Balfour points out that as Persia is not a belligerent the case does not arise.

b) M. Clemenceau says that another item on the list should be the question of recognizing the Polish Government.

7. M. Clemenceau proposes that at the following meeting the question of the recognition of the Polish Government and the question of Danish claims in Schleswig Holstein should be discussed.

The meeting is then adjourned.

[Jimbuna]

19th February 1919

Aftermath of War

Attempted assassination of M. Clemenceau by Cottin.

Secretary of State for War and Secretary of State for Air Winston Churchill arrives at a memorial service for airmen killed during the First World War at Westminster Abbey, London, on 19 February 1919.


The Pan-African Congress commences in Paris to coincide with the Paris Peace Conference. Africans and African-descended activists (including W.E.B. Du Bois) tried to influence the Peace Conference as it related to the political and economic location of African and Caribbean colonies.


A German observation post that was built inside a vault (on the right) in a graveyard at Montfaucon, France.

[Sailor Steve]

Wednesday, February 19, 1919


French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau is leaving his apartment in the Rue Benjamin Franklin to drive to a meeting with Edward M. House, aide to President Wilson, and British Foreign Secretary Arthur House at the Hôtel de Crillon, when Louis Émile Cottin fired several shots at Clemenceau, hitting him once. Clemenceau survives the attack but carries the bullet in his body until he dies from cancer in 1929.

Clemenceau often joked about the "assassin's" bad marksmanship – "We have just won the most terrible war in history, yet here is a Frenchman who misses his target 6 out of 7 times at point-blank range. Of course this fellow must be punished for the careless use of a dangerous weapon and for poor marksmanship. I suggest that he be locked up for eight years, with intensive training in a shooting gallery."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_Clemenceau


The Peace Conference is closed for two days, resuming on Friday, February 21.

[Jimbuna]

20th February 1919

Aftermath of War

Emir of Afghanistan (Habibullah Khan) assassinated.

Allies beat Bolsheviks on Murman front.

A wounded Bolshevik prisoner of war being transported by the Allies in the Siberian Intervention.


A British and American soldier eat together at a Red Cross canteen in Paris.


Ship Losses:

SM UC-71 (Imperial German Navy) The Type UC II submarine foundered in the North Sea (54°10′N 7°54′E).

[Sailor Steve]

Thursday, February 20, 1919


It is announced that Georges Clemenceau's wound is relatively superficial, and he should be up and about within a very few days.

[Jimbuna]

21st February 1919

Aftermath of War

Kurt Eisner, the socialist Minister President of Bavaria, is assassinated by German nationalist Anton Graf von Arco auf Valley (Anton’s jail cell will later by occupied by Adolf Hitler in 1923)


Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, a surgeon who served in the American Civil War known for being the first (and still only) woman to receive the Medal of Honor, has passed away.


Habibullah Khan, the Emir of Afghanistan known for attempting to modernize the country and keeping it out of the war, is assassinated while on a hunting trip.

[Sailor Steve]

Friday, February 21, 1919

PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE
Day 28

M Pichon's hotel suite, Quai d’Orsay, 15:00




1. American Secretary of State Robert Lansing proposes French Foreign Minister Stephen Pichon as temporary President of the Peace Conference. M Pichon is elected. After thanking his fellows for the honor M Pichon says he visited M Clemenceau a few hours earlier. M Clemenceau is recovering quickly and hopes he can take his place at the Conference on Monday. If this turns out not to be possible he will be back shortly.




2. The first subject for the day is the creation of a neutral zone in Transylvania. André Tardieu, Chairman of the Committee on Romanian Affairs, reports that Romanian forces are at this time advancing into Transylvania, and the Transylvanian borders have not yet been fixed. The Romanians give acts of cruelty by the Hungarians in the region as the reason for their continued advance. M Tardieu suggests the Supreme Council as the body to make decisions in this matter, and not his Committee.




3. M Pichon points out that the question of Polish recognition has been waiting for quite some time now. The Polish government is now requesting some action in this matter.

Britain: Mr Balfour agrees that it is time.

France: M Pichon remarked that the Allied and Associated Governments had already recognized the Polish National Committee and the independence of Poland. All that is needed now is official recognition.

United States: Mr. Lansing points out that the United States of America had recognized M. Paderewski’s Government about ten days previously.3He saw no reason for renewing the recognition.

Japan: Mr Matsui says that his Government had not yet recognized either the Polish Government or the Polish National Committee. He is not authorized to do so without reference to his Government.

Italy: Baron Sonnino is prepared, on behalf of the Italian Government, to accept the proposal before the Conference.

It is agreed that the Great Powers will recognize M. Paderewski’s Government, taking note of the reservations made by the Japanese Representative.



4. Mr Balfour points out the fact that the French and English texts of the draft terms for the Economic Commission are not identical. Etienne Clémentel says the draft had been prepared in parallel columns and had been signed by all. Mr Balfour suggests the report of the Economic Drafting Committee be accepted, and that the French text should be altered to agree with the English text. Mr Lansing disagrees on the grounds that he has not seen the report, and proposes that discussions on the matter be postponed until the next session.

M Klotz points out that the Draft in question was not a binding agreement, but a questionnaire asking the members' thoughts on the constitution of such a committee. This is not a question of principle, but only one of procedure. M Clementel says that Mr Baruch, before leaving Paris for Brussels, asked that this be decided as soon as possible. Mr Lansing says that, given these circumstances, he would not insist on a postponement.


5. A letter from the Danish government is distributed, asking for an adjustment to the Danish-German border and a withdrawal of German forces from the area in question until the Council has made a decision. After much discussion it is decided that the Committee on Belgium should also look into these matters.


6. Mr Balfour asks for confirmation that Albanian problems will be discussed the following day. This is agreed to, and the meeting adjourned.