100 Years Ago Today

[Jimbuna]

22nd February 1919

Aftermath of War

Pan-African Congress concludes its meeting in Paris, which demanded a larger role for Africans in governing the colonies towards future independence.

Tennis players currently serving in U.S. uniform. 4th from the right of the picture is R. Norris Williams, survivor of the RMS Titanic and winner of the US Open in 1914 and 1916.


German submarine SM U-21, which sank 40 ships including 2 battleships during the war, sinks while being towed on the way to its surrender. Painting of the SM U-21 by Willy Stöwer.


Ship Losses:

SM U-21 (Imperial German Navy) The Type U 19 submarine foundered in the North Sea (54°19′N 3°42′W) whilst under tow.

[Sailor Steve]

Saturday, February 22, 1919

PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE
Day 29

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




1. Mr Balfour opens the meeting with the claim that Portugal is the only nation to have suffered at the hands of the Germans during the war which still has no representative on the Allied Commission on Reparation. After some discussion it is decided that Portugal has the right to name two Representatives to the Commission, and that they should be invited to attend the next Commission meeting on Monday the 24th.




2. Mr Balfour proposes that Preliminary Peace terms be placed for discussion as soon as possible. This Resolution is passed.




3. Mr Balfour requests that the Reports of all the Commissions thus far created should be given to the Secretary-General no later than Saturday, March 8th. It is proposed that the Preliminary Peace Terms be discussed at that time.


The Preliminary non-Military terms are:


1) The approximate future frontiers of Germany,



2) The Financial Arrangements to be imposed on Germany.



3) Economic Relations with Germany after the War, and



4)The Responsibility for Breaches of the Laws of War.


Some objections are raised:


1) The problem faced by Italy of what would happen when the other Allied Armies had gone home, and Italy would face the Germans and the Hungarians alone.


2) It might be a mistake to treat Civil and Military peace terms separately.


3) Whenever the word "Germany" appears in the document the words "and Austria-Hungary" should follow. It is then proposed that where this might not fit the document well the term "Germany" be dropped and the words "Enemy Countries" be added.



There follows much wrangling over the placement of certain paragraphs within the document.


After this several topics for the next meeting are proposed, including Albanian claims, a French statement concerning Morocco, and whether to send troops into Poland.


The final order of business is the agreement that the question of a neutral zone between Germany and Yugoslavia is to be decided by the Military Committee already created to decide the border between The Banat and Transylvania.

[Jimbuna]

23rd February 1919

Aftermath of War

Fighting in Posen and at Lemberg (Galicia).

Destroyed blocks in Torcy, France 7 months after it was recaptured from the Germans and 3 months since the end of the war.


A troop station map of France in office of the Personnel Division in Tours, 23 February 1919.

[Sailor Steve]

Sunday, February 23, 1919

The Peace Conference has the day off.

[Jimbuna]

24th February 1919

Aftermath of War

President Wilson arrives in New York.

Damage in the city of Lwów (Lviv/Lemberg), as Ukrainian troops continue to besiege the Polish defenders of the city.


The first anniversary of the independence of Estonia is celebrated in Tallinn.

[Sailor Steve]

Monday, February 24, 1919

PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE
Day 30

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


M Pichon opens the meeting, the asks permission for Mr Balfour to raise a subject not on the agenda.


1. Mr Balfour says that Mr Montagu, Secretary of State for India and a member of the Financial Committee, has asked him to bring up the subject of Austria's debt. A payment is due on March 1st. If not paid, a distrust of Austria's credit could ensue, and there might be no way to pay for the food waiting to be delivered to a starving population. A discussion of the interest due is held. It is agreed that the Financial Advisory Committee would prepare declarations concerning the debt, to be delivered on Tuesday, February 25th.


2. Texts have been passed around covering the previous Saturday's Resolution, and Baron Sonnino is invited to make his remarks. The Baron reads the proposed changes to the Resolution on Austria-Hungary's territorial rights. Where Germany is concerned, the debate continues over finalization of the clauses regarding Reparations and Disarmament. Marshal Foch insists that the Military use of "Preliminary Conditions" means that the conditions imposed will only be temporary, and will have to updated from time to time. Lord Milner insists that the conditions will have to be made permanent before they can be approved. Germany may have been the enemy, but deserves to know what is and is not expected of them, and not to have the terms change every other week. M Tardieu says he sees no contradiction between the two sides, as long as all the conditions are finalized by March 8th. It is finally agreed that all four main conditions will be accepted.


3. Touran Pasha reads a list of Albanian claims. It is agreed that these will be examined by the same committee in charge of Greek claims.


4. M Pichon reminds the Council of Mr Noulens', Chairman of the Allied Commission to Poland telegram requesting a division of General Haller's Army. M Pichon believes this can and should be done as soon as possible. Marshal Foch says that the only way to do this is to occupy Danzig and the Danzig-Thorn Railway line, and since Germany currently in control of the line the best possible recourse is to make the Germans withdraw their troops from the region. After some discussion on this the meeting is adjourned.

[Jimbuna]

25th February 1919

Aftermath of War

Guards' Division returns to England.

Photo of a grave of an American soldier sent to his family members who could not visit the graves in Europe.


Ukrainian and Polish forces in the siege of Lwów (Lviv/Lemberg) sign an armistice, brokered by French and British delegates.

[Sailor Steve]

Tuesday, February 25, 1919

PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE
Day 31

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


1. Signor Crespi is called upon to give a report on Austrian debts due March 1st. S Crespi explains that the full sum is unlikely to be possible due to a lack of understanding between the Austrian and Hungarian governments and other governments concerned regarding the actual amounts due. Mr Balfour says he has no objections to the content of the telegram to be sent to the respective governments, but he wishes to know who will actually send the telegram. M Pichon says the telegram will be sent by the French Foreign Office in the name of the five Great Powers. The telegram is mainly to inform the Austrian and Hungarian governments that terms of Peace will not be affected by the results of this one-time payment.

2. M Cambon informs the Peace Conference that arrangements have still not been made for transportation of Allied troops to Danzig by sea. General Weygand points out the extent of the problem with an example: If 20 ships of 5,000 tons each were to transport the four divisions asked for, circulating constantly, it would still take three months to complete the operation. If it is to be completed in two months then 27 ships of 5,000 tons would be needed. One complication is the horses required. If those horses could be found in Poland then the operation could be accomplished int two months with only 20 ships. All this is assuming that appropriate facilities could be found for the troops to disembark.

The Allied Commission on Poland needs to report on those two problems:
1) The number of horses available in Poland to meet the needs of General Haller's divisions.
2) Available accomodations at Danzig for offloading the troops and their supplies.

Another problem is that the Port of Danzig and the railway lines are still controlled by the Germans, leaving the incoming divisions open to attack. One solution is the occupation of the port and the railway lines by the Allies, but the expense in both men and money would make this impractical. A second solution is to fix the eastern borders of Germany at the next meeting with Herr Erzberger.

That problem and possible solutions are compounded by problems within Germany, mainly the cities of Mannheim, Carlsruhe, Baden and Düsseldorf, which are plagued by a growing Soviet movement. Marshal Foch is convinced that the problems in western Germany must be solved before the eastern borders can be addressed.

Mr Lansing asks whether when Marshal Foch talks about settling the problems in western Germany he means a Peace Treaty must be established immediately. Marshal Foch replies that he means that a Preliminary Peace must be signed with Germany within the next fortnight. Without this discussions of Eastern Germany are impossible.

Mr Balfour states that his questions of the previous day only covered the transportation of Polish troops now in France to Poland. This is a very narrow and simple question, which Marshal Foch has expanded into a widespread and profound plan stretching from the Rhine to Vladivostok, and requiring an immediate conclusion of peace terms with Germany. Mr Balfour says that he also desires a quick resolution to a Peace Treaty, but when Marshal Foch makes that treaty a requirement before sending Polish troops to Poland he oversimplifies the problems involved. The West Bank of the Rhine, Danzig, the French-German border, the Danish-German border, the Polish-German border, and the Financial situation are all questions which require the presence of President Wilson, and so must wait for his return to France. On the other hand the Council can do nothing until the reports of the various Allied Commissions have been recieved, and that will be March 8th at the earliest. Reports must be filed on all these situations, and this will take five or six weeks at best, and sending the troops to poland is required immediately.

Marshal Foch replies that he is not adverse to sending a division to Danzig now, but Danzig happens to be closed at this moment. The Allied Commission to Poland could be asked, but he does not see how Polish troops, who are at war with Germany, can be sent by sea to a German port.

Lord Milner asks whether the Allies could simply order the Germans to allow the Polish divisions in under threat of a resumption of war on the Western Front. Marshal Foch agrees, and proposes a telegram be sent to the Allied Commission with the following questions:
1) Is it possible to send troops via the Danzig-Thorn Railway without first occupying the port of Danzig and the railway lines?
2) Does the port of Danzig have the capacity and the facilities for disembarking the required number of troops?
3) Are there sufficient transport facilities and rolling stock available on the Dantzig-Thorn and Dantzig-Mlawa railway lines?
4) Can horses could be obtained in Poland to meet the requirements of the troops to be dispatched?

Baron Sonnino points out that there are currently 10,000-12,000 Polish troo0ps in Italy. This is not a problem now, but when the time comes will it be possible to get them to Poland via the Danzig route?

Arrangements are made for a telegram to the Allied Commision on Poland, addressing all these points. It is addressed and sent by Marshal Foch. Mr Balfour asks whether a similar telegram should not be went to the Allied Maritime Council in London, asking that Council to provide a plan for transportation of the Polish divisions by sea. This is agreed to and the telegram sent.

3. M de Peretti is called upon to explain French views on the Moroccan question. M de Peretti reads a statement to the effect that, as the United States has no claims in Morocco, France would like to lay claim to the governance of that territory, emphasizing an open-door policy on the part of France. Mr White said that as a signatory of the Act of Algeciras he wishes to reiterate that the United States has no interest in Morocco and only desires an equal treatment of all nations involved there.

Mr Balfour says that Britain also makes no claims on Morocco. He does point out that Spain has an opposing claim, but that this is based on a treaty signed in 1904, and any differences between claims needs to be resolved betwee France and Spain privately. His only concern is that all nations are allowed free travel and free trade in Morocco. M de Peretti points out that the treaty referred to by Mr Balfour was modified in 1912, and that France had every intention of keeping to the terms of the modified treaty.

4. The agenda for the next day will include:
A) A statement by M Tardieu on the findings of the Committee for Belgium.
B) A report by the Supreme War Council on the neutrality of Transylvania.
C) Armenian claims.

The meeting is adjourned until the next day.

[Jimbuna]

26th February 1919

Aftermath of War

More strikes in Central Germany.

Statue of Kaiser Wilhelm I in Cologne vandalized by Australian Flying Corp members on the night before they head home. The text reads, “Deutschtlend [sic] unter Alles”


Belgian refugees returning to Ghent, Belgium. The locomotive carrying the refugees were turned over to the Allies by the Germans.


A French tank repurposed to aid in the reconstruction effort by pulling canal boats loaded with foodstuffs.

[Sailor Steve]

Wednesday, February 26, 1919

PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE
Day 32

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




1. Before the main talks start Mr Balfour points out that he has been laboring under the misaprehension that there is a Committee investigating the border between Germany and Poland. He has asked and found that no such Committee exists, rendering a Preliminary Peace Treaty impossible. Mr Balfour proposes that such a Committee be established immediately. The first question is whether a new Committee be created or the duties be handled by the Committee for Polish Affairs, run by M Cambon. It is proposed that the latter option be taken.


When asked if he agrees, Baron Sonnino says that there is at present no Committee at all assigned discussion on any German borders. Several Committees are investigating the question, and their reports aren't due until March 8th. Mr. Balfour points out that the German borders with Denmark, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia and Poland are all being investigated by various Commissions. The only German border currently not being addressed by a Committee is that with Austria. Mr Balfour asks if such a Commission is under proposal. Mr Lansing replies that he thought there was a Committee assigned to handle Germany's borders as a whole.


Mr Balfour suggests that all reports from the various Commissions could be handled as they were received. Baron Sonnino says he does not care if a special Commission for the German-Austrian border is created or not, but all reports must be in the hands of the Council as soon as possible if the question of German borders is to be settled by March 8th. Mr White asks whether any alteration is foreseen to the German-Austrian Border. Baron Sonnino replies that there might not be a need to alter that border, but there are other questions which have not yet been addressed, one example being the borders of Bulgaria and Turkey.


Mr Lansing suggests that all border questions not yet assigned be entrusted to a collective Commission yet to be created. He says he will have a new proposal ready tomorrow and asked that the question be postponed until then. Baron Sonnino agrees. It is planned that most of the border questions be finalized the next day, but that the German-Polish border question be assigned to a new Commission with a report due not later than March 8th.




2. M Tardieu now brings up the subject of German reparations to be paid to Belgium. A commission has been formed to investigate this question, but has not been specifically granted the power to question Dutch Delegates on the subject. After some debate on the question, Mr Balfour says that the scope of this Commission must remain "somewhat vague". Mr Lansing says that the Commission must take into account the views of the people living in German territories to be ceded to the Dutch and in Dutch territories to be ceded to the Belgians. Mr Balfour and Lord Milner both believe it unnecessary to bother the people living in those districts.


M Tardieu says that the claims of the Belgians are based on a treaty signed in 1839, and that Belgium had no wish to return to the conditions of that treaty. As it now exists, Belgium is tied to Holland, and neither of those countries is happy with the arrangement. Mr Lansing says that he doubts the mere outbreak of The Great War was enough to destroy a treaty. Mr Balfour says that the Peace Conference has no right to overturn a treaty of this type. M Tardieu asks if anyone would object to a line of questioning be opened to explore the elimination of this treaty. Mr Balfour says he has no objections, but the Council does not have the authority to call Dutch witnesses.


M Tardieu suggests that the Commission might give its own views on the treaty without calling any witnesses, either Dutch or Belgian. Once the Commission had filed its report the Conference would be in a position to make a decision on the subject. At that point the Belgian Commission would be in a position to call any witnesses it likes.


It is decided that this course will be taken.




3. M Pichon has General Belin read a report concerning a neutral zone between Hungarians and Romanians in Transylvania. The following experts are heard:


Romanian General Coanda on general conditions, historical, moral, political and ethnographical relating to these questions.


Romanian Colonel Dimitresco on the strategical conditions required to place the Romanian armies in a position to defend themselves against all eventual aggression by Hungarian troops.


Dr. Vaida, Romanian Minister, on the general internal conditions of Transylvania.


General Henrys, Commander-in-Chief of the French Army of the Orient.


General Charpy, Chief of Staff of the General Commanding-in-Chief the Allied Armies in the East, on the possibility of the occupation by these Armies of the neutral zone to be defined.


After hearing these witnesses it is decided that a neutral zone should be created. The Conference asks several questons of the witness concerning the problems which might be involved.




4. M Aharonian reads a long statement detailing the history of Armenia with Russia under the Tsars and the Bolsheviks, ending with a request to be acknowledged as an independent nation. He then makes another lengthy statement detailing the reasons why this should take place. Former Egyptian Prime Minister Boghes Nubar Pasha makes a statement supporting the Armenians in this quest.


It is suggested that this item be placed at the top of the agenda for the next day, and the meeting is adjourned.

[Jimbuna]

27th February 1919

President Wilson participates in a victory parade in Washington DC during his brief return home before going back to Paris for the Peace Conference.


Women delegates representing several Allied nations who traveled to Paris for the Peace Conference to urge the acceptance of women’s voting rights across the world.

[Sailor Steve]

Thursday, February 27, 1919

PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE
Day 33

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


1. A copy of Colonel House's Draft Resolution in Regard to the Procedure for Determining Frontiers, which proposes a Committee specifically for the purpose of determining borders. There is the usual discussion on Committee Members - how many, how they are appointed, what specific powers they will have.


2. M Pichon introduces Mr Sokolow, representing the Zionist Organization and Jews in Palestine. Mr Sokolow distributes copies of a paper, 'Statement of the Zionist Organisation regarding Palestine', and makes a long speech detailing the history of Jews in Europe and America, and describing their desire for a homeland. He then declares himself ready to answer any questions the Conference might have.

This is followed by Zionist Organization memeber Dr Weizmann, who points out that the Great War has left the Jews the weekest prople in the world, having no land and no borders of their own. He shows that Palestine is currently sparsely populated, having only 10-15 people per square kilometer. he says that a Jewish population could easily fit into the unpopulated areas without bothering the people already there.

Next is a statement from Statement by Mr Ussischkins, Member of the Executive Committee of the Zionist Association and President of the South Russian Jewish National Assembly, which contains around three million people. He makes a short speech in support of the statements of the first two gentlemen.

Fourth is M Spire, representing French Zionists, who represent a minority of Jews in France. His purpose is to add another voice in behalf of European Jews. He appeals to France as a nation with a record of upholding human rights.

Fifth is Professor Sylvain Levi of the College de France at Paris. His speech details the suffering and oppression of Jews in Europe, but also lays out the difficulties involved in moving that many people to a new country, and the hardships they would find when they got there.

Mr Lansing asks Dr Weizmann to clear up the meaning of the phrase "National Jewish Home". Does this mean an autonomous Jewish Government? Dr Weizmann replies no, they are not looking for an autonomous government, but for an Administration run by a Mandatory, not necessarily Jewish, to help provide stability for themselves and others in the region.


3. M Pichon suggests questions to be addressed on the following Saturday's meeting:
A) Report of the Financial Drafting Committee.B) Report of the Economic Drafting Committee.
C) Report on Morocco.
D) Statement by the representatives of the Island of Aaland.This is agreed to.


4. Mr Balfour enquired what action has been taken on the resolution reached the previous day in regard to the creation of a neutral zone in Transylvania. Who would be responsible for carrying out the policy decided upon? M Pichon replies that a despatch has already been sent by the French Government to General Franchet D’Esperey, Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Armies of the Orient, calling on him to take the necessary action.

The meeting is adjourned.

[Jimbuna]

28th February 1919

Aftermath of War

Italian war losses published.

Senator Lodge speaks against League of Nations.

Lord Reading arrives in New York.

Amānullāh Khan takes control of Afghanistan as Emir after his father Ḥabībullāh Khan’s assassination and declares the country’s independence from British influence.


Ship Losses:

General Gordon (Norway) The barque was driven ashore 20 nautical miles (37 km) north of Tybee Island, Georgia, United States. Her crew were rescued by W. B. Keene ( United States).
Lord Dufferin (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was in collision with Aquitania ( United Kingdom) at New York, United States and sank. Her crew were rescued by Aquitania.[31] She was later refloated and beached.

[Sailor Steve]

Friday, February 28, 1919

PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE

The Peace Conference did not meet this day.

[Jimbuna]

1st March 1919

Aftermath of War

Austrian losses published.

British losses published.

French losses published.

German losses published.

British Army Estimates published; 2,500,000 men, to be reduced to 952,000; cost for year, £287 million.

Fighting 140 miles south-east of Archangel; Allies withdraw a mile.

Ukraine Commander denounces truce with Poles.

American losses published.

3rd Canadian Division cheer as they prepare to return home from Liverpool.


Massive demonstrations break out in the Japanese colony of Korea, with Koreans declaring independence from Japan. Known as the “March 1st (Sam-il) Movement, the Japanese colonial authorities crack down on the protesters with force.


Belgian workers in Ghent work to rebuild the damage done in a railway station by the war.