[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.