100 Years Ago Today

[Sailor Steve]

Monday, October 6, 1919

PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE

There are no meetings today.

[Jimbuna]

7th October 1919

Aftermath of War

King of Italy signs and ratifies Peace Treaty.

61.6% of Norwegians vote in a referendum to approve the prohibition of alcohol in the country.

Alfred Deakin, the 2nd Prime Minister of Australia known for being the chief architects of the White Australia policy, has passed away.


A group of men inspecting a tank parked at Lincoln's Inn, London, during an inquiry.


The first purpose built civil airliner, BAT FK26, enters service and flies from Hendon (London) to Amsterdam.


Ship Losses:

Sizergh Castle (United Kingdom) The cargo ship foundered due to a water leakage in the North Atlantic while she was travelling from Galveston, Texas, United States to Antwerp, Belgium.

[Sailor Steve]

Tuesday, October 7, 1919

PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE

M Pichon’s Room, Quai d’Orsay, Paris, 10:30

Meeting of the Heads of Delegations of the Five Great Powers.


...

[Jimbuna]

8th October 1919

The first aerial transcontinental race is held across the U.S. with 63 planes. When the race ends on October 31, half of the planes fail to complete, with 54 accidents and crashes and 7 deaths. Lieutenant Belvin Maynard winning the race.


Polish farmers harvest their crops as barbed wire fencing from the war still cross their fields in the background.


The airline KLM is founded in the Netherlands with Robert Plesman as its first director.


LZ 120 Bodensee completes the only landing of a zeppelin in Sweden. (LZ 120 Bodensee lands at Gärdet, Stockholm, on October 8, 1919)


Ship Losses:

Hettie B (United States) During a voyage from the Lost River to Nome, Territory of Alaska, the 15-gross register ton motor vessel was wrecked without loss of life during a gale on a shoal approximately 0.5 nautical miles (0.9 km; 0.6 mi) southeast of the mouth of Safety Lagoon (64°29′N 164°45′W) on Alaska′s Norton Sound coast. A motorboat from shore rescued her seven passengers and crew of three. Her gasoline engine later was salvaged, after which her wreck was abandoned in place.
Sesnon #4 (United States) While anchored off Nome, Territory of Alaska, with no cargo or crew aboard, the 23-ton barge broke loose from her moorings during a gale, was driven ashore, and was broken apart by waves.
Sesnon #10 (United States) With no cargo or crew aboard, the 20-ton barge broke loose from her moorings at Nome, Territory of Alaska, during a gale, was driven ashore on a beach about 2 nautical miles (3.7 km; 2.3 mi) east of Nome, and was broken apart by waves.

[Sailor Steve]

Wednesday, October 8, 1919

PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE

There are no meetings today.

[Jimbuna]

9th October 1919

Ship Losses:

Daram (United States) The cargo ship ran aground and sank on Long Bar Reef off Bermuda during a voyage from Pensacola, Florida, United States, to Marseille, France.
Flyer (United States) With no one and no cargo aboard, the 6-ton scow was blown from her moorings at the mouth of the Kiwalik River on the coast of the Territory of Alaska and onto the shore, where ice and the surf broke her up. She was declared a total loss.

[Sailor Steve]

Thursday, October 9, 1919

PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE

There are no meetings today.

[Jimbuna]

10th October 1919

Aftermath of War

King George V signs and ratifies Peace Treaty.

British troops withdrawn from Murmansk region.

Result of Luxemburg Referendum published: for Grand Duchy.

Chinese revolutionary leader Sun Yat-Sen reforms the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) political party for the eventual goal of reuniting China.


Cabin of a Junkers F 13 (the world's first all-metal transport aircraft)

[Sailor Steve]

Friday, October 10, 1919

PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE

M Pichon’s Room, Quai d’Orsay, Paris, 10:30

Meeting of the Heads of Delegations of the Five Great Powers.


1. Mr. Polk says that the question of making a communication to the German Government relative to granting permission to German and Austrian representatives to proceed to Washington to attend the International Labor Conference has been referred to the American Delegation, which has been asked to assume the responsibility of providing arrangements to enable the German representatives to proceed to Washington. He has informed Baron von Lersner in accordance with the Supreme Council’s instructions and has now received a reply which he wishes to place before the Council.

Mr Polk then reads a note from Baron von Lersner of the 4th October.

Mr Polk says that he has prepared a draft of a note in reply to Baron von Lersner which, in his opinion, expresses the views of the British, French and American labor representatives. He wishes to submit this note to the Council and to ask that, if there should be any objections to its contents, they might be brought up at the next meeting.


2. The Council has before it a note from the Bulgarian Delegation of the 7th October requesting an extension of ten days to the time limit for the transmission of the reply to the Conditions of Peace.

M Clemenceau says that in view of the circumstances he does not feel that the Council can refuse the request of the Bulgarian Delegation.

(It is decided to accede to the request of the Bulgarian Delegation for the prolongation by ten days of the time allowed for the presentation of its observations on the Conditions of Peace.)


3. The Council has before it a note of the 29th September addressed to the Organization Committee of the Reparations Commission by the American Delegation.

M Loucheur briefly comments upon the note in question. He says that, in his opinion, no action could be taken until the Treaty of Peace has come into force. The matter has been discussed by the Organization Committee of the Reparations Commission, which is of the opinion that they have authority under the Treaty of Peace to create a tribunal competent to deal with the question and consider the case in question. He urges that if this view should be accepted, all the Allied and Associated Governments should make the same reply to the Spanish Government in the event of a request being made to these Governments by the Spanish Government.

Mr Polk asks whether it is proposed to take the same course in regard to Norway.

M Loucheur replies in the negative. He says that the Norwegian claims for reparations from Germany for Norwegian ships lost during the war have been referred by the Conference to the Organization Committee of the Reparations Commission. The Commission is of the opinion that the matter is one affecting only Norway and Germany, and should consequently be settled between them, as Norway is not one of the Allied and Associated Powers.

Mr Polk said that he agrees, as in the case of Spain it is a question of ships now in Spanish ports.

(It is decided:

(1) To accept the principles contained in the note of the American Delegation to the Organization Committee of the Reparations Commission as a basis for a reply from the Government of the United States to the Spanish Government in regard to the final disposition of German and Austro-Hungarian ships in Spanish ports;

(2) That each of the Allied and Associated Governments, in communicating a reply to the Spanish Government on the subject, if occasion should arise, should address that Government in the same sense.)


4. The Council has before it the draft of a note addressed to the German Government relative to the evacuation of the Baltic Provinces, prepared by Marshal Foch, in accordance with the decision of the Supreme Council of October 7th, 1919.

General Weygand reads and comments upon the draft of the note in question. He adds that, in view of the fact that information had just been received to show that German troops are conducting active operations in Latvia, he proposes that a sentence be added to the end of the third paragraph pointing out that information has just been received to show that the German troops had attacked the army of the Letts.

Sir Eyre Crowe says that he agrees with the terms of the note prepared by Marshal Foch. There is one point, however, which he wishes to raise. The German Government will undoubtedly publish the note and cause public opinion in Germany to feel that the Allied and Associated Governments are acting in a brutal manner towards Germany. He considers it of equal importance that the note should be published by the Allied and Associated Governments, and that a paragraph should be inserted to make the reasons clear why these Governments consider the German reply to be unsatisfactory. He proposes that a paragraph in this sense should be inserted after the second paragraph of Marshal Foch’s draft. Sir Eyre Crowe then reads the draft of the paragraph in question.

M Clemenceau says that he will have no objection to the insertion of Sir Eyre Crowe’s paragraph in the reply to the German Government.

Mr Polk says that he has referred the matter to General Bliss and that he cannot express his final opinion at the moment. He will, however, communicate his reply at the first opportunity.

M Clemenceau says that it will be also necessary to name a General to act as head of the mixed Commission mentioned in the note.

Marshal Foch says that the General can be named after a reply to the note has been received from the German Government.

(It is decided:

(1) To accept the draft note prepared by Marshal Foch relative to the evacuation of the Baltic Provinces with the addition to the text proposed by Marshal Foch, and with the addition of the draft paragraph submitted by Sir Eyre Crowe.

(2) To publish the text of the note.)


5. The Council has before it the draft of a resolution on the subject of Russian Prisoners of War in Germany prepared by Marshal Foch in accordance with the resolution of the Supreme Council of the 7th October, 1919.

General Weygand reads and comments upon the draft resolution.

Sir Eyre Crowe said

ys that he cannot help but feel that the Council are going back on their previous decision. In the first instance they had decided to wash their hands of the Russian Prisoners in Germany, and they had later decided that an International Commission should be appointed upon which there should be both German and Russian Representatives. If the present draft is accepted, the Council will be going still further, for they will be again assuming responsibility. He points out that in the second paragraph of the note, there is a clear expression of the acceptance of responsibility and that in the paragraph numbered 1, the Allied and Associated Governments speak of re-establishing an Inter-Allied Commission for the control of Russian prisoners. He thinks that it is important to avoid the use of the word “re-establishment”. Paragraph No. 2, Section B, speaks of regulating the ways and means for the repatriation of Russian Prisoners of War. This paragraph also is a clear expression of the re-establishment of responsibility, and he considers it necessary that the responsibility of the Allied and Associated Governments should not be re-established in regard to Russian Prisoners of war in Germany.

General Weygand says that he thinks it possible that the expressions which have been used in the draft resolution go somewhat too far, but the question is one of the intention of the Allied and Associated Governments. The Russian Political Conference at Paris had been informed by General Denikin that it was necessary to avoid at all costs the repatriation to Bolshevist Russia of Russian Prisoners of War in Germany, who came from those parts of Russia, which were under the control of the Soviet Government. He cannot help but feel that the Allied and Associated Governments have an important interest in this matter, and he does not believe that they can wash their hands of the affair and leave the matter entirely to the Germans. He feels that the Council should not be willing to consider themselves bound by the resolution in regard to Russian Prisoners of War which was taken on the 2nd August.

Sir Eyre Crowe says that, at the present time, the German Government are not in a position to repatriate the Russian Prisoners of War by way of Poland and the Ukraine.

(It is decided to request General Weygand and General Sackville-West to modify the draft resolution relative to Russian Prisoners of War in Germany taking into consideration the views expressed by Sir Eyre Crowe.)


6. General Weygand says that he has just received a telegram from General Dupont according to which the situation in the Baltic Provinces is regarded by the War Office at Berlin as being very grave. General von der Goltz is unable, or rather unwilling, to return. A new Government has been formed at Mitau, at the head of which was Count Palen.

M Berthelot says that this information is similar to that which he had received, and, according to which, a Russo-German reactionary Government has been established.


7. Sir George Clerk says that he has little to add to the written report which he had made to the Council.

He ventures to express the hope that his report will be kept wholly to the Council as he has expressed a number of opinions. He has endeavored to ascertain in Romania the real meaning for the attitude of the Romanian Government on the Hungarian question, and the result had been to convince him that S Bratiano had thought that by playing for time the Allied waters would become sufficiently troubled for him to catch many excellent fish. He therefore considers it essential to make the Romanian Government understand that the Allied and Associated Governments are both absolutely united and absolutely definite in their decisions in regard to Romania. He considers it advisable to point out to the Romanian Government that the decisions taken in regard to Romania, both as regards the line of the frontier and the principle of the minorities treaty, are definite. He considers that this would put an end to the Romanian hopes, which are founded on delay in settling with Turkey, arranging the Adriatic question and other difficult points upon which S Bratiano is counting. In regard to Hungary, he considers that the first step necessary is a provisional recognition of a Hungarian Government which can maintain order, hold elections and negotiate peace. As soon as such a Government exists the Romanian troops can be asked to evacuate, and this alone could definitely put an end to the requisitions about which there has been so much discussion. He proposes that the Hungarians should be told the conditions upon which a Hungarian Government would be satisfactory to the Allied and Associated Governments. He thinks that Herr Friedrich should be told what he must do, that his present Government no more corresponded to the views of the Allied and Associated Governments than the Government of Archduke Joseph. He thinks that Herr Friedrich should be invited to broaden the bases of his Government. It is necessary to have some solvent to loosen the crystals concerned in Hungarian affairs. For instance an Allied Commission of a political character, holding direct, and locally supreme authority from the Allies, should negotiate with the various Hungarian political parties. He thinks that upon such a condition Romania should be represented at least in a consultative character.

M Clemenceau suggests that Sir George Clerk prepare draft notes to the Romanian and Hungarian Governments.

Mr Polk asked whether the Supreme Council had received a reply to the message decided upon by the Supreme Council at its meeting of the 22nd August instructing the French Minister at Bucharest in the name of the Supreme Council to ask for further information on the intentions of the Romanian Government with regard to the Banat, and directing him to inform the Romanian Government that the frontiers laid down by the Council in the Banat and elsewhere are final.

M Berthelot says that no reply has been received from the Romanian Government.

M Laroche says that, as the first telegram did not appear to have reached its destination, a second telegram in the same sense had been dispatched about a month before the present date. The French Minister at Bucharest had acknowledged the receipt of this second telegram and had stated that he had brought it to the attention of the Romanian Government. Up to the present, however, the Romanian Government had made no reply.

Mr Polk says that the American Chargé d’ Affaires at Bucharest had been unable to discover whether the communication in the sense of the telegram in question had been received at the Romanian Foreign Office. He thinks that S Bratiano appears convinced that he can improve his position by waiting.

Sir Eyre Crowe says, with reference to Sir George Clerk’s first memorandum, that on the 20th September, S Bratiano had stated that the Romanian Government claims new frontiers.

M Clemenceau says that at the present time the Romanians and the Serbs are in agreement as to the Banat.

M Berthelot adds that the question deals with the evacuation of the Banat and that both the Romanian and Serb-Croat-Slovene Governments are withdrawing their troops.

Mr Polk asks Sir George Clerk whether he has had a copy of the telegram based upon the resolution of the 22nd of August.

Sir George Clerk replies that he has not had a copy of this telegram.

M Clemenceau proposes that Sir George Clerk and M Berthelot be directed to draft notes to the Romanian and Hungarian Governments.

Mr Polk asks for information as to the attitude of the Romanian Government on the subject of the requisitions which had taken place.

Sir Eyre Crowe asks whether the note to the Hungarian Government should be addressed to Herr Friedrich.

M Clemenceau says that he thought that it should.

Mr Polk says that he feels considerable doubt on the subject.

Sir Eyre Crowe says that the relations between the Inter-Allied Generals at Budapest and the Romanian authorities had become very strained, and that for this reason he believes there is a great deal to be said for the appointment of a civil Commission, which should be authorized to speak in the name of the Council.

Mr Polk says that he has grave doubts as to the advisability of recalling the Inter-Allied Military Mission at Budapest. The Mission were in a most unenviable position, and there was no question of the fact that the Romanian authorities at Budapest have lied to them continually.

Sir Eyre Crowe says that he agrees with Mr. Polk as to the unenviable position of the Inter-Allied Military Mission. He had not intended to recall that Mission, but considered that to send a Mission of higher rank would have many advantages.

Mr Polk says that he thinks this proposal is worthy of serious consideration.

M Berthelot says that it will be necessary to tell Herr Friedrich that the Allied and Associated Governments consider that he is acting as a mask for the Archduke Joseph, and that they consider it impossible for him to remain.

Sir Eyre Crowe says that he thinks that Her Friedrich might be asked to resign or else to broaden the basis of his Government.

M Berthelot said that he thinks it would be preferable to have Herr Friedrich retire. The Governments of the States bordering upon Hungary have no confidence in him and he thinks that they consider him reactionary and Anti-Semitic and that in occupying his present position it is to act as a mask for the Archduke Joseph. He thinks that Herr Friedrich should consequently retire as the head of the Government, but this does not mean that he should not occupy a position in the Government.

Sir George Clerk says that he feels that he ought to point out that in the opinion of the Allied Generals at Budapest, Herr Friedrich is the best person.

M Berthelot says that he has no objection to Herr Friedrich as a man but considered him, however, merely as a symbol. If the Conference adopted the course of treating with him, they would give the appearance of treating with the Archduke Joseph. He thinks that Herr Heinrich is a person with whom the Allied and Associated Governments could enter into negotiations. He is undoubtedly a man of the same sort as Friedrich but there was a difference. His Government might be more democratic, and in entering into negotiations with him, the Allied and Associated Governments could not be charged with entering into negotiations with the Archduke as he does not think Herr Heinrich represents the Archduke.

Sir George Clerk says he agrees but there is a question of form to be considered. He proposed that the Conference inform Herr Friedrich that they are not satisfied with the Government as constituted under him. He suggests that Herr Friedrich be asked whether he is prepared to broaden the basis of his Government in such a form as to be satisfactory to the Allied and Associated Governments. If he were not prepared to do this he should be informed that he must go. It would then be a question of a Government under Heinrich or Peidl.

M Berthelot says that he feels that there is danger in treating with Herr Friedrich in any form whatsoever.

Mr Polk says that he is confident that M Berthelot and Sir George Clerk could prepare a text which would be satisfactory to the Council. He then asked Sir George Clerk where the difficulty in arming the police of Budapest lay.

Sir George Clerk replies that the Romanian Government says that if the police at Budapest were armed, there was danger of a White Terror. M Diamante had said that at the time when the Romanians should evacuate Budapest it would be necessary for them to arm the police.

Mr Polk says that he thinks they have no intention of arming the police.

Sir George Clerk says that in his opinion the only means of improving the situation lay in appointing a Commission or in dispatching a note. He wishes to add, confidentially, that Herr Friedrich had informed him, but asked him in no event to let the Romanians become aware of the fact, that if the Romanians should leave, he had sufficient police and arms. He thinks that Herr Friedrich undoubtedly has some scheme in view.

Mr Polk said that Colonel Antonesco, a Romanian officer, who had recently been in Paris, had assured him in a conversation which had taken place a few days before that the police at Budapest would be armed upon the following day. In point of fact nothing had occurred. He thinks that it was most important that the blockade preventing the shipment of arms to Hungary should not be removed. He also wished to say that the conduct of the Romanians in Bessarabia had called forth strong adverse comment. He was informed that the Romanian authorities are holding elections and enforcing conscription. He thinks that the action of the Romanian Government in Bessarabia should be considered by the Council.

M Clemenceau says that he agrees and that the matter should be discussed at the next meeting.


8. The Council has before it a memorandum of 23rd September prepared by the American Representatives on the Organization Committee of the Reparations Commission.

M Loucheur says that the American Delegation proposes that a sub-committee be sent to Budapest to ascertain what material had been requisitioned and what could be placed to the account of the Allies. Sir George Clerk was informed in regard to the matter, and, in his report, he had expressed the opinion that Romanians would be inadvisable to put the Romanians before a Tribunal. If this were done Romanian opinion would be unnecessarily offended and it was important to treat the Romanians as Allies. He proposes that the Romanians should be admitted to representation on the sub-committee in a deliberative capacity. He adds that in taking this action the Allied and Associated Governments would only be giving to Romania what was due her, because, according to the regulations of the Treaty of Peace in regard to the Reparations Commission, the Allied States interested, and Romania is one, are to be admitted to the meetings of the Reparations Commission in the discussion of the questions affecting them. The sub-committee could also study the food question in Hungary, but the immediate question before the Council is that of appointing a sub-committee with a Romanian member.

Sir George Clerk says that he would suggest that the sub-committee be placed under the orders of the Reparations Commission rather than of the Allied Generals at Budapest.

Mr Polk say that he agrees. He wishes to submit an amended proposal which he thinks would meet the objections which had been raised.

M Loucheur says that he agreed in principle to the proposed resolution submitted by Mr. Polk, but desired time to examine it carefully.

(It is decided:

(1) To send to Budapest a Sub-Committee to determine the reparation value of material removed from Hungary by the Romanians;

(2) That this Sub-Committee should be composed of representatives of the principal Allied and Associated Powers and to which should be added a Romanian Representative, who should sit in a deliberative capacity;

(3) That the Sub-Committee should be under the orders of the Organization Committee of the Reparations Commission.

It is further decided to refer to the Organization Committee of the Reparations Commission the proposed resolution relative to the constitution and functions of the Sub-Committee submitted by Mr Polk.


9. Marshal Foch says that it is of urgent importance to decide as to the composition of the Armies of Occupation, which should be furnished by the Allied and Associated Governments in the plebiscite and other areas. Composition of Inter-Allied Forces of Occupation

M Clemenceau says that he has just sent Sir Eyre Crowe a communication in regard to the matter.

(The meeting then adjourns.)

[Jimbuna]

11th October 1919

Numerically superior Red Army, led by Alexander Yegorov (far left in picture), launch an offensive against anti-Bolshevik troops in the Orel, Kursk, and Tula governorates.


Marshal Ferdinand Foch, a French general and military theorist who served as the Supreme Allied Commander during the First World War, listening to the mayor's speech in front of his father's house in Valentine, Haute-Garonne, France. L'Illustration, No 3997, October 11, 1919


Women play baseball in the shadow of the Washington Monument.

[Sailor Steve]

Saturday, October 11, 1919

PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE

M Pichon’s Room, Quai d’Orsay, Paris, 10:30

Meeting of the Heads of Delegations of the Five Great Powers.


1. The Council has before it a draft of a reply to the letter of Baron von Lersner prepared by Mr Polk.

M Clemenceau says that, if he understands Mr Polk’s proposition correctly, it is a question of saying to the Germans that everyone will have full rights at the Conference.

Mr Polk says that this is not what he meant.

The proposal, which he submitted for the approval of the Council, states that the question will be decided by the Congress itself. His letter contains no promise whatever.

M Clemenceau says that the Council are in agreement in regard to the matter.

(It is decided to accept the draft of a letter prepared by Mr. Polk in reply to the letter of Baron von Lersner of 4th October.


2. The Council has before it a draft of a telegram for transmission to the French Minister at Bucharest and for communication to the Romanian Government, as well as a draft of a telegram to H Friedrich.

Mr Polk says that he wishes to raise a question in regard to the draft telegram to H Friedrich. He questions whether it is advisable to send a written communication expressing the views of the Entente. He does not think that the Allied and Associated Governments should dictate to Hungary as to her internal policies. It is true that the Council had taken such action at the time the Archduke Joseph had assumed power, but in that case they were dealing with a Hapsburg. Today the situation was not quite the same; they were dealing with Hungarian political parties. He thinks that it would be preferable to send to Budapest a representative who should be charged to communicate with the various parties. He fears that the action proposed would create an unfavorable impression in the United States. He wishes to ask whether it would not be possible to send Sir George Clerk to Budapest.

M Clemenceau suggests that the telegram should be addressed to the Allied Generals at Budapest and that they should be directed to take the necessary action.

Mr Polk points out that the Generals will not be in the same position as a special representative. Up to the present time they have played a somewhat different role.

M Clemenceau says that the situation would be the same whether the communication were in writing or were communicated in person by a special representative; all the world would know of it just the same.

Sir Eyre Crowe says that he thinks all the world should know of it. It is important that the note should be published in all the Hungarian newspapers.

Sir George Clerk said that H Friedrich is the man who had called the Archduke to power. What the Allied and Associated Governments had criticized in his Government was the fact that it was a continuation of the Government of the Archduke. It is that which the Council opposes. There is no desire to interfere with the internal affairs of Hungary.

(It is decided to postpone the discussion of this question until the following Monday. Mr Polk reserves the right to propose certain modifications to the draft telegram before the Council.)

Mr Polk says that so far as the note to be transmitted to the Romanian Government is concerned, he approved of the contents. He wishes, however, to make two remarks. He asks what the Council proposes to do in the event of a refusal by the Romanian Government. It is most important that the Allies should be in entire accord.

M Clemenceau says that he thinks the question cannot be discussed at the present time, but that he agrees with Mr Polk that it is necessary for the Allies to stand together. He wishes to ask S Scialoja if he shares this view.

S Scialoja replied that he is in entire agreement.

Mr Polk says that in the first paragraph of the second page of the draft telegram he thinks that it would be better to say instead of, “the Supreme Council regret that they are unable to consent to any change in their original decision” to “the Supreme Council regret that they are unable to modify in favor of Romania their original decision.”

M Berthelot asks whether the note to the Romanian Government should be published.

M Clemenceau says that he thinks it should not be until it has reached its destination.

Mr Polk asks whether the note should be transmitted to the Romanian Government by the four Allied Ministers at Bucharest.

M Clemenceau says that he is entirely in favor of common action in order that every means should be taken to assure the note reaching its destination.

M Berthelot says that the note can also be transmitted to the Romanian Delegation at Paris.

(It is decided:

(1) To accept the draft telegram to the French Minister at Bucharest prepared by Sir George Clerk and M Berthelot;

(2) To substitute in the text of the telegram for the words “unable to consent to any change in their original decision”, the words “unable to modify in favor of Romania their original decision”;

(3) That the note of the Supreme Council should be transmitted to the Roumanian Prime Minister by the four Allied Ministers at Bucharest.)

(It is further decided to publish the text of the note after it had been transmitted to the Roumanian Government.)


3. The Council has before it a note addressed to the President of the Peace Conference by two Bessarabian Delegates.

M Berthelot says the question has been placed on the agenda by the American delegation.

Mr Polk said that Mr Misu had informed him on the previous day that the Roumanian Government are about to hold elections in Bessarabia.

Sir Eyre Crowe says that the Bessarabian question has not yet been settled. He thinks that the note of the Bessarabian delegates could be examined at the time that the question of Bessarabia is discussed.

Mr Polk points out that the question is somewhat important in view of the fact that according to the information which he had received, the Romanians are holding elections, applying conscription and confiscating large properties.

M Laroche says that the Bessarabian question is somewhat peculiar. It is at the request of the Russian General Tcherbatcheff that the Romanians have been asked, at the beginning of the Russian debacle, to occupy the country. In order to stop the development of Bolshevism, it appears to be the simplest method to favor the autonomist element in Bessarabia. Soon afterwards Bessarabia had declared herself independent. Later the National Assembly pronounced itself in favor of a union with Romania. The Council are now faced with the wish expressed by the population. The Conference has not yet decided the Bessarabian question, but it should take account of all that has occurred, for there is no doubt that “the journey which M de Martonne recently made in Bessarabia has brought new proofs” to show that the country was really a Romanian land. As far as the agrarian question is concerned, the matter is most important. The distribution of landed property is particularly unequal in Bessarabia, and the majority of the population is in favor of a necessary reform. The persons who protested were Russified landowners, whose interests were menaced.

Mr Polk say that he doe not intend to ask the Council to take a decision. He simply wishes to bring to the attention of the Council the fact that the Romanians are exercising rights of sovereignty in Bessarabia, and that the silence of the Conference in regard to this matter might give the Romanians grounds for believing that the Council consented to their assuming this sovereignty. In a conversation which he had had with Mr Misu on the preceding day, he had pointed out the possible danger to Romania, if Romania tried to make a fait accompli. He had asked him what would happen when Russia was reconstituted and when she claimed Bessarabia. Romania would have to rely upon a position of fact. In order to retain Bessarabia, Romania depends upon the good will of the League of Nations and of the Conference. Romania should be discouraged from making any attempt, apart from the decisions of the Conference, to annex Bessarabia definitely. He thinks that Mr Misu would, in all probability, transmit a communication to the Conference on this subject.


4. General Weygand presents to the Council the text of the resolution which he had prepared with General Sackville-West in accordance with a resolution taken by the Supreme Council.

Sir Eyre Crowe says that he approves of the text as a whole. He desires, however, to point out that in the second paragraph the International Commission at Berlin is to be directed to make all necessary proposals to the Supreme Council. On the other hand, it is said that the Special Inter-Allied Commission sitting at Paris should be charged “with bringing matters to the attention of the Supreme Council”. He thinks that it is unnecessary to make the Supreme Council intervene throughout. It would be enough to say that the Commission at Berlin should be charged with making “all necessary proposals”. The Commission can bring matters to the attention of the Special Commission at Paris and not to the Supreme Council. At the same time, as regarded the Commission at Paris, the text can be modified by saying that the Commission could “request a decision of the Supreme Council when necessary”. These changes in the text would give the Commission greater freedom of action.

Mr Polk asks how the Council proposes to regulate the question of funds.

Sir Eyre Crowe says that, so far as he knows, there is no question but that the German Government will be obliged to furnish the money.

General Weygand says that there are difficulties as regards the past arising from the time when the Allied and Associated Governments had assumed charge of the prisoners.

S Scialoja says that he wishes to recall that Italy had borne heavy expenses in respect of several thousand Russian Prisoners of War. He wishes to ask that this observation be referred for examination to the Financial Commission.

M Clemenceau says that the Council are in agreement.

Mr Polk says that so far as the Financial question is concerned, he is not in a position to make a definite engagement. He does not know whether his Government has funds to pay for the deficit. Only the American Congress can vote new credits and he cannot bind his Government.

(It is decided:

(1) To approve the draft resolution prepared by General Weygand and General Sackville-West on the subject of Russian Prisoners of War in Germany;

(2) To substitute for the words, “d’adresser au Conseil Suprême” paragraph II, Section C, the words, “de faire” and for the words, “de préparer la décision”, paragraph III, last line the words, “de provoquer au besoin la décision”.)

The American Representative in approving this resolution remarked that so far as a question of a deficit was concerned, he could make no engagement without instructions from his Government.


5. The Council has before it a report from the Military, Naval and Air Representatives at Versailles of the 6th October, 1919.

(In view of the fact that the Supreme War Council are unanimous, It is decided to approve the report presented by the Military Naval and Air Representatives at Versailles respecting the organization of Commissions of Control for Austria.)


6. The Council has before it a note transmitted by the Russian Political Conference dated Paris, 6th October, 1919.

M Clemenceau says that in view of the fact that the Allied and Associated Governments are sending war Material to Russia, it seems only logical not to refuse their request for war material which had formerly belonged to them.

S Scialoja thinks that a difficulty might arise on account of Article 169 of the Treaty of Peace with Germany.

Sir Eyre Crowe says that the question is not one of German war material which the Allies are to divide, but concerns Russian war material taken by the Germans.

M Berthelot says that according to the article 169 of the Treaty of Peace with Germany, German war material is to be delivered to the Principal Allied and Associated Governments to be distributed or destroyed. So far as war material coming from a foreign country is concerned, it is to be delivered to these Governments, who should decide as to what is to be done with it. The Russians ask that the war material should not be destroyed, but given to them.

Sir Eyre Crowe says that the Commissions of Control could be directed to settle this question.

(It is decided That the Inter-Allied Commissions of Control created by articles 203 to 210 of the Treaty of Peace with Germany should direct, if they found it possible, that Russian arms, munitions and war material retained by Germany should be delivered to the Russian Armies recognized by the Allied and Associated Governments.)


7. The Council has before it a note from the Italian Delegation of the 8th October, 1919.

S Scialoja reads and comments upon the note from the Italian Delegation.

Sir Eyre Crowe asks whether Hungary is to cede territory to Italy.

S Scialoja replies that this is not the case, but Hungary has had certain claims to Austrian territory. His proposal is intended to regulate the situation of Hungarian citizens residing in the territory of the former Austro-Hungarian Monarchy ceded to Italy, in the same manner as the situation of Austrian citizens residing in these territories had been regulated. So far as cessions of territory are concerned, the only question at the moment between Italy and Hungary was the Cession of the Palais de Venise at Rome. The question can be referred to the Drafting Committee.

(It is decided to refer to the Drafting Committee for report the note from the Italian Delegation, asking for the insertion in the Treaty of Peace with Hungary of articles equivalent to articles 36 to 45 of the Treaty of St. Germain. The Drafting Committee is to be directed to submit to the Supreme Council a draft article in this sense.)


8. The Council has before it a note from the French Delegation of the 9th October, 1919.

M Laroche says that the question raised here is one of secondary importance, which has been asked by the Legal Advisers, who have pointed out that no arrangement has been made as to the disposal of Western Galicia. The question can be settled at the same time as that of Eastern Galicia. The best method will be to refer the question to the Commission on Polish Affairs.

(It is decided to refer to the Commission on Polish Affairs for examination and report the note from the French Delegation of the 9th October, 1919 concerning the attribution to Poland of Western Galicia.


9. Mr Polk says that the United States has no Representatives on the Commissions of Control, and, for this reason, he is not voting. He desires, therefore, to withdraw the reservation which he had made at a former meeting of the Council.

(It is decided that the Presidents of the Naval and Air Commissions of Control in Germany, as well as the Presidents of the Sub-Commissions should receive the same allowances as the President of the Military Commission of Control in Germany and the Presidents of the Military Sub-Commissions of Control in Germany.)


10. Mr. Polk says that Mr Misu has informed him on the preceding day that, at the request of the British and French Governments, the Romanian Government had dispatched large quantities of Russian war material, which are in Romania, to General Denikin.

Sir Eyre Crowe says that he is without information as to any such action on the part of the British Government, but he will inquire of his Government.

M Clemenceau says that Marshal Foch should be consulted.

M Berthelot says that S Bratiano has always refused to give arms to General Denikin, because he (S Bratiano) is supporting the Ukrainians. It is therefore, possible that several months before and through the intermediary of the French Military Mission in Romania a small part of the Russian war material deposited in Romania, amounting to about 60,000 rifles, had been sent to Russia. But since that time no action of this kind has been taken, as S Bratiano had refused to make any deliveries whatsoever.

Mr Polk says that the Romanians have informed him that the British and French have asked them to send 60,000 rifles to General Denikin, but they had said quite the opposite to the American Minister at Bucharest, who is in Paris at the moment. He has raised the question simply to ascertain what had actually occurred.

(The meeting then adjourns.)

[Jimbuna]

12th October 1919

Former soldiers and refugee families return home to Poland in crowded freight trains.


Yamash!ta Takeshi founds a company specializing in microscopes and thermometers (the company later becomes the camera manufacturer Olympus).

[Sailor Steve]

Sunday, October 12, 1919

PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE

There are no meetings today.

[Jimbuna]

13th October 1919

Aftermath of War

Lord Beatty succeeds Admiral Sir R. Wemyss as First Sea Lord.

President Poincare signs and ratifies Peace Treaty.

Trenches dug in the streets of Riga, Latvia by Latvian and Estonian forces to defend against the German-backed West Russian Volunteer Army.


Map showing dislocation of Red and White Armies and plans of White Army to conquest Moscow - so called "Moscow Offensive". Russian Civil War. Summer 1919.

[Jimbuna]

14th October 1919


Aftermath of War

Ali Riza Pasha appointed Grand Vizier, Ottoman Empire.

German airship Bodensee making passenger service between Berlin and Friedrichshafen (it will be handed over to Italy in 1921 as part of war reparations)


Armed German outpost in Silesia. The region has seen instability as ethnic Poles in Silesia seek to break away from Germany and join the newly established republic of Poland.