Inquiry files

Dr. S. E. Mezes to Mr. Walter Lippmann

Dear Mr. Lippmann: I have prepared a memorandum, which I enclose, giving a rough and approximate outline of the subjects to be dealt with in The Inquiry.5 I have included only those which seem to be most urgent and am sending the outline to you for your consideration and suggestion when we next meet. Naturally, it only can embody a general scheme which, if finally accepted, should be kept in mind in prosecuting individual inquiries, but should not be allowed to interfere with the variations in treatment which the nature of each inquiry, and even to some extent the personality of each inquirer, would naturally render desirable. The outline is an attempt to summarize the more important points of agreement that resulted from our various conferences.

I think we made good progress at our meeting on Thursday, and have no doubt that The Inquiry will continue satisfactorily. I am sending copies of the memorandum to the other gentlemen who were present at the meeting.

Sincerely yours,

S. E. Mezes
[Enclosure 1]

A Preliminary Brief Outline of the Subjects To Be Dealt With in the Inquiry

[Here follows text of the memorandum, which is identical with that printed on page 15 except for the addition of the following:]

VI. The Technique of Peace Conferences (so far as accessible)

Provisions in general terms (that might keep the promise to our ear and break it to our hope) and detailed provisions: Concurrent and later action of sub-committees, and of commissions established by conferences.

[Page 17]
[Enclosure 2]

Memorandum of Needs

I. Data and sane proposals regarding war-breeding areas:

1.
Alsace-Lorraine
2.
Poland (including question of access to sea)
3.
Lithuanian region
4.
Czecho-Slovak (Bohemia, etc.)
5.
Roumanian Irredentist areas.
6.
Yugo-Slavia; 4, 5 and 6 possibly one study, i. e., Austro-Hungarian danger areas.
7.
The Balkans (not Roumania, but Dobruja).
8.
Italian Irredentist areas.
9.
Turkey in Europe and Asia (including Constantinople).
10.
Aegean Islands and nearby Asiatic shores.
11.
The Far East.
12.
German colonies in Africa and the Pacific; nearby colonies for comparison.

II. 1. Data (historical, including geographical, governmental, economic, foreign relations) regarding important nations.

2. National aspirations (political, territorial, economic) that must or might well be reckoned with, their bases and relative strength.

III. Examples, and sane suggestions, of types of governmental arrangements for international areas, such as, possibly, Dantzig, Trieste, Saloniki, Constantinople, all Turkey. World organization, proposals that may be urged by responsible men.

IV. Laws of war on sea and land: History, sane proposals made.

V. Data regarding damage done on land and sea that calls for reparation, its amount, and possible ways of making reparation.

VI. Internationalized Trade Routes

VII. Business & Diplomacy

  1. Attached to the file copy of this letter are two memoranda, which are here printed as enclosures 1 and 2.