Paris Peace Conf. 184/132
Major George L. Berry
to the Secretary General of the Commission to Negotiate Peace
(Grew)
Dear Mr. Grew: I hand you herewith formal report of
my activities as Liaison Officer for the American Commission to Negotiate
Peace to Labor. I trust this report will meet with your approval.
In connection with my work permit me to advise that the duties assigned to me
will be completed according to the statement of Mr. Gompers and the Labor
Committee, on Saturday March 22nd. and inasmuch as I have received military
orders to accompany the Delegation to London, and thence to America, I ask
you to accept my
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resignation as
Liaison Officer, on date Saturday March the 22nd. 1919.
Trusting that same will be accepted [etc.]
[Enclosure—Report]
Dear Mr. Grew: As the Liaison Officer appointed
by the American Commission to Negotiate Peace, to Labor, I beg herewith
to present a report upon the work performed by this office during the
period of my assignment.
- 1.
- Upon the arrival of the American Federation of Labor Delegation a
Conference was immediately arranged with the American Commission to
Negotiate Peace and at this meeting the American Federation of Labor
Delegation presented verbally their claims for recognition before
the Peace Commission.
- 2.
- Two conferences were arranged with the President of the United
States and the American Federation of Labor Delegation. At these
conferences a clear understanding was arrived at in respect to the
claims of American Labor.
- 3.
- After the departure of the President of the United States a second
conference was held with the American Commission to Negotiate Peace,
and at this time the American Federation of Labor Delegation
presented the formal position of American Labor, and a clear
understanding was arrived at as to the wishes of the American
Federation of Labor Delegation.
- 4.
- Following the appointment by the Allied nations of two men from
each nation with authorization to establish a committee known as the
International Committee on Labor Legislation, arrangements were made
for a place of meeting at the office of the French Ministry of Labor
and at the first meeting, called for organization, Mr. Samuel
Gompers one of the appointees by the American Commission to
Negotiate Peace was elected President of the International Committee
on Labor Legislation.
- 5.
- Arrangements have been carried out for all of the meetings of the
International Committee on Labor Legislation, and every facility for
the handling of the business devolving upon the American
representatives upon this committee has been provided for by this
office.
- 6.
- The establishment of headquarters for the American Labor
Delegation in rooms 204, 205 and 206 with the proper and
satisfactory office staff was arranged and business has been
conducted in a manner that is receiving the full approval of Mr.
Gompers and his colleagues.
- 7.
- A series of conferences have been held in Paris with the American
Labor Delegation, the French Labor Delegation, the British Labor
Delegation and the Belgian Labor Delegation. These meetings had
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to do largely with the
subject of the Berne Conference. The American Federation of Labor
Delegation and the Belgian Delegation declined to attend the Berne
conference. All other countries, with the exception of Russia,
Holland and Sweden, were represented at the Berne conference. The
program of the Berne conference is known to the Peace Commission and
no comment is necessary by the writer in respect thereto.
- 8.
- A series of conferences have been arranged between the heads of
the various departments appointed by the American Commission to
Negotiate Peace with the Labor representatives and in every instance
general satisfaction has been expressed by the Labor Delegation and
a full appreciation of the effective and business like manner with
which they have been able to conduct their work during their stay in
Paris. To date no complaints have been made to this office, nor have
any requests been made that have not been fully met, answered and
complied with to the satisfaction of the Labor
representatives.
- 9.
- Because of certain disagreements between the members of the
International Commission on Labor Legislation over the proposal of
the English Delegation which provided the machinery for the
International Labor Bureau, I was requested by Colonel House to
confer with Doctor Shotwell with the view of working out a
substitute proposal that could be accepted by all parties in the
conference; carrying out the suggestion of Colonel House I arranged
a conference between Mr. Shotwell, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Gompers and the
United States members of the Commission and with other parties
representing other Governments and have started in the preparing of
a substitute which I believe will be accepted.
I also arranged to have Mr. Shotwell act as Proxy upon the Commission on
International Labor Legislation for Mr. Robinson during his visit to
Brussels upon other governmental work.
The writer begs to herewith transmit to the American Commission to
Negotiate Peace his appreciation of the honors conferred in appointing
him as the Liaison Officer to Labor and in as much as the work
associated with labor has been practically completed this report is made
as a finality.
Very respectfully yours,
President Wilson, M.
Clemenceau, and Signor Orlando to Mr. Lloyd George30
Dear Mr. Prime Minister: It seems to us
imperative, in order that the world may wait no longer for peace than is
actually unavoidable,
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that you
should remain in Paris until the chief questions connected with the
peace are settled, and we earnestly beg that you will do so. If you can
arrange to remain for another two weeks we hope and believe that this
all-important result can be attained.
We write this with a full comprehension of the very urgent matters that
are calling you to England, and with a vivid consciousness of the
sacrifices we are asking you to make.
Sincerely yours,
- Woodrow Wilson
- G. Clemenceau
- V. Orlando
