Paris Peace Conf. 184.00101/74
Minutes of the Daily Meetings of the Commissioners Plenipotentiary, Monday, May 26, 1919
- Present:
- Mr. Lansing
- Mr. White
- Gen. Bliss
- Mr. Herter
1. Mr. Herter read a letter in regard to the appointment of Mr. Magie to the Commission and called attention to the fact that they had approved of Mr. Magie’s appointment during the month of January. In view of the above the Commissioners approved of Mr. Magie’s return to the United States provided Dr. Westermann felt that he no longer had any use for him with the Commission. Release of Mr. Magie From Duty With Commission
2. Memorandum No. 286 was read in which Dr. Mezes had submitted the requests of Dr. Seymour, Dr. Jefferson, Dr. Day and Mr. Stratton [Page 186] to be relieved from the Commission during the first week of June. The Commissioners did not approve of having Drs. Seymour, Jefferson and Day relieved at that time, feeling that their services were still essential to the work of the Commission. In regard to Mr. Stratton they felt that the question should remain at the discretion of Dr. Jefferson. Requests of Drs. Seymour, Jefferson & Day and Mr. Stratton for Release From Duty With Commission
The Commissioners likewise noted the statements of Dr. Seymour and Mr. Day to the effect that they were unable to continue investigations or further studies in their particular fields because of the lack of maps and books, which had been packed up for shipment to the United States. They felt there was no occasion to hamper the work of the gentlemen by having the books and maps in question packed away and, therefore, requested that an explicit order be given immediately directing that all such documents, books or maps belonging to the Commission as might in any way be useful to any member of the Commission in pursuing investigations or studies for the Commission should be immediately unpacked and left at the disposal of those individuals who might wish to use them.
3. The Commissioners considered and approved memorandums Nos. 287 and 288 regarding the release from the Commission of Capt. C. N. Peacock and Army Field Clerk Maynard Mashburn. Release of Capt. Peacock and A. F. C. Mashburn
4. Mr. Herter read a memorandum regarding inquiries made about the disposal of maps, drawing material, etc., to the American Relief Association [Administration?], now in the possession of the Intelligence Section of the Commission. No decision was reached by the Commissioners. They desired information as to whether any of the material which might be turned over to the American Relief Association [Administration?] could not possibly be of use to the Department of State. They felt that only such things should be disposed of by the Commission as were duplicates or were absolutely of no use to the State Department. Disposal of Maps, Drawing Material, etc. to American Relief Assn.
5. Memorandum No. 289 was considered in regard to the return to the United States of Drs. Westermann and Lunt. The Commissioners agreed that these two gentlemen should be reimbursed the sums which they had had to deposit in order to reserve transportation to the United States on June 7th and should immediately upon the completion of their duties with the Commission be granted transportation either on a commercial liner or on a transport. The Commissioners felt that they were unable to state as to the probable date for the release of these gentlemen from the Commission, but felt certain that this release would [Page 187] come as soon as possible and when such release would not injure the efficiency of the organization. Return to U. S. of Drs. Westermann and Lunt
6. Mr. Herter offered to read the list of personnel released by the Commission since April 1st, but the Commissioners upon being assured that the list contained no names with which they were not already familiar requested that the list be merely kept on record and up to date so that they might be able to consult it whenever necessary. List of Personnel Released by Commission Since April 1st, 1919
7. Prof. Coolidge entered the meeting at this time at the request of the Commissioners. Report of Professor Coolidge
Prof. Coolidge, who had just returned from Austria where he had served several months at the head of the American Political Mission, briefly described to the Commissioners his impressions of both the Austrian and Hungarian situations. His impression of the Austrian situation was that it was temporarily as good as could be expected, but that as a permanent situation it would be extremely bad. The government had printed a great deal of paper money with which it was relieving unemployment and doing its best to make the best of a very bad economical situation. Only with coal did he feel that the unemployment situation could be relieved.
Prof. Coolidge suggested that in considering the boundary between Austria and Hungary the Commission should certainly take into account the claims of the Austrians for a small portion of West Hungary which is the so-called Kitchen Garden of Vienna. This section, geographically and economically forms a part of the Austrian State, and also the population is very largely German and desires to be joined to Germany.
In regard to the present government Prof. Coolidge felt it was as good as could be expected under the circumstances and that if it were replaced by another government, that government would undoubtedly be inferior to it. He likewise felt that there was very little chance of a revolution at the present moment and that its government was a proper one for the Allied and Associated governments to make peace with. Bauer, the Minister of Public Affairs, he characterized as clever and strong, whereas Renner, the Austrian Plenipotentiary in Paris was clever but weak.
In regard to the Hungarian situation, Prof. Coolidge stated that he agreed along broad lines with the conclusions reached by Professor Brown. The present government was largely de-centralized and remains stable only at such times as it did not fear interference from the outside. Each time that an aggressive movement was begun against it Bela Kuhn is always ready to negotiate and weaken. Terrorism and outrages are undoubtedly increasing and Bolsheviki are counterfeiting money in tremendous quantities and sending it out in their [Page 188] pouches to Vienna and elsewhere for propaganda purposes. This counterfeiting extends to French and English as well as to Hungarian and Russian money.
Professor Coolidge felt that the only solution of the problem was to induce the French to send troops into Buda Pest to clean it out and set up a new government. Only in this way could the Danube be opened and normal economical and commercial activities be restored to the whole of South Eastern Europe.
In addition to the foregoing Professor Coolidge described briefly the feelings of the Austrians towards the Jugo-Slavs, the Hungarians, the Bohemians and the proposed cession of a portion of the Tyrol to Italy. In regard to the Jugo-Slavs he stated that the Austrians entertained a certain amount of respect for the Serbians and were antagonistic only to Slovenes, with whom they were disputing the Carinthian boundary. With the Hungarians they were afraid to come to any open break because of the necessity of their pulling together, although they felt quite strongly about that small portion of West Hungary which they desired to have joined to German-Austria. The Bohemians they were very bitter against, partly because of the coal question and partly because of the uncompromising attitude which they had adopted towards their fellow members of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. In regard to the section of Tyrol which is to be given to Italy, they are extremely bitter, in fact the feeling in this respect extended far beyond the importance of the actual cession which they are required to make. It seemed incredible to them that the people of Andreas Hofer should be delivered to a foreign rule.
Before leaving the meeting Prof. Coolidge touched upon the plebiscite held in Vorarlberg which resulted in 80 per cent of the population desiring to be united with Switzerland.