Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, The Paris Peace Conference, 1919, Volume VI

Paris Peace Conf. 180.03401/33

CF–38

Notes of a Meeting Held at President Wilson’s House in the Place des Etats-Unis, Paris, on Monday, May 26, 1919, at 4 p.m.

Paris, May 26, 1919, 4 p.m.

• Present
  • United States of America
    • President Wilson.
  • British Empire
    • The Rt. Hon. D. Lloyd George, M.P.
  • France
    • M. Clemenceau.
  • Italy
    • M. Orlando.

Secretaries	{	Sir Maurice Hankey, K.C.B.
		Count Aldrovandi
Interpreter: M. P. J. Mantoux.

M. Lamont, M. Tardieu and M. Crespi attended to present the attached note from the Reparation Commission (Appendix).

Mr. Lloyd George asked that his decision on the first point might be reserved, as he had received a letter from General Smuts, and wished to discuss the whole question with him, before giving a reply. Reparation in the Treaties With Austria and Hungary. Work of the Commission

In regard to the second point it was agreed:—

That the Commission was empowered to discuss the remarks made by the Delegation of the Powers having special interests, and eventually to present before the Supreme Council new proposals both as regards the Reparation Clauses and the Financial Clauses, and particularly as regards the recommendation of the participation of small Nations in the burden of reparation.

Mr. Lloyd George expressed the hope that the question should be rediscussed with an open mind, as though no decision had already been taken. He expressed his intention of instructing the British representatives in this sense.

At this point the members of the Committee on New States were introduced. The proceedings of this part of the Meeting are recorded as a separate Meeting.

Villa Majestic, Paris, May 26, 1919.

Appendix to CF–33

26 May, 1919.

[Note From the Reparation Commission to the Council of the Principal Allied and Associated Powers]

The Commission, sitting this morning, has heard the Delegations of the Powers having special interests.

After the departure of these Delegates, the Commission, as a result of an exchange of views between Messrs. Lamont, Lord Sumner, MM. Loucheur & Tardieu, think it necessary to ask the Supreme Council:

1° —Whether General Smuts and Mr. Keynes, who have not attended this morning’s meeting, have been officially appointed by Mr. Lloyd George, in the same way as M. M. Loucheur & Tardieu have been appointed by M. Clemenceau, and Messrs. Lamont, Baruch & Davis by President Wilson.

2° —Whether the Commission is empowered to discuss the remarks made by the Delegations of the Powers having special interests, and eventually, to present before the Supreme Council new proposals both as regards the Reparation Clauses and the financial Clauses, and particularly as regards the reconsideration of the participation of small Nations in the burden of Reparations.