Cary T. Grayson Diary
Title
Cary T. Grayson Diary
Creator
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Identifier
WWP17017
Date
1918 December 27
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
The President had his first meeting this morning with Premier Llloyd-George and Arthur James Balfour. They called upon him at the palace. The President had been somewhat in doubt as to the attitude that the British would assume in connection with the Peace Conference. One reason for this was that Lloyd-George, after having promised to meet him in Paris prior to Christmas, had failed to come and had let it be known that he would not be able to leave England until the complete results of the Parliament election had been announced. The inference had been drawn in certain quarters that in reality the British Premier was playing for delay and was not anxious to be entirely frank in his dealings with the President. This impression, it developed as a result of today’s meeting, was entirely unfounded. It was true that Lloyd-George had done his best to gain time before meeting the President but this was due to his wish to ascertain definitely exactly what endorsement his government had received at the hands of the people in the Parliament election. This conference today was probably the first momentous of the preliminary gatherings that preceded the actual holding of the Peace Conference. Lloyd-George was not only the most powerful man in England but he had been continued in power by the people, who returned a Parliament to back him up that eliminated absolutely all representatives of the Liberal Party.
The President met his two visitors in the main reception hall and escorted them into the study that had been set aside for him. There was an open fire burning in the grate on one side of this room, which was furnished in a most magnificent manner; a small table stood just to the left of the center of the room, and beside it the President had drawn up two comfortable arm-chairs, with another directly facing them. They sat in this manner—Lloyd-George on the President’s right, Balfour slightly to his left. From 10:30 until 1:25 the three men in whose hands reposed a good part of the destiny of the world talked freely and frankly. It was a meeting of strong minds and the entire gamut of all of the subjects that must come up at the Peace Conference was touched upon: the League of Nations, the question of the freedom of the seas, as it was affected by the League of Nations, the necessity for an international labor policy, the necessity of curbing Italy’s extravagant ambitions, the grave menace of the Irish problem—all were touched upon. The conference itself made a real impression on the President, and after his visitors left he told me that he believed it had been generally satisfactory. No positive agreement was reached; in fact, none was striven for. What the President had desired, and what apparently his visitors also were anxious to attain, was a general measuring-up of aims and hopes. The President found Lloyd-George and Mr. Balfour pleasant and seemingly willing to aid him in bringing about a program for the Peace Conference that would make for a minimum of friction.
Following the conference the President was driven to 10 Downing Street (?) where Premier Lloyd-George had invited to meet him and other members of the British Cabinet. They had a very interesting discussion during and immediately following the lunch. Balfour, Henderson, Bonar Law & others were present. In connection with the lunch there was unveiled a portrait of George Washington, which had been purchased and donated to the British Government by members of the American Pilgrim Society. Lloyd-George called attention to the fact that it was in this very building that the British Cabinet had met and declared the American Revolutionary leaders outlaws and directed that they should be exterminated by force of arms. Lloyd-George took the President down to the Cabinet Room, in which the then British Premier had directed that Washington and his associates of revolutionary days be proscribed as rebels and a price put upon their heads. The conference at Downing Street lasted until 5:30. The President had an opportunity on this occasion to meet with the British labor leaders and to discuss rather briefly with them their intentions and aspirations dealing with the proposed international labor agreement.
Returning to Buckingham Palace the President that night was the guest of honor at a state dinner, which was the first really elaborate function of the British Government since that nation entered the war. The great court diningroom, feudal in its magnificence, was utilized. This dining-room is one of the most remarkable in the world. On the walls are hundreds of pieces of solid gold decorations, plaques, shields and the like. In one end, directly facing the throne, which is at the other end, is a magnificent organ. The arrangements of the tables in the dining-hall is in the form of a hollow-square, and all of the table service is of solid gold, bearing the royal arms. The value of the gold dishes is said to be approximately $15,000,000. Representatives of the diplomatic corps, Sir Douglas Haig, Commander-in-Chief of the British Army, and Admiral Beatty, Commander of the British Grand Fleet, were included among the guests.
The attendance at the dinner was declared to have been the most representative present at any British function in the memory of the officials. The leaders of the various political factions who had been at each other’s throats for many years were guests of the King, as were the noted financiers, merchants, and literary leaders. Included in the latter were Rudyard Kipling and Conan Doyle. It was freely commented upon that in welcoming the President, the Crown had invited to greet him the representatives of every faction in Britain. This was designed partly as a compliment to the President and party to strengthen King George’s own position before the British people.
The arrangement of the guests at the dinner table was entirely along the English plan—the King and Queen sitting side by side, and the President and Mrs. Wilson likewise. The entire lists of guests was as follows: (SEE LIST OF GUESTS)
Following the dinner all of the guests were ushered into the Royal Reception Room, where coffee and liquers were served. This was the first occasion in which wines and liquors had been served in the Royal Palace since the outbreak of the war. Queen Mary and the Princess Mary, with their ladies-in-waiting, remained in the ante-chamber of the Royal Reception Room and held a private levee. They invited in to meet them a number of guests, including myself, and briefly converse with them. Meanwhile, in the main reception room King George and the President stood surrounded by the dinner guests, and each was afforded the opportunity individually to meet both the President and the King and to chat with them briefly.
On the afternoon of my arrival I was threatened with a cold and sore-throat as a result of the ride in the cold French train the night before. Upon being shown to my suite in Buckingham Palace, I was assigned by the Lord of the House a royal attendant, whose dress was of colonial style. He wore a white wig, a red coat, black velvet knee trousers, white stockings, and large silver buckles on his shoes. He was of fine physique, had small side-burns, and spoke a pronounced Cockney English. It was very difficult for me to understand him, almost as much so as the Frenchman I had left the day before. My pronounciation seemed to be difficult for him to understand. It is the English custom to serve tea in the afternoon, and they are as systematic about this custom as they are about their meals. While sitting before the open-fire in my sitting room, the attendant came in in a very royal manner and asked: “Will you have your tea now, sir?” I told him that I didn’t care for any tea; whereupon he looked not only amazed but shocked, and said: “I beg pardon, sir; I did not understand you to say you would not have tea, sir!” I replied: “No, I do not care for any tea”. He said: “You will have something though, won’t you, sir?” And not wanting to disappoint him, and at the same time feeling in need of a little help for my cold, I asked if I might have some whiskey. But he did not seem to understand me. I then said: “I would like to have some Haig & Haig, if you please.” He seemed to understand the order, made a stately bow, and departed. In a short while he returned, bearing a tray on which reposed two soft boiled eggs. Not wishing to embarrass or offend my picturesque attendant, I ate one of the eggs.
DIARY ENTRY: —Friday—1918.Had breakfast at 9 o’clock—accompanied by butler in red from room to dining room—remember size of bed I slept in—put it over W.W. Harts—at breakfast—Lord Chesterfield—Farquier, Herschell—Sir Derek Keppel—Master of the House—Sir Edward Warrington—secretary to the Queen, Sir Charles Cust (2 ladies) names—The President was called upon 10.30 by Lloyd-George and Mr Arthur J Balfour—discussed peace terms until 1.25—Before leaving Buckingham Palace for lunch with Lloyd-Georgethe President said to me that I could tell the newspaper men—that the conference was satisfactory to all—General discussion on all the subjects—Freedom of the seas— Just a general discussion or swapping of ideas on these subjects—but no decision reached on any separate one. That was not the purpose of the meeting. The President much pleased with the first meeting of the two aforenamed men. Spent entire afternoon in conference after luncheon—also present 8.10 Big dinner at Buckingham Palace—King’s toast—he read it, fine voice & good delivery. President’s extemporaneous made fine impression,After dinner—individuals presented to the Queen and King—Both very human, Queens jewels very gorgeous—& brilliant.
The President met his two visitors in the main reception hall and escorted them into the study that had been set aside for him. There was an open fire burning in the grate on one side of this room, which was furnished in a most magnificent manner; a small table stood just to the left of the center of the room, and beside it the President had drawn up two comfortable arm-chairs, with another directly facing them. They sat in this manner—Lloyd-George on the President’s right, Balfour slightly to his left. From 10:30 until 1:25 the three men in whose hands reposed a good part of the destiny of the world talked freely and frankly. It was a meeting of strong minds and the entire gamut of all of the subjects that must come up at the Peace Conference was touched upon: the League of Nations, the question of the freedom of the seas, as it was affected by the League of Nations, the necessity for an international labor policy, the necessity of curbing Italy’s extravagant ambitions, the grave menace of the Irish problem—all were touched upon. The conference itself made a real impression on the President, and after his visitors left he told me that he believed it had been generally satisfactory. No positive agreement was reached; in fact, none was striven for. What the President had desired, and what apparently his visitors also were anxious to attain, was a general measuring-up of aims and hopes. The President found Lloyd-George and Mr. Balfour pleasant and seemingly willing to aid him in bringing about a program for the Peace Conference that would make for a minimum of friction.
Following the conference the President was driven to 10 Downing Street (?) where Premier Lloyd-George had invited to meet him and other members of the British Cabinet. They had a very interesting discussion during and immediately following the lunch. Balfour, Henderson, Bonar Law & others were present. In connection with the lunch there was unveiled a portrait of George Washington, which had been purchased and donated to the British Government by members of the American Pilgrim Society. Lloyd-George called attention to the fact that it was in this very building that the British Cabinet had met and declared the American Revolutionary leaders outlaws and directed that they should be exterminated by force of arms. Lloyd-George took the President down to the Cabinet Room, in which the then British Premier had directed that Washington and his associates of revolutionary days be proscribed as rebels and a price put upon their heads. The conference at Downing Street lasted until 5:30. The President had an opportunity on this occasion to meet with the British labor leaders and to discuss rather briefly with them their intentions and aspirations dealing with the proposed international labor agreement.
Returning to Buckingham Palace the President that night was the guest of honor at a state dinner, which was the first really elaborate function of the British Government since that nation entered the war. The great court diningroom, feudal in its magnificence, was utilized. This dining-room is one of the most remarkable in the world. On the walls are hundreds of pieces of solid gold decorations, plaques, shields and the like. In one end, directly facing the throne, which is at the other end, is a magnificent organ. The arrangements of the tables in the dining-hall is in the form of a hollow-square, and all of the table service is of solid gold, bearing the royal arms. The value of the gold dishes is said to be approximately $15,000,000. Representatives of the diplomatic corps, Sir Douglas Haig, Commander-in-Chief of the British Army, and Admiral Beatty, Commander of the British Grand Fleet, were included among the guests.
The attendance at the dinner was declared to have been the most representative present at any British function in the memory of the officials. The leaders of the various political factions who had been at each other’s throats for many years were guests of the King, as were the noted financiers, merchants, and literary leaders. Included in the latter were Rudyard Kipling and Conan Doyle. It was freely commented upon that in welcoming the President, the Crown had invited to greet him the representatives of every faction in Britain. This was designed partly as a compliment to the President and party to strengthen King George’s own position before the British people.
The arrangement of the guests at the dinner table was entirely along the English plan—the King and Queen sitting side by side, and the President and Mrs. Wilson likewise. The entire lists of guests was as follows: (SEE LIST OF GUESTS)
Following the dinner all of the guests were ushered into the Royal Reception Room, where coffee and liquers were served. This was the first occasion in which wines and liquors had been served in the Royal Palace since the outbreak of the war. Queen Mary and the Princess Mary, with their ladies-in-waiting, remained in the ante-chamber of the Royal Reception Room and held a private levee. They invited in to meet them a number of guests, including myself, and briefly converse with them. Meanwhile, in the main reception room King George and the President stood surrounded by the dinner guests, and each was afforded the opportunity individually to meet both the President and the King and to chat with them briefly.
On the afternoon of my arrival I was threatened with a cold and sore-throat as a result of the ride in the cold French train the night before. Upon being shown to my suite in Buckingham Palace, I was assigned by the Lord of the House a royal attendant, whose dress was of colonial style. He wore a white wig, a red coat, black velvet knee trousers, white stockings, and large silver buckles on his shoes. He was of fine physique, had small side-burns, and spoke a pronounced Cockney English. It was very difficult for me to understand him, almost as much so as the Frenchman I had left the day before. My pronounciation seemed to be difficult for him to understand. It is the English custom to serve tea in the afternoon, and they are as systematic about this custom as they are about their meals. While sitting before the open-fire in my sitting room, the attendant came in in a very royal manner and asked: “Will you have your tea now, sir?” I told him that I didn’t care for any tea; whereupon he looked not only amazed but shocked, and said: “I beg pardon, sir; I did not understand you to say you would not have tea, sir!” I replied: “No, I do not care for any tea”. He said: “You will have something though, won’t you, sir?” And not wanting to disappoint him, and at the same time feeling in need of a little help for my cold, I asked if I might have some whiskey. But he did not seem to understand me. I then said: “I would like to have some Haig & Haig, if you please.” He seemed to understand the order, made a stately bow, and departed. In a short while he returned, bearing a tray on which reposed two soft boiled eggs. Not wishing to embarrass or offend my picturesque attendant, I ate one of the eggs.
DIARY ENTRY: —Friday—1918.Had breakfast at 9 o’clock—accompanied by butler in red from room to dining room—remember size of bed I slept in—put it over W.W. Harts—at breakfast—Lord Chesterfield—Farquier, Herschell—Sir Derek Keppel—Master of the House—Sir Edward Warrington—secretary to the Queen, Sir Charles Cust (2 ladies) names—The President was called upon 10.30 by Lloyd-George and Mr Arthur J Balfour—discussed peace terms until 1.25—Before leaving Buckingham Palace for lunch with Lloyd-Georgethe President said to me that I could tell the newspaper men—that the conference was satisfactory to all—General discussion on all the subjects—Freedom of the seas— Just a general discussion or swapping of ideas on these subjects—but no decision reached on any separate one. That was not the purpose of the meeting. The President much pleased with the first meeting of the two aforenamed men. Spent entire afternoon in conference after luncheon—also present 8.10 Big dinner at Buckingham Palace—King’s toast—he read it, fine voice & good delivery. President’s extemporaneous made fine impression,After dinner—individuals presented to the Queen and King—Both very human, Queens jewels very gorgeous—& brilliant.
Original Format
Diary
Files
Collection
Citation
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Cary T. Grayson Diary,” 1918 December 27, WWP17017, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.