Cary T. Grayson Diary
Title
Cary T. Grayson Diary
Creator
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Identifier
WWP17044
Date
1919 January 23
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
THURSDAY, The President held his first conference with Prince Emil Feisal, the Arabian Representative in the morning at the Murat Palace. The President characterized him as one of the most interesting men he had ever met, and one of the most effective. He showed both class and breeding. The Prince is a lineal descendant of Mohamet. In making a statement in the conference the previous day Clemenceau attempted to heckle him (Arabs do not like the French), but the Prince had thorough control of himself and said,
“Yes, we of Arabia will always feel eternally grateful for the assistance given us by France. In the recent war she furnished us with two old air craft guns, six obsolete machine guns and about five hundred soldiers.”
He then continued his argument as though nothing had happened and effectively demolished all of the Clemenceau opposition to such an extent that when he concluded it was suggested that Clemenceau was left like a man in a canoe without paddles. Orlando, the Italian Premier, said that he felt very young in the presence of this Arabian when he recalled that Sicily, where he was born, was ruled more than a thousand years by the very ancestors of this man.
DIARY ENTRY: Visited Mrs. Brower—better—worked at Palace Murat all forenoon—Bender sick—ordered to bed.Nevin, Swem & Corcoran & I visited Bon Marché store—bought gloves & presents for Tumulty children—Tried to find a toy horse for Gordon but unsuccessful.
Conference at night with Jesse Jones at Ritz over international Red Cross etc—also with B.M.B. over Peace matters—&—The President saysarab, the most interesting person he has met over here.
“Yes, we of Arabia will always feel eternally grateful for the assistance given us by France. In the recent war she furnished us with two old air craft guns, six obsolete machine guns and about five hundred soldiers.”
He then continued his argument as though nothing had happened and effectively demolished all of the Clemenceau opposition to such an extent that when he concluded it was suggested that Clemenceau was left like a man in a canoe without paddles. Orlando, the Italian Premier, said that he felt very young in the presence of this Arabian when he recalled that Sicily, where he was born, was ruled more than a thousand years by the very ancestors of this man.
DIARY ENTRY: Visited Mrs. Brower—better—worked at Palace Murat all forenoon—Bender sick—ordered to bed.Nevin, Swem & Corcoran & I visited Bon Marché store—bought gloves & presents for Tumulty children—Tried to find a toy horse for Gordon but unsuccessful.
Conference at night with Jesse Jones at Ritz over international Red Cross etc—also with B.M.B. over Peace matters—&—The President saysarab, the most interesting person he has met over here.
Original Format
Diary
Files
Collection
Citation
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Cary T. Grayson Diary,” 1919 January 23, WWP17044, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.