Cary T. Grayson Diary

Title

Cary T. Grayson Diary

Creator

Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938

Identifier

WWP17050

Date

1919 January 28

Source

Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia

Language

English

Text

TUESDAY, The President attended the morning conference. After luncheon he talked to me. Another real fight—the sharpest to date—had taken place in the morning session. The question of the disposition of the captured German colonies was under consideration. Japan and Australia wanted the Pacific Islands, Australia to get New Guinea and Japan, control of the Shantung Peninsula Railways. At the conference, Wellington Koo, the Chinese Minister to the United States, took sharp exception to the Japanese contention regarding Shantung and he made one of the best speeches yet delivered. Koo pointed out that the Japanese control the railroads that run north from Port Arthur to Manchuria. He said that when they landed at Tsing-Tau, they landed on the Peninsula, directly across from Port Arthur and worked in behind the then German town. When the Germans capitulated, the Japanese laid a railroad from their original landing place to Tsing-Tau and also took over the railroad lines runing north toward Peking. It was China’s contention that the Japanese domination of this railroad gave them absolute control over all of China’s natural resources and he demanded that the railroads be turned back to China with compensation, to be fixed in a manner satisfactory to both sides. The President found himself in an absolute minority duirng the early proceedings, because the representatives of the colonies, seated with the British, favored the distribution of the captured colonies and the majority of the delegates wanted to “divide the swag”, and then have the League of Nations created to perpetuate their title. The President made it plain that he would not stand for any such arrangement; that he believed it was absolutely essential that the captured colonies should be controlled by the League of Nations and administered under the mandatory system, whereby the nation best fitted to do so would have control of the colonies, but would have its rule always subject to a direct appeal to the League to remedy any injustice. In connection with the Chinese argument, it had been pointed out that the Japanese had taken over some of China’s most sacred soil, including the Tomb of Confuscius. Naturally, the President sympathized with the Chinese viewpoint. The entire matter was still open when the President left today’s session. In the afternoon, he saw Mr. Samuel Gompers, President of the American Federation of Labor, for two and one-half hours. They discussed at great length, the plans dealing with the international labor problem and especially to what extent it would be possible for the League of Nations to devise and control a labor plan that would prevent world wide economic unrest and trade disturbances. Gompers told the President that the American Federation of Labor would not be represented at the coming Berne Conference, which he described as designed to “play the German game”. He told the President what had transpired at his conferences earlier in the day with the Belgium and British labor leaders and expressed the hope that the general labor program would be agreed upon by the international labor organizations of the world. After dinner, the President relaxed by reading aloud to Mrs. Wilson and me, the poem, “The Future”, by Matthew Arnold and further diverted himself by playing canfield before retiring.

DIARY ENTRY: Tuesday Jan. 28—1919.W.
W. desires the former German colonies to be placed under the mandatory control of the League of Nations—Serious meetings—mandatory— The Great Powers wanted to take over the colonies. Australia wants to cede New Guinea—Japan—China, New Zealand—the German Samoan Islands—Japan—The President made a vigorous protest—saying it was defeating the very purpose of the League of Nations which was born Saturday—That was what w the world was fearfully anticipating that the Great Powers would seize up the small—powerless colonies—and the that he would not stand for it— If necessary he would report their actions to the world—and that he believed Bolshevikism would engulf Europe?Hughes—of Australia—Japanese—Clemenceau— They claimed the League of Nations was to prevent future wars—& that this mandatory—was different—Lloyd George differed with the President.The President told them politely—that if they resorted to this old method of grab—the same as two yrs ago—he w would publish the facts & return to the U.S. Did not return home until 6.50—Long conference with Mr. Gop Gompers & until 8.20—Dinner— The subject will be taken up for discussion to-morrow afternoon—Read Matthew Arnold—The Future— ADDITIONAL DIARY ENTRY: Professional visits to W. Bolling—Captain Clarke—Mr. Parker—Col. House. Mr. E. Hurley—B.M.B.Bender—Mrs. Geo Meyer. Mrs. Brower.President went to P. Conf. at 10.30—Family lunch. Conference in afternoon—The President spoke freely against Mandatory ceding of Colonies by to Great Powers—He desires former German Colonies to be placed under the Mandatory Control of the League of Nations. Conference with Mr. Gompers & 5 labor leaders until 8.20—late for dinner—In the evening, he read Matthew Arnold’s poem The Future aloud to Mrs. W. & me.Played Canfield—before retiring.

Original Format

Diary

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/PCFT19190128.pdf
PCFT19190128A.pdf

Citation

Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Cary T. Grayson Diary,” 1919 January 28, WWP17050, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.