Cary T. Grayson Diary

Cary T. Grayson Diary

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

WWP17142

1919 April 21

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

English

The President rose early and had breakfast, after which he went to his study. Last night the President had made it plain that insamuch as Sonnino had raised the question of the Pact of London and announced that Italy stood squarely upon it, he (the President) could not enter into any discussions that involved that agreement. It was an agreement entirely between France and Great Britain for Italy’s benefit and had never been submitted to the United States, and the United States had neither approved it nor accepted it as an integral part of the issues of the war. Because of that fact the President suggested it would be well for if the Italian delegation met with Clemenceau and Lloyd-George and endeavor to reach an agreement upon the subject. It was rather curious that the Pact of London made no mention as to Fiume. In fact, Fiume, it was originally intended should remain an Austro-Hungarian territory, because when it was agreed upon there had been no evidence that the Dual Empire would break up as it has. In consequence, the trio met and conferred while the President discussed with the Japanese envoys a number of questions in which Japan was essentially interested, especially the question of Cina’s demand that the Peace Conference relieve her of obligations that had been fixed upon her by Japan during the present war. The Big Three were unable to agree at the morning session. In fact, if anything, they made the situation worse. Orlando and Sonnino declared emphatically that they intended standing on the Pact of London and threatened that if the promises were not carried out they would withdraw and permit other people to come here to handle the Italian side of the question.

The President went to the Crillon Hotel shortly after 11:00 o’clock and held an extended conference with the members of the American Mission in the offices of Secretary of State Lansing. The question of procedure was gone over with the Americans and also the latest reports from Austria showing the spread of Bolshevism there were considered.

Leaving the Peace Commission the President went to see Mr. Bernard M. Baruch, with whom he was closeted for some little time.

Returning to the house the President had as luncheon guests Ambassador to France and Mrs. Hugh Wallace. The conversation at luncheon was entirely informal. After lunch the President had a confidential conference with Ambassador Wallace and told him the conditions which he had met with in connection with the intriguing efforts of French officialdom. The told Mr. Wallace it would be very wise for him to keep close watch on everything that transpired and keep the American government closely informed.

While the President was in conference with Ambassador Wallace, Colonel House put in an appearance. He had been over to visit Lloyd-George and told the President there was nothing to report concerning the conference on the Italian question. It is developing day by day that Colonel House is no longer pulling squarely with the President. The chief evidence of this is the propaganda campaign which is being carried on by H. Wickham Steed, who is editor of the London Times. Steed is very friendly with Gordon Auchincloss, Colonel House’s son-in-law, and also has the entree to Colonel House at any hour of the day or night. In fact, one of the chief causes of complain of American newspapermen, who are covering the Conference, is that while they are compelled to cool their heels sometimes for an hour at a time awaiting the pleasure of Colonel House, the moment Steed appears he is ushered into the ante-chamber and Colonel House invariably excuses himself, no matter with whom he is in conference, to talk with Mr. Steed and outline to him policies that are being discussed by the American Peace Delegation. In one of his latest articles sent broadcast and published in American newspapers, which accept the service of the Philadelphia Public Ledger’s foreign bureau, Mr. Steed has seen fit to declare that Colonel House “speeds peace” and “is one of the very few delegates who has made good during the conference.” Mr. Steed declared that House would have had peace by this time if he had not been taken ill. The facts, however, are interesting. When the President left France to go home for the adjournment of Congress he left behind him a very definite program, which carried with it the inclusion of the League of Nations in the Peace Treaty and a general peace program which if carried through would have enabled the restoration of normal conditions shortly after he came back to France. During his absence Colonel House agreed to compromise with Premier Clemenceau on the big question at issue. He agreed to the establishment of a Rhinish Republic, which would act as a buffer state between Germany and France, and the creation of which would have been in absolute contradiction to President Wilson’s Fourteen Points. He agreed also to the elimination for the time being at least of the League of Nations constitution, which President Wilson in season and out of season had insisted was the only remedy which would prevent a recurrence of world wars. The result of this was that when the President returned to France and found a program prepared for him which it was necessary for him entirely to repudiate. But he also found that certain promises had been made which were embarrassing but which had to be at least part carried out. Therefore, the Steed criticism not only was unjust but an absolute lie.

After Mr. Wallace left, the Big Four was to have resumed its conference but Premier Orlando failed to put in an appearance. Orlando let it be known that he had no desire to interrupt a further consideration of the Italian situation, and that he was chiefly anxious to have a decision reached. The Italian attitude has become more and more defiant in the last few days due to the belief on the part of certain of the Italian leaders that Italy’s massed armies could be used as a potent influence to force the Allies to accept the Italian program in full.

Following the Big Four session, the President, Mrs. Wilson, Miss Benham and myself had dinner, after which we went to the opening of the Palace Theater. The performance there was a typical French-English play, full of froth, with good-looking girls and beautiful costumes and scenery. The show was not over until midnight, so that the President was very late in returning home.

Diary