Cary T. Grayson Diary
Title
Cary T. Grayson Diary
Creator
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Identifier
WWP17157
Date
1919 May 6
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
The President arose early and had breakfast at 8:00 o’clock. He remained in his study until 11:00 when the Big Three met. They decided to have a meeting at the Quai d’Orsay in the afternoon. The President, Mrs. Wilson and I had lunch, and during the lunch the President said: “A pun was made this morning which Mr. Clemenceau entirely missed, as he does not understand English very quickly. Lloyd-George said to me: ‘Will the Pres-dent meet us at the Quai d’Orsay this afternoon at our session?’ Clemenceau only heard the word “press.” He said: ‘Oh, no, we will not allow the press there this afternoon.’ I said: ‘But you will if you add the dent.’ Lloyd-George laughed very heartily but Clemenceau did not know what was going on.”
The President said that the Italians had telegraphed asking that the delivery of the Peace terms to the Germans be p0stponed for 24 hours, as Orlando and Sonnino were on their way from Rome to Paris, and their train was due to arrive at 12:00 o’clock noon, Wednesday; and as they (Orlando and Sonnino) understood that the Peace terms were to be delivered to the Germans at three, they feared their train might be late and they would be prevented from participating at the meeting. Their request was not granted. The Big Three agreed that the Italians had plenty of time to make arrangements for their return in time for the ceremony.
The President told me: “Since I have been studying the European countries I have made up my mind that they would immediately repudiate any altruistic views they might entertain and grab for their own selfish interest anything they might want. America is the only altruistic country.”
In the afternoon a secret Plenary Session was held at which the context of the Peace Treaty was communicated to the smaller nations and a general debate took place which was marked by sharp exhcn exchanges. There was quite a tilt between Foch and Clemenceau over military questions. There is a clique between Poincare, the President of the French Republic, and Marshal Foch against Premier Clemenceau. While Foch was on the floor Clemenceau came over and said to the President: “You must save me from these two fools.” The President asked Foch some very pointed questions and Foch was unable to answer them; the only way he answered them was by shrugging his shoulders and saying that he was unable to reply. This was concerning the creation of a buffer state in the Rhine and in connection with military reenforcements there. He (Foch) wanted to put there what seemed to be an excessively large number of troops. The President said to me: “Foch may be a great soldier but he appeared to be very simple and seemed to have no ideas for planning. He either did not know how to answer question or did not seem to know what he was talking about. I was very much disappointed in him.”
The President told me that the Big Three received word this morning from the Germans that they were here and that if the treaty was not ready they would go home. Word was sent back to them that they had better reflect over the consequences should they take such action. So they “piped down.”
The President had dinner at seven o’clock, Mr. Charles H. Grasty being the guest. The President and Mrs. Wilson were very solicitous and particularly kind to him, making every effort to make his stay here at the house as comfortable as possible.
After dinner Grasty and I joined the President and Mrs. Wilson in the President’s sitting room for a half-hour. Grasty spoke of many things of interest concerning the war. He was in France during the entire period of the war. The conversation was in a light vein. The President retired early.
The President said that the Italians had telegraphed asking that the delivery of the Peace terms to the Germans be p0stponed for 24 hours, as Orlando and Sonnino were on their way from Rome to Paris, and their train was due to arrive at 12:00 o’clock noon, Wednesday; and as they (Orlando and Sonnino) understood that the Peace terms were to be delivered to the Germans at three, they feared their train might be late and they would be prevented from participating at the meeting. Their request was not granted. The Big Three agreed that the Italians had plenty of time to make arrangements for their return in time for the ceremony.
The President told me: “Since I have been studying the European countries I have made up my mind that they would immediately repudiate any altruistic views they might entertain and grab for their own selfish interest anything they might want. America is the only altruistic country.”
In the afternoon a secret Plenary Session was held at which the context of the Peace Treaty was communicated to the smaller nations and a general debate took place which was marked by sharp exhcn exchanges. There was quite a tilt between Foch and Clemenceau over military questions. There is a clique between Poincare, the President of the French Republic, and Marshal Foch against Premier Clemenceau. While Foch was on the floor Clemenceau came over and said to the President: “You must save me from these two fools.” The President asked Foch some very pointed questions and Foch was unable to answer them; the only way he answered them was by shrugging his shoulders and saying that he was unable to reply. This was concerning the creation of a buffer state in the Rhine and in connection with military reenforcements there. He (Foch) wanted to put there what seemed to be an excessively large number of troops. The President said to me: “Foch may be a great soldier but he appeared to be very simple and seemed to have no ideas for planning. He either did not know how to answer question or did not seem to know what he was talking about. I was very much disappointed in him.”
The President told me that the Big Three received word this morning from the Germans that they were here and that if the treaty was not ready they would go home. Word was sent back to them that they had better reflect over the consequences should they take such action. So they “piped down.”
The President had dinner at seven o’clock, Mr. Charles H. Grasty being the guest. The President and Mrs. Wilson were very solicitous and particularly kind to him, making every effort to make his stay here at the house as comfortable as possible.
After dinner Grasty and I joined the President and Mrs. Wilson in the President’s sitting room for a half-hour. Grasty spoke of many things of interest concerning the war. He was in France during the entire period of the war. The conversation was in a light vein. The President retired early.
Original Format
Diary
Files
Collection
Citation
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Cary T. Grayson Diary,” 1919 May 6, WWP17157, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.