Cary T. Grayson Diary

Cary T. Grayson Diary

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

WWP17163

1919 May 12

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

English

The President arose early and worked in his study until 11:00 o’clock when the Big Four resumed its session, taking up for consideration the two notes sent by Brockdorff-Rantzau, and which referred to the question of German prisoners of war and the international labor situation. The German note regarding the prisoners of war dealt with conditions of repatriation and requested that conditions be relieved among the German prisoners held in France and Great Britain. It was also asked that these prisoners before repatriation should be allowed to obtain in France articles of wearing apparel, especially boots and shoes, which were not now obtainable in Germany. The note dealing the labor situation criticised the labor program prepared by the Allies and asked that another labor conference be held at which the German government and especially the German labor experts should be allowed to be present. Both of the notes were referred by the Big Four to committees of the Peace Conference to prepare replies.

The President and Mrs. Wilson lunched together. I was suffering from a boil on my neck, and I asked them to excuse me from coming to the table, as I did not think my boil a good dinner companion. They both were very sweet in insisting that I should come to the table.

In the afternoon the Council of Ten reconvened for the first time in several weeks, taking up for discussion the boundary clauses which were to be inserted in the treaty of peace with Austria. This was a very necessary matter inasmuch as it is now obligatory upon the Peace Council to define the boundaries of states into which the former Austro-Hungarian Empire has been separated.

After dinner I went down and sat with the President and Mrs. Wilson for a few hours. They played Canfield and I sat by and talked with them.

Diary