Cary T. Grayson Diary
Title
Cary T. Grayson Diary
Creator
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Identifier
WWP17165
Date
1919 May 14
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
The President had an early breakfast. The Council of Four this morning received three additional notes from the Germans. These notes dealt with a suggestion relative to the Saar Valley and Basin, with the demand on the part of the Germans that they be allowCed to discuss orally the differences between the recommendations made by the Allied and Associated economic experts and the Germans, and also that they be accorded complete freedom of intercourse with the Austrian delegates. The Germans were working overtime preparing their objections to the treaty and had sent two of their political experts to Berlin to discuss with the government just what was to be done in the event as was considered certain that the Allied and Associated governments declined to moderate the peace terms.
The Big Four also heard the report of the Committee on Internationalization of Harbors and Waterways, and especially certain points in dispute which had arisen in that committee. The British Government’s policy preferential treatment to British merchantmen at coaling stations scattered throughout the world had come in for severe criticism and certain of the members of the Waterways Committee recommended to the Big Four that in all cases where coaling stations were within territory over which a mandatory was exercised complete freedom be granted to all vessels and that they be coaled in the order of arrival, thus avouding thus avoiding preferential discrimination.
The President had Senator Peter Gerry of Rhode Island and Mrs. Gerry as luncheon guests. After lunch the President had a long talk with the Senator. Senator Gerry told me afterwards that he was delighted with the President’s physical condition showing that my care was having results. I laughingly assured him that the President had been picking up ever since I insisted on his getting away from the cares of state for an afternoon and going out to the Longchamp Course to see the races there.
After conferring with Senator Gerry the President went for a ride. I accompanying him, and later returned to the White House in time for an afternoon conference with the Bif Four, which had before it the report of the Foreign Ministers dealing with the Eastern frontiers of Austria.
Mrs. Wilson was indisposed and so the President had dinner with her in her room. After dinner he I went in the President’s room and sat with him a little while. He completed the initial draft of his Message to Congress. The Presidenth as usual had done the job so well that when he came to read it over he only changed one word and that he wrote in with a pencil. He discussed with me the matter of senfding it by cable. He thought the message would cover between three and four thousand words.
The Big Four also heard the report of the Committee on Internationalization of Harbors and Waterways, and especially certain points in dispute which had arisen in that committee. The British Government’s policy preferential treatment to British merchantmen at coaling stations scattered throughout the world had come in for severe criticism and certain of the members of the Waterways Committee recommended to the Big Four that in all cases where coaling stations were within territory over which a mandatory was exercised complete freedom be granted to all vessels and that they be coaled in the order of arrival, thus avouding thus avoiding preferential discrimination.
The President had Senator Peter Gerry of Rhode Island and Mrs. Gerry as luncheon guests. After lunch the President had a long talk with the Senator. Senator Gerry told me afterwards that he was delighted with the President’s physical condition showing that my care was having results. I laughingly assured him that the President had been picking up ever since I insisted on his getting away from the cares of state for an afternoon and going out to the Longchamp Course to see the races there.
After conferring with Senator Gerry the President went for a ride. I accompanying him, and later returned to the White House in time for an afternoon conference with the Bif Four, which had before it the report of the Foreign Ministers dealing with the Eastern frontiers of Austria.
Mrs. Wilson was indisposed and so the President had dinner with her in her room. After dinner he I went in the President’s room and sat with him a little while. He completed the initial draft of his Message to Congress. The Presidenth as usual had done the job so well that when he came to read it over he only changed one word and that he wrote in with a pencil. He discussed with me the matter of senfding it by cable. He thought the message would cover between three and four thousand words.
Original Format
Diary
Files
Collection
Citation
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Cary T. Grayson Diary,” 1919 May 14, WWP17165, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.