Cary T. Grayson Diary

Cary T. Grayson Diary

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

WWP17177

1919 May 26

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

English

The President had an early breakfast and immediately went to his study. He remained there for a short time and then went for a motor ride, returning for the meeting of the Big Four, at which the question of the Dalmatian Coast and Fiume was again taken up. This meeting developed a very sharp controversy between the President and Premier Orlando of Italy. Orlando had announced that while he was willing to make Fiume a free city, he was not willing to concede anything else in that connection, and declared that unless his view was accepted he would insist that the Treaty of London should be followed out to the very letter. The President in an impassioned speech characterized the Treaty of London as an “infamous bargain”, and served frank notice on his conferees that under no circumstance would the United States be a party to fixing the boundaries of the Jugo-Slav Republic under the limitations laid down by the disputed pact. The President’s attitude was extremely firm and Clemenceau expressed grave concern, telling Orlando that he believed it would be absolutely necessary that something should be done by Italy to meet the President’s views. Clemenceau warned Orlando that disregard of America under such conditions would certainly prove disastrous later on. Lloyd George sympathizes with the Italian viewpoint however, and the conference adjourned without a definite agreement being reached.

The President had luncheon with Mrs. Wilson in her room, and after lunch the President and I went for a motor ride. The afternoon session of the Big Four, was again devoted to the discussion of whether the Kolatchak regime in Russia should be recognized.

The President was the chief speaker at a dinner which was given at the Hotel Meurice by the representatives of the South American states at the Peace Conference in honor of Senor Epitacio Pessoa, the President-elect of Brazil, and the chief Brazilian delegate at the Peace Conference. The President’s address was freely commented upon as being a very wonderful one. (SEE SPEECH).

Diary