Cary T. Grayson Diary
Title
Cary T. Grayson Diary
Creator
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Identifier
WWP17196
Date
1919 June 14
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
The President arose early, and after a brief walk he returned to the temporary White House, where the Big Four took up for final presentation the Allied and Associated covering letter and amendments to the original Treaty of Peace which was submitted to the Germans. The session developed complete unanimity almost for the first time. The President had collaberated in the presentation of the covering letter, which carried out in detail the complete arraignment of Germany. Every point raised by the Germans in their defense was thoroughly demolished, and the responsibility for the war was placed squarely at the door of the Kaiser and his former associates.
There were no luncheon guests, the President lunching quietly with Mrs. Wilson,Edith Benham and myself. Immediately after luncheon the President went for a ride, returning to resume the sessions with the Big Four, and it was not until late in the afternoon that the entire German reply was completed. The chief difficulty had been on the question of how the occupied territory along the Rhine was to be administered, and on the suggestion of the President it was agreed that an Inter-Allied civilian commission should be created, which should be supreme in its authority and which would direct the affairs during the term of occupancy, meanwhile giving the German civil authorities full powers subject to the review of this commission. When the letter and amended treaty were finally completed by the Big Four, they were rushed immediately to the committee of international drafting experts, who put the document in shape so that it would stand legal scrutiny.
The President, Mrs. Wilson and I dined with Ambassador and Mrs. Hugh C. Wallace. The following is a list of the guests:
The President and Mrs. Woodrow Wilson,
Miss Wilson.
M. Le President de la Chambre des Deputes et Madame Deschanel.
M. le Ministre des Affaires Etrangeres et Madame Pichon.
M. l’Ambassadeur du Japon et Madame Matsui.
M. l’Ambassadeur d’Italie.
M. l’Ambassadeur d’Espagne.
M. l’Ambassadeur de France aux Etats-Unis et Madame Jusserand.
Leurs Altesses le Prince et la Princesse Murat.
Mr. Balfour, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Great Britain.
Mr. Venizelos, Prime Minister of Greece.
Lord Hardinge of Penshurst.
The Secretary of State and Mrs. Lansing.
Marquis et Marquise de Polignac.
Vicomte et Vicomtesse Benoist d’Azy.
General Pershing.
Mrs. Ridgway.
Admiral Grayson.
Mr. Bliss.
The table was artistically and beautifully decorated. I was seated next to General Pershing. We talked about many interesting things concerning the war. Speaking of Clemenceau, he said that no one could appreciate as keenly as he the great change that had taken place, especially with the French politicians, in connection with the outcome of the war. “When I first came over”, the General said, “they would frequently ask me - ‘Do you really think that the Allies can win?’ That question, with whispered voice, was often asked me. I always assured them that we would ultimately win, because the American boys were coming over fast, and they had the fighting spirit in them.” He continued: “I particularly remember one of my first meetings with Premier Clemenceau when he asked me the question whether I thought that the Allies could win. I gave him very strong assurances on that point. The old gentlemen sat back in his chair, drew a long sigh, and said: ‘I believe that if Paris is captured the war can be won for the Allies, and if France is captured I believe even then the war can be won by the Allies.’ I said to him: ‘ Where do you figure in that event our troops would land? They have to have some port to land.’ He replied: “I made that statement to show that by the Americans coming over here the world would be saved from the Hun.’ He believed with the Americans coming over here that even with the loss of Paris and the loss of France, the war could be won by the aid of the Americans.”
This was a great tribute which Clemenceau paid America. I asked the General: “What would Clemenceau say today if you reminded him of this statement about his unabiding faith in the ability of the Americans to win the war?” The General smiled and said: “The change from that position is very great, but that is characteristic of the French.”
The Princess Murat sat near me at the table. Most of her time was spent in gazing through her lorgnette at Mrs. Wilson and the President. She literally stared at them most of the time and seemed to observe every mouthful of food that they took. This is the first I have seen of this custom in high French society. In speaking of some of the French people she said they were “quite impossible.” She wore a string of pearls that went around her neck and chest abourt three times, practically covering her entire chest. Some one asked me what I thought of the pearls. I replied that their value would pay for half the farms in Culpeper County, Virginia.
Madame Jusserand, the wife of the French Ambassador to America, said to me after dinner that she hoped the President would not forget that it was etiquette to call and pay his respects to President Poincare of the French Republic and say good-bye before his departure for America. I said: “Thank you for reminding me of it. It is unnecessary, however, because the President will do it, but while you are talking of etiquette, I do not think it would be out of place if you had someone remind your Minister of Foreign Affairs, M. Pichon, that he forgot his etiquette and left before the President, who is the guest of honor, did.”
There were no luncheon guests, the President lunching quietly with Mrs. Wilson,Edith Benham and myself. Immediately after luncheon the President went for a ride, returning to resume the sessions with the Big Four, and it was not until late in the afternoon that the entire German reply was completed. The chief difficulty had been on the question of how the occupied territory along the Rhine was to be administered, and on the suggestion of the President it was agreed that an Inter-Allied civilian commission should be created, which should be supreme in its authority and which would direct the affairs during the term of occupancy, meanwhile giving the German civil authorities full powers subject to the review of this commission. When the letter and amended treaty were finally completed by the Big Four, they were rushed immediately to the committee of international drafting experts, who put the document in shape so that it would stand legal scrutiny.
The President, Mrs. Wilson and I dined with Ambassador and Mrs. Hugh C. Wallace. The following is a list of the guests:
The President and Mrs. Woodrow Wilson,
Miss Wilson.
M. Le President de la Chambre des Deputes et Madame Deschanel.
M. le Ministre des Affaires Etrangeres et Madame Pichon.
M. l’Ambassadeur du Japon et Madame Matsui.
M. l’Ambassadeur d’Italie.
M. l’Ambassadeur d’Espagne.
M. l’Ambassadeur de France aux Etats-Unis et Madame Jusserand.
Leurs Altesses le Prince et la Princesse Murat.
Mr. Balfour, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Great Britain.
Mr. Venizelos, Prime Minister of Greece.
Lord Hardinge of Penshurst.
The Secretary of State and Mrs. Lansing.
Marquis et Marquise de Polignac.
Vicomte et Vicomtesse Benoist d’Azy.
General Pershing.
Mrs. Ridgway.
Admiral Grayson.
Mr. Bliss.
The table was artistically and beautifully decorated. I was seated next to General Pershing. We talked about many interesting things concerning the war. Speaking of Clemenceau, he said that no one could appreciate as keenly as he the great change that had taken place, especially with the French politicians, in connection with the outcome of the war. “When I first came over”, the General said, “they would frequently ask me - ‘Do you really think that the Allies can win?’ That question, with whispered voice, was often asked me. I always assured them that we would ultimately win, because the American boys were coming over fast, and they had the fighting spirit in them.” He continued: “I particularly remember one of my first meetings with Premier Clemenceau when he asked me the question whether I thought that the Allies could win. I gave him very strong assurances on that point. The old gentlemen sat back in his chair, drew a long sigh, and said: ‘I believe that if Paris is captured the war can be won for the Allies, and if France is captured I believe even then the war can be won by the Allies.’ I said to him: ‘ Where do you figure in that event our troops would land? They have to have some port to land.’ He replied: “I made that statement to show that by the Americans coming over here the world would be saved from the Hun.’ He believed with the Americans coming over here that even with the loss of Paris and the loss of France, the war could be won by the aid of the Americans.”
This was a great tribute which Clemenceau paid America. I asked the General: “What would Clemenceau say today if you reminded him of this statement about his unabiding faith in the ability of the Americans to win the war?” The General smiled and said: “The change from that position is very great, but that is characteristic of the French.”
The Princess Murat sat near me at the table. Most of her time was spent in gazing through her lorgnette at Mrs. Wilson and the President. She literally stared at them most of the time and seemed to observe every mouthful of food that they took. This is the first I have seen of this custom in high French society. In speaking of some of the French people she said they were “quite impossible.” She wore a string of pearls that went around her neck and chest abourt three times, practically covering her entire chest. Some one asked me what I thought of the pearls. I replied that their value would pay for half the farms in Culpeper County, Virginia.
Madame Jusserand, the wife of the French Ambassador to America, said to me after dinner that she hoped the President would not forget that it was etiquette to call and pay his respects to President Poincare of the French Republic and say good-bye before his departure for America. I said: “Thank you for reminding me of it. It is unnecessary, however, because the President will do it, but while you are talking of etiquette, I do not think it would be out of place if you had someone remind your Minister of Foreign Affairs, M. Pichon, that he forgot his etiquette and left before the President, who is the guest of honor, did.”
Original Format
Diary
Files
Collection
Citation
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Cary T. Grayson Diary,” 1919 June 14, WWP17196, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.