Cary T. Grayson Diary
Title
Cary T. Grayson Diary
Creator
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Identifier
WWP17205
Date
1919 June 23
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
During the night word was received in Paris that the German government had fallen and that a new government had been organized. The word was telephoned to me from the French Foreign Office, and requests were made that the President be awakened and informed of the developments. But I refused to allow this, realizing that he needed all of his rest for the strenuous day that was in front of him. Early in the morning the French Foreign Office called me and stated that Mr. Clemenceau wanted a meeting held at the earliest possible moment. As Lloyd George was still ill it was decided that the meeting should be held in his apartment, and the President went there immediately after breakfast, reaching there before 9:00 o’clock. Clemenceau followed a few seconds later and brought with him the copy of the note received from the German government during the night. This note stated that the German government was very anxious to sign but that it had not had time to settle upon the details. It asked for forty-eight hours additional time in which to reply to the Allied ultimatum. Dr. Bauer, the new German Premier, declared that the new Cabinet had been formed with the greatest difficulty and that after it had been formed the National Assembly adopted a vote of confidence in the Cabinet by a large majority and directed it to proceed to sign the Peace Treaty. Bauer declared that his government would have to communicate with the Assembly at least once more before it could select delegates and authorize them to sign.
The Council of Three spent very little time in arriving at its decision, and the following note was sent to Dr. Bauer:
The meeting at Lloyd George’s house lasted only thirty minutes, and the President returned to the temporary White House, and the Council of Three resumed its deliberations, with Mr. Balfour sitting as the representative of the British Government, and with Baron Sonnino in Orlando’s place. The Austrian Treaty was under consideration.
There were no guests for luncheon. The President did not go for his usual ride after lunch but remained at the temporary White House waiting for word from Weimar.
The Council of Three reassembled in the afternoon and continued their discussion of the Italian situation. Meanwhile, attention throughout Paris became very acute. The time limit which had been granted Germany to agree to sign was due to expire at seven o’clock. Simultaneously, the armistice was to end if acceptance was not forthcoming. All along the line of the Rhine, the American, British and French Armies were waiting expectantly, ready to resume the conflict. The crowds in the streets of Paris were very great and every one was waiting. At 4:55 in the afternoon when the general sentiment had swung over to the belief that the acceptance would not be forthcoming, Secretary-General Dutasta, of the Peace Commission, was called on the phone by Colonel Henry at Versailles. Colonel Henry stated that he had been directed by Von Haniel, Acting Chief of the German Peace Delegation, to notify the Allied governments that Germany had decided to accept. This word was immediately communicated to the Council of Three, and, later, to the representatives of the press and flashed throughout the world. The tense situation relaxed instantly. Everywhere pandemonium broke loose -- crowds gathered and cheered that the war was won.
As soon as the Council of Three received word that Germany had accepted, the meeting adjourned. The President, who had been indoors all day, at once went for a ride, and we started for the Hotel Wagram, intending to pick up Dr. Axson, the President’s brother-in-law, and take him with us. We were forced to proceed very slowly down the Champs Elysees, which was crowded with spectators, who cheered the President again and again. At the Hotel Wagram a large crowd gathered and applauded while we waited for Dr. Axson. When we started off we had gone only a few yards when the crowd stopped the car and an old man stepped forward and said to the President: “Mr. President, I want to thank you for peace.”
The President returned to the house for dinner, and shortly afterwards received a copy of the final reply of the German government, which was dated at Versailles, and which stated that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany had instructed Von Haniel to communicate to the Allied Governments the following message:
After reading the communication the President went to bed.
The Council of Three spent very little time in arriving at its decision, and the following note was sent to Dr. Bauer:
The meeting at Lloyd George’s house lasted only thirty minutes, and the President returned to the temporary White House, and the Council of Three resumed its deliberations, with Mr. Balfour sitting as the representative of the British Government, and with Baron Sonnino in Orlando’s place. The Austrian Treaty was under consideration.
There were no guests for luncheon. The President did not go for his usual ride after lunch but remained at the temporary White House waiting for word from Weimar.
The Council of Three reassembled in the afternoon and continued their discussion of the Italian situation. Meanwhile, attention throughout Paris became very acute. The time limit which had been granted Germany to agree to sign was due to expire at seven o’clock. Simultaneously, the armistice was to end if acceptance was not forthcoming. All along the line of the Rhine, the American, British and French Armies were waiting expectantly, ready to resume the conflict. The crowds in the streets of Paris were very great and every one was waiting. At 4:55 in the afternoon when the general sentiment had swung over to the belief that the acceptance would not be forthcoming, Secretary-General Dutasta, of the Peace Commission, was called on the phone by Colonel Henry at Versailles. Colonel Henry stated that he had been directed by Von Haniel, Acting Chief of the German Peace Delegation, to notify the Allied governments that Germany had decided to accept. This word was immediately communicated to the Council of Three, and, later, to the representatives of the press and flashed throughout the world. The tense situation relaxed instantly. Everywhere pandemonium broke loose -- crowds gathered and cheered that the war was won.
As soon as the Council of Three received word that Germany had accepted, the meeting adjourned. The President, who had been indoors all day, at once went for a ride, and we started for the Hotel Wagram, intending to pick up Dr. Axson, the President’s brother-in-law, and take him with us. We were forced to proceed very slowly down the Champs Elysees, which was crowded with spectators, who cheered the President again and again. At the Hotel Wagram a large crowd gathered and applauded while we waited for Dr. Axson. When we started off we had gone only a few yards when the crowd stopped the car and an old man stepped forward and said to the President: “Mr. President, I want to thank you for peace.”
The President returned to the house for dinner, and shortly afterwards received a copy of the final reply of the German government, which was dated at Versailles, and which stated that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany had instructed Von Haniel to communicate to the Allied Governments the following message:
After reading the communication the President went to bed.
Original Format
Diary
Files
Collection
Citation
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Cary T. Grayson Diary,” 1919 June 23, WWP17205, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.