Cary T. Grayson Diary
Title
Cary T. Grayson Diary
Creator
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Identifier
WWP17031
Date
1919 January 10
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
FRIDAY.
The President played his second game of golf since landing in France going to St. Cloud during the morning. He had a conference with the American Delegation, at the Crillon Hotel during the afternoon. He also met Henry P. Davidson, President of the American Red Cross War Council, who presented his resignation and talked over the selection of his successor. Davidson discussed the internationalization of the Red Cross, a project conceived to unite the Red Cross Societies of the world into one cohesive body. This step was desirable, because the signing of the peace treaty involved a revision of the Geneva convention, which had been so grossly violated by the Germans. The President told Davidson that he would appoint as his successor, any man that could be agreed upon by Davidson, Cleveland H. Dodge, Surgeon General Ireland, of the Army and Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior. The President said this without having in mind who they would select and was very much surprised when he heard they had agreed upon Mr. Farrand of Chicago. Farrand was previously identified with the Rockefeller Foundation and was a brother of one of the men with whom the President had been in conflict during the controversy over the democratization of Princeton. This brother was very objectionable to the President. The President said he never had contemplated being called upon to appoint a close relative of a man “with whom he could not do business”, but felt that, inasmuch as he had committed himself, he ought to accept the man they had chosen. This was made plain to Davidson and the President, reluctantly I think, appointed Farrand. Davidson then went ahead with his project for the International Red Cross. I hear very confidentially that Davidson is a Presidential aspirant. He has increased his personal fortune very largely out of the war and I understand he wanted to be on the Peace Mission. Failing in this, I am told he has chosen a project of internationalizing the Red Cross, as a means of keeping himself in the public eye. The President’s attention ever since he came to Europe had been very deeply engaged in the food problems furnished by Germany and the liberated countries of Central Empires, which are being menaced by Bolshevism. Following a conference today, with Food Administrator Herbert Hoover, at which he received a very full report showing that while there was food enough on hand for the immediate present, there were no reserves at all that could be utilized. The President immediately sent cablegrams to the leaders of the House and Senate and addressed a brief message to Congress, urging passage of the pending appropriation of $100,000,000, to finance the feeding of these liberated peoples. In this message, among other things, he said: “Bolshevism is steadily advancing westward, has overwhelmed Poland and is poisoning Germany. Force cannot stop it, but food can.”
Henry White, the Republican member of the Peace Mission, sent similar messages to Senator Lodge and other Republican members of the conference, urging them to support the appropriation. The appropriation as a result was passed, but with a provision that no part of the money could be expended for feeding Germany. At this time, the United States Government was already moving food up through the Adriatic to Yugo-Slavia and Czecho-Slovakia. About 200,000 tons were taken there during the month of December.
DIARY ENTRY:President—& Mrs. W. played golf at Boil on my neck, I could not go—W.W. conference at Crillon—also with Henry Davidson, Red Cross—appointed Ferron Peace founded on hatred cannot endure. WW.Mrs. BowerMrs. Stacy—both on YMCA work dined at Palace Murat. My conference with Nevin, Bender and Probert.WC Slusher called. Stayed in bed most of stay—boil on neck. Bolshevikism is steadily advancing Westward, has overwhelmed Poland, and is poisoning Germany—Force cannot stop it but food can. WW to Senator Martin & S. Sherly.
The President played his second game of golf since landing in France going to St. Cloud during the morning. He had a conference with the American Delegation, at the Crillon Hotel during the afternoon. He also met Henry P. Davidson, President of the American Red Cross War Council, who presented his resignation and talked over the selection of his successor. Davidson discussed the internationalization of the Red Cross, a project conceived to unite the Red Cross Societies of the world into one cohesive body. This step was desirable, because the signing of the peace treaty involved a revision of the Geneva convention, which had been so grossly violated by the Germans. The President told Davidson that he would appoint as his successor, any man that could be agreed upon by Davidson, Cleveland H. Dodge, Surgeon General Ireland, of the Army and Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior. The President said this without having in mind who they would select and was very much surprised when he heard they had agreed upon Mr. Farrand of Chicago. Farrand was previously identified with the Rockefeller Foundation and was a brother of one of the men with whom the President had been in conflict during the controversy over the democratization of Princeton. This brother was very objectionable to the President. The President said he never had contemplated being called upon to appoint a close relative of a man “with whom he could not do business”, but felt that, inasmuch as he had committed himself, he ought to accept the man they had chosen. This was made plain to Davidson and the President, reluctantly I think, appointed Farrand. Davidson then went ahead with his project for the International Red Cross. I hear very confidentially that Davidson is a Presidential aspirant. He has increased his personal fortune very largely out of the war and I understand he wanted to be on the Peace Mission. Failing in this, I am told he has chosen a project of internationalizing the Red Cross, as a means of keeping himself in the public eye. The President’s attention ever since he came to Europe had been very deeply engaged in the food problems furnished by Germany and the liberated countries of Central Empires, which are being menaced by Bolshevism. Following a conference today, with Food Administrator Herbert Hoover, at which he received a very full report showing that while there was food enough on hand for the immediate present, there were no reserves at all that could be utilized. The President immediately sent cablegrams to the leaders of the House and Senate and addressed a brief message to Congress, urging passage of the pending appropriation of $100,000,000, to finance the feeding of these liberated peoples. In this message, among other things, he said: “Bolshevism is steadily advancing westward, has overwhelmed Poland and is poisoning Germany. Force cannot stop it, but food can.”
Henry White, the Republican member of the Peace Mission, sent similar messages to Senator Lodge and other Republican members of the conference, urging them to support the appropriation. The appropriation as a result was passed, but with a provision that no part of the money could be expended for feeding Germany. At this time, the United States Government was already moving food up through the Adriatic to Yugo-Slavia and Czecho-Slovakia. About 200,000 tons were taken there during the month of December.
DIARY ENTRY:President—& Mrs. W. played golf at Boil on my neck, I could not go—W.W. conference at Crillon—also with Henry Davidson, Red Cross—appointed Ferron Peace founded on hatred cannot endure. WW.Mrs. BowerMrs. Stacy—both on YMCA work dined at Palace Murat. My conference with Nevin, Bender and Probert.WC Slusher called. Stayed in bed most of stay—boil on neck. Bolshevikism is steadily advancing Westward, has overwhelmed Poland, and is poisoning Germany—Force cannot stop it but food can. WW to Senator Martin & S. Sherly.
Original Format
Diary
Files
Collection
Citation
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Cary T. Grayson Diary,” 1919 January 10, WWP17031, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.