Cary T. Grayson Diary

Cary T. Grayson Diary

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

WWP17221

1919 July 9

An entry in Cary T. Grayson's diary from the Paris Peace Conference, dated 9 July 1919.

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

English

The President completed his European labors at noon today when he laid down before the Senate the Treaty of Peace with its accompanying Protocols. Probably no state paper that the President has been responsible for was the subject of as much interest as was his address today. For hours before the Senate galleries were opened a crowd besieged the front doors of the Capitol Building and despite the fact that a torrential rain was falling, they remained there, although only persons holding tickets of admission were allowed to enter the building itself. The President came to the Capitol shortly after twelve o’clock and went directly to the President’s room on the second floor, where he remained until the committee named by the Vice-President came and escorted him. The committee was composed of Senators Lodge, Borah, John Sharp Williams, Hitchock and McCumber. The President, with the Treaty under his arm, started to march into the Senate Chamber. Senator Lodge, who was walking by the President’s side, said: “Mr. President, can I carry the Treaty for you?” The President smiled ans said to him: “Not on your life.” Senator Williams said: “Don’t trust him with it, Mr. President.” All parties laughed.

The President’s speech was listened to with the deepest attention. But the only applause that greeted him was at the start and at the finish. After he concluded his speech, he went back to his office room and there he met the majority of Democratic Senators and discussed very briefly with them the procedure that is to be followed in the fight for the ratification of the Treaty.

Diary