The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Peace Negotiations, by Robert Lansing

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Title: The Peace Negotiations

Author: Robert Lansing

Release Date: December 13, 2003 [eBook #10444]

Language: English

***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS***

E-text prepared by Jonathan Ingram, Debra Storr, and Prooject Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders

THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS

A PERSONAL NARRATIVE

BY ROBERT LANSING

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS

CONTENTS

I. REASONS FOR WRITING A PERSONAL NARRATIVE

II. MR. WILSON'S PRESENCE AT THE PEACE CONFERENCE

III. GENERAL PLAN FOR A LEAGUE OF NATIONS

IV. SUBSTITUTE ARTICLES PROPOSED

V. THE AFFIRMATIVE GUARANTY AND BALANCE OF POWER

VI. THE PRESIDENT'S PLAN AND THE CECIL PLAN

VII. SELF-DETERMINATION

VIII. THE CONFERENCE OF JANUARY 10, 1919

IX. A RESOLUTION INSTEAD OF THE COVENANT

X. THE GUARANTY IN THE REVISED COVENANT

XI. INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION

XII. REPORT OF COMMISSION ON LEAGUE OF NATIONS

XIII. THE SYSTEM OF MANDATES

XIV. DIFFERENCES AS TO THE LEAGUE RECAPITULATED

XV. THE PROPOSED TREATY WITH FRANCE

XVI. LACK OF AN AMERICAN PROGRAMME

XVII. SECRET DIPLOMACY

XVIII. THE SHANTUNG SETTLEMENT

XIX. THE BULLITT AFFAIR

CONCLUSION

APPENDICES

I. THE PRESIDENT'S ORIGINAL DRAFT OF THE COVENANT OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS, LAID BEFORE THE AMERICAN COMMISSION ON JANUARY 10, 1919

II. LEAGUE OF NATIONS PLAN OF LORD ROBERT CECIL

III. THE COVENANT OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS IN THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES

IV. THE FOURTEEN POINTS

V. PRINCIPLES DECLARED BY PRESIDENT WILSON IN HIS ADDRESS OF FEBRUARY 11, 1918

VI. THE ARTICLES OF THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES RELATING TO SHANTUNG

INDEX

ILLUSTRATIONS

THE AMERICAN PEACE DELEGATION AT PARIS
Photograph by Signal Corps, U.S.A.

FACSIMILE OF MR. LANSING'S COMMISSION AS A COMMISSIONER PLENIPOTENTIARY TO NEGOTIATE PEACE

THE RUE ROYALE ON THE ARRIVAL OF PRESIDENT WILSON ON DECEMBER 14, 1918
Photograph by Signal Corps, U.S.A.

THE AMERICAN PEACE DELEGATION AND STAFF
Photograph by Signal Corps, U.S.A.

A MEETING AT THE QUAI D'ORSAY AFTER PRESIDENT WILSON'S DEPARTURE FROM PARIS

FACSIMILE OF MR. LANSING'S "FULL POWERS" TO NEGOTIATE A TREATY OF ASSISTANCE TO FRANCE

THE DAILY CONFERENCE OF THE AMERICAN PEACE COMMISSION
Photograph by Isabey, Paris

CHRONOLOGY

The Declaration of the Fourteen Points January 18, 1918

Declaration of Four Additional Bases of Peace February 11, 1918

Departure of Colonel House for Paris to represent the
  President on Supreme War Council October 17, 1918

Signature of Armistice, 5 A.M.; effective, 11 A.M.
                                                 November 11, 1918

Departure of President and American Commission
  for France December 4, 1918

Arrival of President and American Commission in
  Paris December 14, 1918

Meeting of Supreme War Council January 12, 1919

First Plenary Session of Peace Conference January 25, 1919

Plenary Session at which Report on the League of Nations
  was Submitted February 14, 1919

Departure of President from Paris for United States
                                                 February 14, 1919

President lands at Boston February 24, 1919

Departure of President from New York for France March 5, 1919

President arrives in Paris March 14, 1919

Organization of Council of Four About March 24, 1919

President's public statement in regard to Fiume April 23, 1919

Adoption of Commission's Report on League of Nations by the Conference April 28, 1919

The Shantung Settlement April 30, 1919

Delivery of the Peace Treaty to the German
  Plenipotentiaries May 7, 1919

Signing of Treaty of Versailles June 28, 1919

Signing of Treaty of Assistance with France June 28, 1919

Departure of President for the United States June 28, 1919

Departure of Mr. Lansing from Paris for United
  States July 12, 1919

Hearing of Mr. Lansing before Senate Committee on
  Foreign Relations August 6, 1919

Conference of Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
  with the President at the White House August 19, 1919

Hearing of Mr. Bullitt before Senate Committee on
  Foreign Relations September 12, 1919

Return of President to Washington from tour
  of West September 28, 1919

Resignation of Mr. Lansing as Secretary
  of State February 13, 1920

CHAPTER I

REASONS FOR WRITING A PERSONAL NARRATIVE

"While we were still in Paris, I felt, and have felt increasingly ever since, that you accepted my guidance and direction on questions with regard to which I had to instruct you only with increasing reluctance….

"… I must say that it would relieve me of embarrassment, Mr. Secretary, the embarrassment of feeling your reluctance and divergence of judgment, if you would give your present office up and afford me an opportunity to select some one whose mind would more willingly go along with mine."

These words are taken from the letter which President Wilson wrote to