Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/269/1 - 1918 - 1936 - Part 7

1918
The AGREEMENT on TERMS of PEACE without consulting
THE DOMINIONS.
Notes for Statement to andLondon Round Table Group on
21st November, 1918.
(1) A promise broken.
(2) Hands of separatists strengthened.
(3) Imperial War Cabinet and consultative system on which
it is based has been proved to be deceptive.
What has been done
agreement
(1) An ∧ argumemt has been made as to terms öf peace.
(2) An armistice - military and naval - has been arranged between Foch and Wemyss and Germany.
As to
(1) Dominions not consulted - learned from newspapers that Wilson's 14 points with two modifications and his speech of 27th September had been accepted by Great Britain and Allies.
Their opinion was not asked or obtained at any time on these fourteen points as Peace Terms.
They are peace terms
The Peace Congress is concerned only with the practical application

of the principles which they embody Vide Wilson's
note to Germany
Look at 1. document.
- "make peace" on the "terms of peace".
The "qualifications" show the nature of the agreement - a
binding contract.
(1) "Reserve complete freedom" therefore on others -
no freedom.
(2) "Compensation" defined.
Therefore subject to the possible denunciation of the armistice,
an agreement as to peace terms has been made.
This agreement has been made without any notification to
the Dominions that it was about to be made and the opinion of
the Dominions has not been sought.
It happens that some of the fourteen terms are not
acceptable to some of the Dominions - but the objection which
I raise will be equally strong in principle if all the terms
were acceptable to all the Dominions.

--2--
The two points are quite distinct:-
(1) Ought the Dominions to have been consulted and
were they consulted.
(2) Are the peace terms satisfactory to the Dominions.
I am dealing ^with in (1)
I only incidentally mention that the terms are not satisfactory
to Australia or I believe to New Zealand.
Mention

(2)

(3)

(5)
The objections re
(2) happens to have been met. This makes no difference
re point (1) above
Unnecessary to labour before a Round Table group the fact
that the Dominions were brought into the War without being
consulted.
The necessity of prompt action in August '14th and the
defects of our Imperial organisation made such consultation
impossible.
But - general recognition of -  necessity of consulting
on terms of peace
- Explicit promises made.
A despatch dated January 21, 1915, addressed by the Secretary
of State to the Governor General of the Commonwealth, contained
the following:-
"It is the intention of His Majesty's Government
" to consult the Prime Minister most fully, and if possible
personally when the time arrives, to discuss possible
" terms of peace."
In reply to a question in the House of Commons on
April 14th 1915, the Secretary of State quoted the above
and added:- "I need hardly add that His Majesty's
"Government intend to observe the spirit as well as the
"letter of this declaration."
Imperial War Cabinet was set up (in addition to Imperial Conference)

 for just such a discussion - and the machinery was not
used.

--3--
The official reply (issued by the Official Press Bureau)
to Mr. Hughes' protests does not allege either that there was
consultation at the critical time or that there was no time
for consultation.
It in effect says that consultation was not necessary,
because the Imperial War Cabinet in 1917 and earlier this
year (June and July) discussed peace terms.
These discussions took place when the naval-and military
position was absolutely different from what it had become in
October - November. The situation had radically changed in
our favour - the prior discussions were out of date.
Mr. Hughes, speaking from the Australian point of view.
says that neither he nor any member of ^his the Cabinet was consulted
at the critical time in October and November and that they
learned of the acceptance of Wilson's proposals only after the
accomplished fact.
Look at the terms of the promise. It cannot be said that
it has been observed either in the letter or in the spirit.
It would have been so easy to cable to the Dominion Governments

that it was proposed to accept Wilson's terms and to
ask for any comments.
This would have met the case.
The silence of the "official reply" justifies the inference

that this was not done in the case of any Dominion. Do
not be misled by the fact that Mr. Hughes has failed to gain
general support for his protest.
I could wish that another course had been followed by Mr.
Hughes. I think that he has shown bad judgments in several
respects.
But remember that we hear now only one set of voices.
There are others - the separatist elements in all the
Dominions and their parties have been provided with a weapon
which they will not be slow to use.
 

--4-

I regard the position as most unfortunate and/of ill
omen for the future.
To put the case at the lowest - a golden opportunity
has been lost.
J G Latham
LONDON.
21st November, 1918.
 

9521.
12 December 1935.
My dear Latham,
Many thanks for your assistance in the matter of the
Peace Conference. I have not yet seen the minutes of the
British Empire Delegation and of the Reparations Commission,
although I think Professor Scott did, but the Prime Minister's
Department is searching for then.
I think that I have identified the occasion on which
you helped to draft the clause concerning the "C" mandates. It
would be after the meeting of the B.E. delegation at Villa
Majestic on the evening of January 27. The draft appears to
have been discussed at the next meeting, 3 p.m. January 28, and
accepted by everyone except Hughes. In the Council of Ten on
January 28 President Wilson showed himself very restive, and
next day occurred the tense meeting of the B.E. delegation at
Lloyd George's house. It must have been after this that Mr.
Hughes, General Botha, and Mr. Bonar Law were deputed to reach
a final agreement, if they could. One or two small alterations
were made, and on January 30 in the Council of Ten Hughes
practically gave in.
No doubt when I see the B.E.D. minutes it will be
possible finally to check this sequence, but the accounts given
by Baker, House, Temperley, and "The Times", when pieced together,

make it seem almost certain. I should be grateful if you would
let me know whether this agrees with your recollection.
If I find it impossible to get the papers in Canberra,
I may send you an S.O.S. and ask if you would see your way to
entrust your copy to a senior member of the war Memorial staff
to convey to me for a short perusal.
With kind regards
Yours sincerely,
Rt. Hon. Sir John Latham, K.C.M.C.,
"Flete",
Flete Avenue,
Malvern, S.E.3, Victoria
 

Index of Minutes of Executive Committee
Parks & Playgrounds Movement, 1932-33.

9529.
19 December 1935.
My dear Latham,
I heard from the Prime Minister's Department that
inquiries have been made through all departments, but no copy
of the minutes of either the British Empire Delegation or
the Reparations Commission can be found. In the circumstances
I am wondering whether you could see your way, if it is not
too much trouble, to entrust your copy, for my perusal, to
Major W.T. Conder, who has most kindly said that he would
carefully covey it to me and take it back when finished

with. We would take every care that it is not damaged or 

or allowed to go astray.
The documents which I particularly want are the
minutes of the British Empire Delegation from 23 to 31
January 1919, and the minutes of the Reparations Commission -
the latter simply for checking the statement of Mr. Hughes
that he did not make for Australia the demands which Temperley
says that he made. If it were possible for me to see the

minutes of the B.E.D. for 23-31 January, I could make clear

the story of the struggle over the mandates.
Major Conder lives at the Athenaeum Club in Collins

Street, and if it were possible for you to drop the document
there he would take charge of them. 
I am very much indebted to you for the help already

given.  With every good wish to yourself and Lady Latham,

I am,

Yours sincerely,
Rt. Hon. Sir John Latham, K.C.M.G.,
"Flete",
Flete Avenue,
Malvern, S.E.3. Vic.
 

1932/33.
PARKS AND PIAYGROUNDS MOVEMENT OF N.S.WALES.
CONSTITUTION
(1) The title of the organisation shall be the "Parks and
Playgrounds Movement of Now South Wales".
(2) The Movement is non-political. Its objects are:¬
(a) to secure the systematic, timely reservation and
acquisition of adequate park and playgrounds space in
N.S.Wales;
(b) to ensure the appropriate and effective use and control
of all park and playground spaces;
(c) to ensure that every child shall have a chance to play,
and every citizen the opportunity for recreation;
(d) to these ends, to secure unity of effort among all
bodies interested.
(3) The Movement shall be governed by a General Council consisting

of delegates from associated bodies, forming a Combined Committee.
Each associated body may send two delegates, duly accredited by its
association. Except as hereinafter laid down, each delegate shall
exercise only one vote. Such officers of the current year as are not
delegates may be present and vote in such section as the Chairman
decides, and shall be eligible for election as officers.
(4) Additional bodies may be admitted to the Movement on approval
by the Executive Committee.
(5) The officers shall be:- (a) President and five Vice-Presidents,
each of the following sections being represented - (i) men's sports,
(ii) women's sports, (iii) children's recreation, (iv) town planning
and health bodies, (v) biological, conservation, and historical
bodies, (vi) community service and progress associations; (b) Honorary
Secretary and Honorary Treasurer, and Honorary Assistant
Secretary & Honorary Assistant Treasurer;.
Proceedings between general meetings shall be governed by an
Executive Committee, comprising the officers before-mentioned and two
representatives of each of the sections enumerated in Section 5(a).
The Executive Committee may co-opt any other persons in an advisory
capacity only.
(6) A membership fee, minimum 5s., shall be payable annually by
each associated body, except those in section (vi), for which it
shall be 2/6d.
(7) The Combined Committee shall meet annually for election of
officers, consideration of the year's work and finance, or any other
matters relating to the objects of the Movement; it may also meet
from time to time when called together by the Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee shall meet on the request of the Chairman, or
of the Hon. Secretary, or of any two members
(8) At meetings of the Combined Committee separate votes may,
where the Chairman so decided, be taken among representatives of each
of the following sections: (i) men's sports, (ii) women's sports,
(iii) children's recreation, (iv) town planning and health bodies,
(v) scientific, conservation, and historical bodies, (vi) community
service and progress associations. As to the section to which each
representative belongs, and as th the right of any representative to
vote in more than one section, the decision of the Chairman shall be
final.
(9) Rules may be amended, cancelled, or added to at either an
annual meeting or a special general meeting of the Combined Committee
convened by the President, or by requisition signed by not less than
ten delegates, for that purpose, of which a fortnight's notice has
been given. Notice of proposed alterations must be circulated to all
supporting bodies not less than two weeks before the meeting.
(10) Delegates shall hold office for a year, unless the bodies
electing them decide otherwise. Notices of meetings shall be sent to
delegates through the Secretary of the body which they represent.
(11) All officers and the Executive Committee shall be elected
annually.
------------------
 

HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA.
JUDGES'CHAMBERS.
Melbourne,
22nd January, 1936.
[*Received 31/1/36*]
My dear Bean.
I am very sorry that owing to an oversight the accompanying
copy of the minutes of the British Empire Delegation was not
forwarded to you before Christmas.
I find that this is apparently the only official record of
the British Empire Delegation relating to the subject which I
happen to have. When I returned to Australia after the Peace
Conference I was very careful to leave documents in proper official
custody, and I left at the Navy Office a complete set of the B.E.D.
minutes as well as many other documents. I have little doubt that
these documents included some accounts(in the Daily Bulletin) of
the proceedings of the Reparation Commission, but the actual
minutes would doubtless be kept by Garran and I have no, doubt that
he left them in his Department or in the Prime Ministers Department.
A year or two ago Professor Scott saw the documents in the
Department of External Affairs. They ought to be there still. I
rang up Macandie at the Navy Office and he said that they had
transferred most of the documents to the Prime Minister's Department
and that if you wrote to him he could give you particulars.
With apologies for the delay,
Yours sincerely,
J G Latham

In the Journal of Public Administration January

1924 Clement Jones had an article "The Dominions

at the Peace Conference" which you might find

useful.

JGL

Dr. C.E.W. Bean, M.A.,
Victoria Barracks,
PADDINGTON, N.S.W.
 

(Copy)
SECRET.

PEACE CONFERENCE.
B.E.D. /5th Minutes.
BRITISH EMPIRE DELEGATION, 5.
Minutes of a Meeting of the British Empire Delegation
held at the Villa Majestic, Paris on Tuesday, January
28th, 1919, at 3.0 p.m.
PRESENT
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (in the Chair).
The Rt. Hon. Sir R.L. Borden,G.C.M.G.
The Rt. Hon. G.N. Barnes, M.P.
K.C., Prime Minister of Danada
The Rt. Hon A.J.Balfour,O.M.,M.P.

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
The Rt.Hon.Sir G.Foster,G.C.M.G.,
Minister of Trade and Commerce,
Canada.
The Rt.Hon.E.S.Montagu,M.P.,
Secretary of State for India
The Rt. Hon.W.M. Hughes

Prime Minister of Australia
The Rt.Hon.Lord R.Cecil,K.C.,
M.P.

The Rt.Hon.W.F. Massey
Prime Minister of New Zealand
Lt-Col. Sir M.P.A.Hankey,K.C.B.
The Rt.Hon. Sir Joseph Ward,K.C.M.G.
Minister of Finance and Ports,
New Zealand.
Mr. P.H. Kerr
General The Rt.Hon. Louis Botha,
Prime Minister of the Union of
South Africa.
Lt-Gen. The Rt.Hon.J.C. Smuts,K.C.,
Minister for Defence, Union of
South Africa.
The Rt.Hon.Sir W.F. Lloyd,K.C.M.G.,
Prime Minister of Newfoundland.
Major-Gen. His Highness The Maharaja
Sir Gangha Singh Bahadur,G.C.V.O.,
K.C.B., G.C.S.I.,G.C.I.E.,A.D.C.,
Maharaja of Bikanor.
The Rt.Hon. Lord Sinha, K.C.,
Parliamentary Under Secretary of
State for India.
--
Captain Clement Jones, C.B., Secretary.
Sir Robert Garran, C.M.G., Australia, Assistant Secretary.
Lieut-Commander J.G. Latham, Australia, Assistant Secretary.
-----