March 27th

Yesterday’s session of the Commission was stormy, and little was accomplished. Lord Robert Cecil was in a belligerent mood; his patience is often sorely tried by the little Belgian who is so frequently spoken of as the “pestiferous Hymans.” Yesterday Hymans exasperated Cecil by voicing his old complaint. He said:

“The Great Powers are bullying the little States; they are not showing the proper respect for our national rights. With reason, the people of Belgium are suspicious, and we shall insist upon our rights.”

“Good God, Monsieur Hymans!” Cecil broke out. “After all that has happened, do the people of Belgium suspect Britain of bad faith and of not respecting Belgian independence? Good God, Monsieur Hymans!” Cecil fell back in his chair, too full for utterance. And House very adroitly called the attention of the listening delegates to other matters on the agenda awaiting their prayerful attention.

A little later Hymans renewed his complaints. This time it was the mandate system that excited his suspicion. He suspected, evidently, that some predatory power was planning to steal the Congo; so Cecil whirled in with:

“It is clear to all but idiots that no state can be mandated unless it wants to be.” But finally, however, “To quiet the fears of idiots,” in the words of Cecil, the reservation was placed in the procès verbal of the discussion.

The thought long silent then found expression, that the clause covering the labor proposals was too narrow, and finally it was broadened to take in the white-slave traffic, opium smuggling, and a number of other international conventions. Speaking for Barnes (British Labor), Cecil said that perhaps the title Labor Bureau was neither appropriate nor sufficiently comprehensive. The President poured oil on the troubled waters and placated Cecil by adding the words: “Or such other appropriate organization,” and this addition would seem to have been provisionally adopted, but I am not certain.

Teamwork between the French members of the Commission, Leon Bourgeois, former Premier, and Larnaude, dean of the law school, was noticeably lacking in this session. Larnaude coquetted with the Italian Prime Minister Orlando and expressed his disapproval of the darling project of his colleague Bourgeois, for an international staff to constantly and vigilantly survey the scene and to bring the Allied contingents to the danger points. He said he would vote against the proposal if it was pressed to a vote. Evidently the Colonel’s frequent talks with Clemenceau are bearing fruit. Larnaude at least has been “instructed.” However, it later developed he opposed an international staff only because he wanted an international army.

Then several of the delegates demanded to be heard. They wanted words inserted that would permit women to hold office under the League and to serve in the Secretariat. Someone complained that this might result in a woman becoming the Secretary General, but it was pretty generally agreed that this danger was not imminent. However, the woman question was on the carpet and the delegates proceeded to thresh it out at considerable length. It seems to have been provoked by the arrival of a delegation of American women who have been knocking at the President’s door for the past few days. As a result of this suggested change in phraseology the legalistic Larnaude flew into a berserk rage. He does not suffer fools gladly—indeed, not at all—and he shouted:

“Everybody knows that in our Civil Code l’homme embrasse la femme—man embraces or includes woman.

Wilson agreed, but he shook his finger at the learned French lawyer who had at last introduced sex into the discussion.

“Naughty, naughty!” said our Presbyterian Elder, and Larnaude beamed and was as pleased as Punch.

“If no one objects,” he said, “we will place in the record that l’homme embrasse la femme.”

No one objected, and it was adopted. And after a rather futile evening the Commission adjourned so that Larnaude might hasten to catch his suburban tramway.

“What a terrible waste of time the evening has been,” commented the Colonel as we walked away, “but the President has at last agreed to receive the delegation of American women, and that is all to the good.” House is delighted with this concession. He has talked to our women, finds them very intelligent, knowing exactly what they want to say and agreeing to say it all in twenty minutes.

“As a matter of fact,” said the Colonel, “it would be a good idea to have all the delegates present. They might learn how to transact business.”

(They were heard on April 10th.)