Source: Bliss, Personal Correspondence, Box 244, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
I have just written a line to Eleanor. I enclose a snapshot taken by a French officer at Arras last Sunday. Also picture of American Peace Commission taken here in the Hotel. I am trying to arrange to get off for five or six days' trip, beginning Saturday or Sunday, to go to Chaumont, thence to Metz, Luxembourg, Treves, Coblentz, etc. Am not sure that I can arrange it but hope so. Tuesday we had a secret Plenary seance of the P.C. to listen to a stupid exposition of the Peace terms for the benefit of the smaller Powers. None of us had seen the treaty. I have never seen such a glaring case of secret diplomacy, notwithstanding all our protestations. The outrageous yielding to Japan on the Shantung question could never have happened if it had not been done secretly. The protests of the world would have prevented it. Thank God, my skirts are clear (or at least my conscience is) of any of the wrong doing. Yesterday the Treaty was handed to the Germans. It was in the great dining room of the Trianon Palace Hotel where my offices have been since 1917. I went out early and had fires lighted in my rooms, thinking that the President would take Mrs. Wilson out, even though she could not see the ceremony. All the Allied and associated Powers delegates assembled in the room before 3 P.M. We were arranged at a Double Ell table, the open end being partly closed by a smaller table for the German Delegates. At 3 o'clock the latter were ushered in, the other delegates rising. Brockdorff-Rantzau sat in the middle with two of his assistants on each side. Mr. Clemenceau spoke for a moment what you have already read in the papers, rather stern almost harsh. This was translated first into English and then into German. Then Rantzau read his remarks which you have also seen. These were translated (very poorly) first into English and then into French. That was all the ceremony. I did not see that the Treaty was actually handed to them, though I fancy a copy must have been laid before Rantzau. French and English express much irritation because Rantzau read his remarks sitting. But he is in an exceedingly broken, nervous physical condition. I don't believe he could have stood on his feet. There is much dispute as to the wisdom of his remarks. Some think they were quite tactful, others say that it was s shrewd statement. Now the question is "Will they sign? And, if so, how long before they do so?"