chapter 3: paris peace conference
Here victor sparred with vanquished in wordplay
While East and West began their grim ballet.
While East and West began their grim ballet.
The ship to take me home from the E.T.O. sailed from Le Havre at 1600 hours on November 10, 1945. Before she was drafted, the U.S. Army Transport Thomas H. Barry sailed as "The Oriente," an Italian liner quietly and luxuriously plying the still waters of the Caribbean. She was a relatively large craft, displacing 17,000 tons, the equivalent in displacement of a naval cruiser. She was 508 feet long, carried a five-inch gun, several three-inch guns as well as antiaircraft guns, and could attain a speed of 20 knots. We were full to capacity, one third of her crew of 380 men being required to serve upwards to 12,000 meals per day.
My fellow passengers were almost entirely members of general and evacuation hospitals returning for demobilization after extended tours throughout Europe. Some of these we picked up two days later at Southampton.
They were anxious to get home. One wag penned a poem which included this verse:
When once I place my feet on earth,
And leave the waves behind me,
They'll have to drag me back to ship,
That is, if they can find me.
Water is wetter.
But earth is better.
With 4,000 people on board, enough talent was present to put on good entertainment. By 20 November we had reached Boston. I was back in the Zone of the Interior.
As preplanned, Miriam and I met at the Edgewater Beach Hotel – on a cold, wet night – proceeding the following day to see the children and her parents at Oak Park. A joyful Thanksgiving indeed!
By Christmas I had also seen much of my parents, brothers, sister and friends in Kansas City. A second honeymoon seemed very much in order. So we bought a used Lincoln-Zephyr (new car production was scarcely underway), with sleek lines and 12 cylinders. Left the children with parents. And had a wonderful several weeks touring the US west, all the way to California. In all we covered over 8,000 miles, even dipping down into Mexico. What a wonderful country!
Still, we were on at least one occasion reminded that victory on the battlefield does not solve all problems. One night, looking for a place to stay, we drove into a motel in Arizona. An Indian, or he was perhaps a Mexican, was ahead of us only to be told that there were no vacancies. He left, and I was at the point of leaving when the manager offered us a room, stating by way of explanation that "we don't accommodate his kind." Startled, I simply said: "You have no room for him, you have no room for me," and walked out.
I should say that at some point after my return from Europe, and before our trip West, I was in Washington. There I found Navy colleagues engaged in interesting work in the field of international affairs, and was asked by Rear Admiral Wooldridge to consider staying on for awhile. Undecided about my ultimate plans, and with the consent of Phillips Petroleum (I was still an employee in military leave status), I agreed. During our trip west all fell into place. Orders, dated 20 February 1946, were telegraphed to me while we were in Yuma to "proceed on or about 15 March, Washington, D.C., report Chief of Naval Operations, duty OP 35, Office of Politico-Military Affairs. . . "
This I did, coming on alone in order to find a place for my family to live.
Rentals in Washington were then very scarce, at least those we could afford. Temporarily I rented a room in a military academy dormitory. I did not want to buy a house because I did not envisage Washington as our permanent home, but eager to get the family settled, I did so, putting as a down payment our entire savings of $3,000 on the house at 101 North Granada, in Arlington. The purchase price was $13,000. It was to be our home for five years.
My new duties proved very interesting (and included a promotion to Commander). To start with I covered European and Middle East affairs. Later I was put on Western Hemisphere and United Nations affairs. In short, the work consisted in representing the Navy on working groups of the State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee for the purpose of preparing foreign policy papers. This Committee, on which the Navy was represented by its under-secretary, in effect foreshadowed what became the National Security Council.
An excerpt from a letter dated 24 March, to my wife, gives some clue of my tasks: "Today the skipper threw me one I didn't think I would be worrying about. He said, 'Borel, write me a memorandum stating the U.S. position on Korea.' Well, you'd be surprised how much you can learn about something you know nothing about in a short time if you have to. Another thing I had to do was to comment (for Admiral Nimitz) on General MacArthur's proposal to send a few Korean businessmen to the U.S. for commercial purposes. What next?"
Daily I wrote a memo for Secretary of the Navy Forrestal covering noteworthy items in the news. I did a study for him on the world oil situation, and worked extensively on the Austrian State Treaty, all manner of things interesting in the postwar period.
During the latter part of July, I was assigned to attend the Paris Peace Conference as a member of the U.S. Delegation headed by Secretary of State Byrnes, and reported to Vice Admiral Richard Conolly, the Secretary's naval advisor, as his assistant and aide.
We left Washington on July 27, in a special Navy Flag C-54 with plush appointments. Conversations with members of the crew disclosed some interesting facts. Only a few days previously the plane had been in Tokyo, had returned to its base in Honolulu and immediately started for Washington in order to pick up our party; the crew numbered ten; the plane cost $250,000, had a cruising speed of 180 miles/hour, and would be scrapped after having flown between 4,000 and 5,000 miles.
What follows are selected letters that I wrote to Miriam during the course of my absence from home between late July and early November 1946.
PARIS 29 JULY 46
Here we are! I can't say at last for it took such a short time to get here. We had a marvelous trip. A huge plane and we were only five passengers. I think we'll all like the Admiral. His wants are simple and he gives the impression of one used to looking after himself. We actually took off about 9:00 AM and headed north. Our first and only stop was at Stephensville, Newfoundland. This was at 3:00 PM and we enjoyed a big steak dinner. Then we hopped from Newfoundland to Paris non-stop. Altogether we dropped some 5 or 6 hours (I don't know yet which) so we didn't get as much sleep as any of us felt like.
I happened to awaken about 3 or 4 in the morning and the sky was pink and aglow. It reminded me much of the painted desert – only up side down. The crew were a swell gang and took good care of us. We had good hot meals. And the beds were made of full size single mattresses.
We were met at the airport by quite a delegation and were taken to our suites in the "Meurice." George Scherbatoff (the Mad Russian) and I share a luxurious affair which consists of a huge bedroom, living room and bath very well furnished. The Hotel is one of the older ones but has at one time or other had most of Europe's royalty as guests. The who of the U.S. delegation is housed here and has offices here as well. Secretary of State Byrnes came in about two hours after our arrival. I went to bed early last night and still need some sleep.
PARIS 30 JULY 46
Today we went to London. The Admiral had a conference at the Admiralty so we got a plane and were on our way shortly after eight o'clock. We got there a little after ten. Got a chance to see Commander Kittridge who was one of the founding fathers of civil affairs. He took me to lunch at the American Club. Then I delivered the shirts which Captain Dennison had given me for a British officer. I got no chance to see any of my old pals. Kay got married last week to an American lieutenant colonel who is stationed in Germany; Brenda got engaged to an Englishman and I had a chat with her on the phone; Warren Tute was in the country and not expected back until tomorrow; Jock was in Scotland; and all my Navy buddies were back in the States. It seemed a good deal like going back to school after having been out a number of years. The anticipation is keen but the results so disappointing that one wishes the opportunity for a revisit had not come about. Of course in this case, I was only there a few hours and I knew that many changes had taken place. We got back to Paris at eight o'clock and after the Admiral and I had eaten at the Embassy Club we came to the office. He still has some work to do so I have taken the opportunity to tell you that I love you. We could have a swell time here together. . . if we didn't eat out. Prices are absolutely frightful. I don't see how people get along. But you really should see our room. George and I had breakfast brought up today and I was thinking how nice it would be if you were there instead of him.
I hope that you had a nice trip home. It must have been a tiring one in any case but with our good parents with you I am sure things went all right.
Tell Nancy and Elaine hello for me and give them a big kiss. I don't have any nice little girls to walk part of the way to work with me here. I guess I should have brought three suitcases full of you after all.
PARIS 2 AUGUST 46
Another day is slipping by. Everything happens so fast here. Or perhaps there is so much happening that it seems to happen fast. Since I last wrote we’ve become sort of “broken in” and are getting the feel of things. Tuesday we went to London and back as I wrote you. Wednesday I attended the Plenary Session with the Admiral and heard Molotov of Russia, Evatt of Australia, and da Fortoura of Brazil. It seems strange to be in a room – and not a very large one at that – with so many of the leaders of the nations of the world (21 are gathered here). Prime Ministers Atlee of England and Mackenzie King of Canada are probably the highest ranking of the Delegates. The interest which one naturally has in what is being said is somewhat taxed however by having to listen to two translations of each speech after it has been delivered. (They do not follow the Nuremberg Trial procedure of having headphones and providing simultaneous translations.)
Thursday (yesterday) we went to the party given by Secretary of State Byrnes for the delegates of all the nations. This was given at the residence of the American Ambassador to France – which was the Embassy itself prior to 1931. This was quite a party with all the trimmings. Oh, yes, mustn't forget the gala ballet performance at the Opera House to which we received a personal invitation from the President of France. They had four lovely ballets and the guard of honor was resplendent. It was all formal and quite elegant.
Sunday the Admiral and I have been invited to have dinner with the Ambassador and his wife – how is your country boy doing?
PARIS 4 AUGUST 46
It is Sunday morning and until a few moments ago I was intending to accompany George to the Russian church. He called from the garage to say that the car was on the blink and by the time we could make other arrangements it was 11:30 and too late.
Yesterday we made a call on Admiral Lemonnier, Chief of the Naval General Staff, French Navy. In the afternoon we attended the Plenary Session at which the concluding preliminary speeches were made – India, Ukraine, Greece, Belgium and the Union of South Africa. Next week we should begin to get down to business. The session lasted from 4-8 and by the time we came back and got through supper it was ten o'clock and so we turned in rather early. This business of being aide as well as assistant is tiring. Not that the Admiral is demanding, far from it – he is a very good fellow and an excellent officer (one of the youngest Vice Admirals in the Navy). But I have to be with him almost constantly from about 8:30 AM to 11:00 PM. However, I can do useful things that way, a compensation for the restrictions that are attendant on the job. One officer who was already here had been sent home – for talking too much – so it leave us with 4 officers and 2 men – plus marine guards. Quite a compact staff. There is the Admiral, a Captain who is his Deputy, myself the assistant, Sherbatoff the interpreter and a Lieutenant named Watson who is communications officer. In a few minutes the Adm. and I are going to a luncheon given by Ambassador Caffery for Mrs. Forrestal (the Navy Secy's wife) here on visit.
PARIS 7 AUGUST 46
Boy was I glad to get your two letters. And surprised that they should have come so quickly. Yes, you can cut that 30¢ postage down. Use the return address on this envelope and you can get air mail service for 6¢. C/o U.S. Navy 100 is the same as to a service address in the U.S.
Sunday, we had a wonderful lunch at the Embassy. On my right was perhaps Brazil's richest man and on my left a U.S. Foreign Service officer. There were about 20 people altogether. In the afternoon the Adm. and I took a ride in the country and went through the little town of Barbizon (where they sell paintings). They have increased considerably and I'm going to do some shopping around before I buy, though they do have some nice ones. Went to bed fairly early Sunday.
Monday, nothing special happened. For supper the Adm., Sherbatoff and I went to a little bistro for a French supper – very nice but too expensive. The prices go up as soon as Americans start patronizing the place. Yesterday, the Adm. gave a small cocktail party for the Brazilian admiral and military people so as aide I had to stage it. I had a few bad moments when the "stuff" was slow getting here from London, and then too the Adm. had given very short notice so it was nip and tuck as to whether the guests would be able to come. But everything came off O.K. and everyone had a nice time. The Brazilians are charming people if these at the conference are any sample.
I do wish you were here dear. It's been warm with our "blues" but the nights are cool! And the gardens and parks are lovely. Those permanently attached here have their wives. If you were here it would be a considerable boost to the U.S. average – you're pretty swell!
PARIS 9 AUGUST 46
Wednesday evening we went to the tennis match at the Racing Club in the Bois de Boulogne. The teams playing left for the States yesterday for tournament play. After the match there was the reception. All these things are parties given in honor of the delegates and it appears that hardly an evening is likely to go by but what there will be some kind of a get together. After that we brought the French admiral and the army representatives back to the hotel and had a late supper of sandwiches in Capt. Pryce's room. Yesterday while the Admiral was at a meeting which I did not have to attend I had a nice visit with Mile. Peyron (now a Lt. Col. in the Salvation Army). She is well and in process of setting up a new training college in a nice building which was given to the S.A. She showed me one of your cards and said it was the only thing identifying a package she received about 2 months ago. I don't recall whether you told me about sending such a package – or was it someone else. Anyway I told her it was your card and so as it stands she will probably drop you a note. When the folks come through I'll organize a little dinner for them and ask her to it. Last night was the reception given by the President of France and it was a splendorous affair in a great palace on Quai d'Orsay. A truly picturesque party and naturally I wore the big "eagle guts." Wish you could have been there – you'll probably see some news photos of it.
PARIS 12 AUGUST 46
Monday evening is drawing nigh and another rather uneventful day will soon be over. This morning I attended another of the Plenary Sessions but the tedious wrangling which seems to be a necessary part of reaching the final objective made it a boring session.
Saturday evening I spent alone in my room even to the extent of having my supper brought up to the room. George was out with one of his many friends and the Admiral did not have anything planned which required my participation. I spent the evening reading a book on Russia called "I Chose Freedom" which makes the outlook for American and Russian cooperation in maintaining a permanent peace very gloomy indeed.
This did not tend to lift my spirits which started low because I was unaccountably and all of a sudden lonely for you, the kids and our little home. I purposely stayed at home so that my mental frame of mind would not have a chance to lead me to do something which I might later regret. Once I got to sleep I slept well though.
Sunday morning I went to the Russian church. I didn't get much out of the service since it is all done in old Slovonic but the atmosphere was the atmosphere of any church and I had a chance to be quiet for a few moments and collect my thoughts. The church has no pews so that the congregation stands throughout the service. They had a very fine choir of male and female voices which you would have appreciated.
After the service, George and another emigre Russian Count who was with us and I went to a little Russian shop and had some little cakes which in reality were doughnuts without holes with bits of unidentifiable meat within.
Then lunch. After which I joined the Admiral for my regular Sunday sightseeing tour with him. This time we spent some time looking through the great palace of Fountainbleau. Then supper at the Racing Club. By the time we were through it was ten o'clock and we came back to the hotel and hit the sack.
PARIS 17 AUGUST 46
It is late Saturday afternoon and everything seems to be quiet. It has been a dull, gloomy day but the expected rain has never come. It seems ages since I've heard from you. After the first two letters I got one and then no more. I suppose mine have taken long in reaching you too. I hope you and Nancy and Elaine are well and that you are enjoying yourselves. I miss you a lot and am eager to be able to come home. If this drags out too long I'll ask for a relief rather than extend my stay beyond a reasonable period. Of course simultaneously with the Conference the Council of Foreign Ministers will be meeting. This organization will continue to meet after the Conference is over. The Admiral would like me to stay on for this. This would mean I could bring the family over. However, it doesn't seem advisable for me to do so. For one thing winter will be coming. For another, the coming of our new offspring had best be awaited in the U.S. Also since I do not plan to stay in the Navy I should get out and getting something else lined up. Just yesterday I sent in my application to the Foreign Service. I should be in Washington in October and November for oral examination if my application is accepted. Then the business of having the house and all. If it were just a matter of bringing you over you would love it and we could live at a nice hotel but there would be nothing to gain except to have you see something of Europe and I'll see that you do that when it isn't such an ordeal for you. Do you agree with my reasoning?
PARIS 20 AUGUST 46
I have just put the folks on the train for Switzerland. It is now 8:15 AM and I have come back to the office to drop you a line about their arrival and visit. . . and to tell you, of course, that I love you.
Saturday night I had gone to a musical; a very fine piano concert played by an accomplished young lady. It was a nice night so that I purposely walked back to the hotel which was about a half-hour's walk. I got home about midnight and went to bed. I still had had no word about the folks. Then about one o'clock I was awakened by the phone and it was Poppy. They were at St. Lazarus station and had no place to go. He had sent a wire to some address which he had in his book but since it had no name attached he assumed it was mine. Of course it was not and to this day he does not know who belongs to that address. He had misplaced the paper you had so carefully written out and found it only the next morning in the cold light of dawn.
Well they had been waiting at the station for a couple hours while Dad was trying to locate me and/or find a hotel. Of course he couldn't get a room; that is impossible just coming in like that and at that hour especially. Finally he ran into someone who knew what hotel the American Delegation was housed in and reached me by phone.
I jumped out of bed and dressed; ordered two cars (one for the bags), and on the way out badgered the hotel into agreeing to let them stay there the night in a couple of rooms which were to be occupied the next day by some other people. Within a few minutes I had them at the hotel and got Mommie to take a hot bath and drink some hot tea to warm her up. It appears that they had travelled with light clothing and it has been unseasonably cold since they left New York, as it is here for that matter.
Sunday we all had a good time together. The Admiral had planned for the two of us to go visit Chartres but when he found out that the folks were here he all of a sudden decided to stay in his hotel all day and let me have the car. Pretty swell fellow eh? I took them to the Racing Club for lunch. In the afternoon we visited Noverraz (our friends here in Paris). Then we came back to the hotel and talked a while. They went to bed early so as to rest up a bit. Mother seems to be in good shape; in fact better than when they left Kansas City I'm told.
Monday Dad and I dashed around making preparations for getting them to Switzerland. I had good luck working through the Army for reservations. Then to attend to getting the baggage sent on, etc. At noon we had dinner served at the room and an old friend of the folks' came for lunch. We did the same at night with Mille. Peyron as the invited one. (I guess we didn't get to bed so early Sunday night after all because we went to an S.A. meeting where we saw Mille. Peyron and invited her for supper. At this meeting Commissioner McMillan spoke in English and Mille. Peyron translated. We met them after the meeting.)
Anyway we had a grand time and I got as much enjoyment at looking at the pictures which Mommie showed to Mille. Peyron as she did because in all my haste I left Washington without a snapshot to my name. I don't suppose you have any handy but if you have send me a couple please.
My sister Ruth and I took Mille. Peyron home then visited a while in my rooms. Then this morning we all had breakfast together and I took them to the station. Well, they are off and I hope that they have a good vacation. I am going to try to go spend a few days with them in Switzerland before I start back to the States. Hope I can swing it as long as I am this close.
PARIS 25 AUGUST 46
Hello dear. How I wish we were together! It rained last night but now the sun is shining and it would be nice to take a walk in the park. It seems an awful waste of time to be doing anything alone when I could be doing it with you.
Thanks for the pictures. They came after the folks left but I'll send them on – except maybe one or two. Got a card from Ruth yesterday saying that they were well received in Switzerland and already enjoying their stay.
The Admiral and George went to London Friday and came back yesterday. I could have gone too but had some preparations to make for our party so stayed here. There was little attraction to going to London for a day especially when your time is not your own. Today I have a report to work on or I would be taking in some of the ceremonies in connection with the 2nd anniversary of the liberation of Paris. But I first wanted to have this chat with you, especially since it has been several days since I last wrote.
How are you making out with little Stranger? Hope he (or she) is not giving you too much trouble. I am anxious to see what the rascal will look like. Bet Nancy and Elaine will be crazy about that little baby. Quite a brood you are beginning to gather unto yourself. Well, they couldn't have a nicer mother. In addition to swell kids, you have, believe me, all my love.
PARIS 1 SEPTEMBER 46
For several days now I have been trying to write you without much luck. Every time I tried it the Admiral or someone would call and I would have to get busy. Your letters are wonderful and do me much good. And the girls' letters were cute.
I have said that I've been busy but it has been purely in the capacity of aide and not as an assistant. You see we have visitors: Admiral Mitscher, Vice Admiral Sherman, Commodore Burke and six other officers. As host we have to plan one round of activity after another and as aide I bear the brunt of planning and execution.
Of course our big party came off Friday night. We planned it then so these visitors could attend but it was given to honor all the military and naval delegates to the Conference. It was my baby from beginning to end and I sweated plenty before it was over. We had 200 guests. It was cocktail-buffet so there was a big food problem. We had canapes, eggs and mayonnaise and nuts for hors d'ouevre; roast beef and ham for entree; cucumber and tomatoes, and potato salad; coffee and ice cream. The drinks were highballs, martinis and Coca Cola. We had an orchestra and lovely flowers. All in all it was quite a party though it would have been nicer if it had not rained. This kept us from using a lovely garden where the tables and chairs would have relieved the indoor crowds. The Admiral seemed pleased the next morning at least. I threw the whole thing for $338.00.
Last night we went to the Folies Bergere and then on to a nightclub. As soon as I got everyone seated I left and came home to bed not being interested in a stuffy environment where the smoke was thick enough to cut with a knife.
PARIS 9 SEPTEMBER 46
Last Monday after I went to the airport to see our visitors off, I came back to the hotel and went to bed. I had picked up a chill somehow and didn't seem to be able to get warm. I was feeling pretty good by the next morning. There seems to be something abroad that resembles food poisoning and I got a bit of that in the bargain.
Wednesday Captain Dietrich came to town. He is the skipper of the cruiser Houston which came to Havre on a goodwill mission. No, I guess it was Tuesday that he came to town for Scherbatoff and I drove him back to the Havre on Wednesday. We had lunch with him aboard the ship and it was all very nice indeed. We had Mrs. Goff along. She is a friend of Captain Pryce's and works for our local office here in Paris. She comes of a good family in England and during the war volunteered as a car driver for the U.S. Navy in London. We stopped at a little Auberge on the way back and had a nice – but expensive – supper. Nothing is cheap here damnit.
Saturday night the Admiral and I went to the opera and saw "Othello." It was well done and we enjoyed it. Yesterday we started about eleven and went to Chartres which is some sixty miles from here. We had lunch first and afterward we visited the great cathedral. From there we went to Orleans and visited another cathedral. During the visit to the first we attended the mass during which a priest gave a remarkable sermon (in French of course). Which meant that I had to translate it to the Admiral as we went along for although he knows some French it is not enough for him to get much out of a sermon.
I have now picked up a cold so that I went to bed almost as soon as we got back home. This morning I wrote to my boss in Washington, Captain Dennison. It was about time as I had not written to him since my arrival.
The naval work here is making considerable progress so that I think the end will soon be in sight for the Admiral – which means for me too. The Admiral's new job will be to command all U.S. Naval Forces in Europe. We will probably therefore go to England about the 21st of Sept. and have a ceremony where he will hoist his flag on the cruiser Houston, which is to be his flagship. After that I hope to get a few days off in order to go to Switzerland. After that – home! How does that sound for a program. George will stay here with the Captain to continue the work here. I have definitely turned down the offer to stay on here and bring my family. I felt from your letter that you agreed with me, and with both of us feeling the same way it would be foolish to do just the opposite. You might write Moreland and let them know that we would like to be back in our house about 1 November. Or maybe earlier if you would rather be sure to have them out by the time we want the house. I really don't think that I can be back before 15 October at the earliest. By the time I come out to get you and drive back and maybe take a few days off in the bargain it is bound to be near the latter part of October. Another possibility of course would be for you to go back to Washington before my return. That would involve some member of your family going with you in order to be practicable. Then the business of the car and all might not work out for the best. (By the way, I think a light blue Nash similar to the one I have seen here is about as nice as any. And if they are putting out a two-door model we should get that. Next to that there appears to be a model with a bulge-back design which is nice.) But they should give you as much or more credit on the trade in than you can get from the Packard people.
Sorry you haven't warm clothes with you. Here we have been having fall weather right along. Haven't worn anything but blues since our departure and now it is not likely that I will.
My best to the kiddies and the folks. I haven't any recent word from the folks in Switzerland but should get some in a day or two.
PARIS 12 SEPTEMBER 46
This morning is a quiet, rather dreary, day. The Admiral and the Captain have just left for the meeting of the Military Commission and George and I are in the office with not much to do until they get back. We had a late breakfast since two friends from the Embassy came over to join us. One was John Williams, a Lt. Comdr. who formerly was aide to Admiral Stark in London and is now aide to our Ambassador to France; the other Elim O'Shaughnessy, the Ambassador's private secretary.
Tuesday night the Admiral and I witnessed a marvelous spectacle: a reception at Versailles Palace – all furnished with the old furniture and rugs, with attendants in Louis XIV costumes, fountains all going, and an honor guard of mounted colonial troops – the Spahis. It was a show that probably will not be duplicated for many years to come.
The letter from Moberg said that he and his wife would visit us in Washington on their way to Chicago on Sept. 10. I'll write him and have him contact you. You'll like both him and Evelyn.
So Nancy's a school-girl. You did well to have her start on her own as much as possible. That was a nice letter Lainie wrote me – and after I have taken so long "going to Paris"!
PARIS 15 SEPTEMBER 46
It is Sunday morning and when George got up he did so very quietly. Hence I didn't wake up and by the time I did it was too late for church. What a way to start the day off. Now I am in the office awaiting the Admiral's pleasure. I haven't the vaguest idea what he will want to do today since I didn't have supper with him last night. I ate with Jack Watson and then we went to the GI movie for lack of something better to do.
I've only taken in a couple of places of interest since my last letter to you: Friday afternoon I visited the Musee des Invalides which is in the building with the tomb of Napolean and his son; in the evening the Admiral and I went to see Madame Butterfly.
The plans for going to London seem to have firmed up a bit. We leave Paris on the 19th of this month (that's only four days away) and go to London. From there we go to Southhampton where the cruiser HOUSTON will be at anchor. On the 23rd we have the big ceremony where my Admiral takes over from the present one (Admiral Hewitt) the command of all U.S. Naval Forces in Europe. On that day he gets promoted to a full four star admiral. We will remain on board ship for about four days then go to our new headquarters in London. Within a few days time I will come back to Paris alone and go on to Switzerland for some leave. I got a passport which will be ready tomorrow so that I will not be tied down to any military regulations while I am on this leave. Then I'll come on home. . . . Oh boy! I could stay with the Admiral as his Flag Secretary and get my family over to London but I've gone over all that and decided to turn it down as well as the Paris offer. (The London job would entail quite a trip in the near future as the Admiral plans to visit most of the capitals of Europe and Mediterranean Africa.)
LONDON 25 SEPTEMBER 46
Yes, we're back in London already. Just last Friday the Admiral and I came from Paris. We were put up at the Claridge, each with a very nice room. Saturday I tended to some business and in the evening Mike Besson (a Comdr. who had been the Admiral's aide in Washington) and I went to the Players' Theater – you know that club Seymour and I used to love. Sunday the Adm. and I left for Southhampton and boarded the cruiser Houston. We had a nice dinner with her Captain that evening. Monday at 11:30 we had the turn-over ceremony after Admiral Hewitt had come down from London. Conolly was promoted to full four star Admiral so now I wear four strands at my shoulder instead of the three. My boss is now the head man for all of the Navy in Europe. Monday afternoon we visited retired Admiral Dickens with whom I had served in Holland and with whom the Adm. had served in North Africa. He has a nice country home about 30 minutes drive from Southhampton. Tuesday we made an official call and inspection at our Naval Base at Exeter. Today, Wednesday, we called on the British C-in-C Portsmouth, Adm. Sir Geoffrey Layton – we did this on our way back to London. Now after a few hours in the office getting our bearings we are both writing letters in the Adm.'s town flat – in the same building as the office. He invited me to stay with him since his wife is not yet here. We have a good kitchen staff so had a good supper. He probably will not live in his country home at Romany, Surrey, until Mrs. Conolly arrives. Sunday we start on a trip of inspection which will take us to the following places: Brussels, Paris, Rome, Naples, Casserta, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Frankfurt, and Berlin.
I am beginning to work on getting a plane ride home so as to be there for our anniversary. Gosh, I’ve just got to get home for that!
LONDON 27 SEPTEMBER 46
Just got a mighty nice letter from you – the first one since I left Paris. Also Lainie's very cute picture and the invitation to her birthday party. Wish I could have attended. She looks big in the picture. How they can change in a matter of weeks is a mystery.
So Morelands will be moving out soon. It probably will make it unhandy not to be able to move right in. But it would be more unhandy yet to go back to Washington before I get back.
Have been quite busy these last few days. It isn't just getting used to new faces, new surroundings around the office, and new things to do, but also getting things lined up for the trip. We are now leaving London Sunday morning and going directly to Berlin. Then work our way back through Bremen, Bremerhaven, Frankfurt and Paris before going on to Brussels then Italy. The Admiral and I are getting to be quite good friends. I am the only one accompanying him for the first few days. At Paris another Comdr. will join us for the remainder of the trip. Also our secretary of course, Chief Yeoman Weer.
We have just finished supper and are back in the office – he working and I writing to you for the moment.
I wrote Moberg to contact you and I hope he does so soon if he has not done so already. I've also written to Seymour. Other than that – I've maintained my usual low rate of correspondence – for the same inexplicable reasons – for I do like to keep in touch with our friends.
PARIS 2 OCTOBER 46
Already we have finished about one half of our trip. As you know, we left London early Sunday morning and flew straight to Berlin. It was a glorious day throughout. I do not remember having seen such a nice day in the many weeks that I spent in Berlin last year. Hugh Awtrey met us, among others, at the airport and we spent some nice moments together since he is Rear Admiral Shuirman's aide. Hugh will be leaving Europe on 16 October to go back to the States and be demobilized. I told him of our trip at the instance of my return last fall and Hugh said that that was exactly what he and Bonnie planned to do too.
Monday while the Admiral was having lunch with General Eisenhower I had lunch with Milton Muelder. His wife Kathleen, whom you met in New York, is here with him and they have a nice little house with servants etc. They both send their best regards and were very much interested in how you and the children were. He had invited two other friends of mine who also had formerly been in the Navy in Berlin and are now civilian employees of Military Government there. These were Joe Slater and Phil Abbey of whom I may have spoken to you at times.
Monday afternoon we flew to Bremen and from there motored to Bremerhaven. There we spent the night. The next morning we inspected the Naval installations and motored back to Bremen. After a fine luncheon we flew to Paris, arriving last night. While the Admiral was having dinner with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, I joined in with a group of fellows in a stag dinner for Captain Pryce who is getting married tomorrow. What an evening. . . enough said.
Today I spent answering some of the Admiral's mail. Tonight we go to the wedding rehearsal and have dinner with the bridal party. The Admiral is to give the bride away and I will be one of the ushers. All this reminds me of our wedding and brings to mind memories which are as real and close to me as they are precious.
Got a telegram from Poppie this afternoon. He is lucky to catch me when we have been on the run so. He has asked me to call him long distance tonight. I suppose he will want to know when it may be possible for me to go to Switzerland. With time creeping along and no word about the arrival of a new aide I am getting anxious about when exactly I will be coming home. If it is a close call re our anniversary and the Morelands are no longer in the house I think it might be an excellent idea if you came to Washington by train alone leaving the kids in Chicago until I could get away to go pick up the new car. But I do not wish to propose plans which may not be practicable until factors of which you are aware but I am not are fully considered.
LONDON 10 OCTOBER 46
We have covered a good deal of ground since I last wrote you in Paris. Some of it we covered so fast it almost seems it didn't happen at all. If I remember correctly, I wrote you just before the wedding. Well, the wedding went off swell. The setting was beautiful – the American Cathedral is a lovely church having been built about 1870.
The guests did not number many but were distinguished including Sec. State Byrnes and Ambassador Dunn, and their wives. After the ceremony came the reception at the Royal Monceau Hotel. (This is a fine hotel which was used for Navy officers during the war – located near the Place de l'Etoile.) At 9:30 PM the Admiral and I left for the Military Commission meeting at Palace Luxembourg. This turned out to be quite a session – it didn't break up until 6:30 the next morning. There were many arguments with the Russians. We dashed from this meeting to the hotel – packed and checked out – then the airport where we bolted a bit of breakfast and we were off to Naples.
We had a nice trip though parts of it were spent snoozing. We got there at 12:30 and were taken to Villa Emma – Vice Admiral Bieri's residence. This Villa is a beautiful thing at the foot of which roar the breakers of the Mediterranean. It was the villa where Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton wrestled with the facts of life! After lunch on the terrace we went aboard the destroyer tender Grand Canyon and had a staff meeting, and were generally busy disposing of some of the problems which constituted the reason for our visit. Then we inspected certain installations and went back to the villa for supper. Just as we finished there came an electrical storm followed by the first rain Naples had had since May. This was refreshing and a perfect setting for some needed sleep so I turned in about 10:00.
At 9:00 AM the next morning the two admirals accompanied by their two aides left for Caserta, the location of Allied Forces Hq. Here we had a great ceremony commemorating the 3rd anniversary of the establishment of AFHQ. (Since I had a seat on the reviewing stand you might see me in one of the newsreels after all. I suppose the newsreels of the ceremony on Houston never got extensive distribution.) After the impressive ceremony we had cocktails with the British General Morgan and U.S. General Lee and de Gasperi, the Prime Minister of Italy – plus a good many guests of various nationalities. Then the group broke up for lunch. I ended up with five other aides in a special lunch in a cottage near the hunting lodge of the estate of the former King of Naples. This is back on the hills of the Palace in front of which the ceremony was held. The Palace was built by the King of Naples in an attempt to outdo Versailles. After lunch – back to Naples. We stopped there just long enough to pick up our bags and headed for – guess where? – the Isle of Capri.
I'll pick it up from there next time sweet. Breakfast is about ready.
* * * * * * *
I have found no letters to Miriam after this date to cover my closing weeks in Europe, though several must have been written. In a Circular Letter, dated 19 December 1946, written from Arlington, Virginia, to bring friends up-to-date, I concluded as follows:
". . . The charms of this lovely isle (Capri) cannot be over-rated. It is a wonderful feeling to swim in blue Mediterranean waters while high overhead the ruins of the palace of Tiberius cast their reflection. Or to take a lazy walk through San Michele.
". . . Following the final plenary session in mid-October, I successfully negotiated a bit of leave until our ship sailed for home. Thus I was able to spend eight days with my parents and my sister in Switzerland. They had come to Europe in August and we had had two days together in Paris. Now, a month or two prior to their departure, we were able to share many delightful moments among friends and relatives – and just by ourselves – in our native land. We all could agree on the verdict: Switzerland is without doubt the healthiest spot on Europe's pimpled body.
"On October 27, the delegations of the US, the UK, the USSR, and France boarded the Aquitania, bound out of Cherbourg for New York, for meetings of the Council of Foreign Ministers. It was a quiet crossing considering the time of year and very enjoyable, an extension of the associations of the previous three and a half months. We docked on November 2, and, being again overdue to leave the Navy, I came on to Washington to complete the necessary arrangements.
"Now once again we are 'settled' in Arlington and once again I am on terminal leave. I have accepted a post in the Division of International Security Affairs, Office of Special Political Affairs, Department of State. (Division Chief: Joseph Johnson; Office Chief: Alger Hiss; Secretary of State: James Byrnes.) This office was created for the purpose of developing United States policy toward the United Nations. My particular work will deal with the enforcement of international treaties. As soon as the inevitable red-tape has been properly tied and my papers have been 'processed,' I will begin to work: in fact, start my third career in twelve years. This approach to entering into life's work is not such as to permit one to put money in the bank. There is, however, seldom a dull moment."
* * * * * * *
What was the Paris Peace Conference all about? It was necessary mainly to tidy up post hostilities developments. Necessary as a preliminary to making a fresh start under the hopeful aegis of the United Nations. Charles E. Bohlen, a US foreign service officer expert in Soviet affairs, was Secretary Byrnes' Russian interpreter (and later became US Ambassador to Russia.) He makes little mention of the Paris Peace Conference in his book Witness to History: 1929- 1969. Secretary Byrnes himself devotes a chapter to it in his book Speaking Frankly, from which selected quotes serve to provide a summary.
The Paris Peace Conference
We approached the conference from a point of view entirely different from that of the Soviet Government, and that fact produced conflict from the very start. We believed the discussions should be full and free; that the countries which had helped to win the war should have the widest latitude in suggesting amendments and proposals for peace, and that their recommendations should carry great weight. We believed that a lasting peace had to be a people's peace.
The Soviet attitude, however, seemed to be that the conference should simply and speedily confirm the agreements made in the Council of Foreign Ministers and that establishment of the conditions of peace was primarily, if not exclusively, the concern of the great powers, (p. 139.)
* * * * * * *
The conference began with twenty-six unagreed articles before it in addition to all the articles agreed upon in the council, and in all, some three hundred amendments were con¬sidered. But the real issues of the conference focused on Trieste, the total of reparations obligations, and the control of the Danube, (p. 147.)
* * * * * * *
In all, the peace conference passed on to the Council of Foreign Ministers fifty-three recommendations voted by at least a two-thirds majority and forty-one others adopted by a simple majority. This list made it quite clear, when the conference finally adjourned on October 15, that the Council of Foreign Ministers was faced with more weeks of tedious effort before the treaties would be completed.
Although the conference had not accomplished all we had hoped for, we did feel that our months of effort to obtain it were well and wisely spent. Our contention that wisdom was not a monopoly of the Big Four and that the smaller powers could make important contributions to the treaties had been thoroughly vindicated. The value of their recom¬mendations is proved by the number subsequently included in the treaties, (pp. 149-50.)
* * * * * * *
The treaties, as I stated in my radio report at the end of the Paris Conference, were "not written as we would write them if we had a free hand," but I was convinced they were as good as we could hope to get by general agreement for a long time to come. They did represent an important step in the restoration of stability. As long as the armistice terms remained in effect, all five of these countries were subject to uncertainty and interference in every phase of their national life. No planning for the future, particularly in respect to economic development, was possible under these conditions.
The treaties also paved the way for the withdrawal of Allied forces from Italy, Bulgaria and Finland and the reduction of garrisons in Rumania and Hungary. The Trieste issue was settled in such a way as to give reasonable hope that serious conflict may be avoided in the future. Italy has been disarmed so that aggressive action cannot be supported, and Yugoslavia, despite its militant nationalism, will hesitate, I believe, to challenge the authority of the Security Council in this area. While the reparations penalties against Italy were heavier than we believed wise, at least we succeeded in arranging for alleviating the methods of payment, (pp. 154-55.)
Secretary of State James F. Byrnes in Speaking Frankly, Chapter 8: The Paris Peace Conference and Its New York Finale.
As 1946 drew to a close, so came to an end my WW II-associated active duty. On 29 December, I got a farewell letter from Admiral Conolly, and my thoughts turned to new things though I was to continue service in a non-pay volunteer Politico-Military Affairs Unit which I helped to found and of which I for a time served as commanding officer.
Romany 29 December 1946
Dear Paul,
I have missed you a great deal, especially when traveling about Europe. We made a very fine tour of the Mediterranean by air stopping on successive nights at Rome, Athens, Istanbul, Cairo, Malta, Port Lyautey, Tangiers and London, in time for dinner. A few days later I went to Belfast in the "Spokane" for a courtesy call. What a reception we had there!
My wife and daughter finally arrived in the SS Washington on 8 December. They had a marvelously smooth trip over and arrived in good shape. We have been living here at Romany since except for a motor trip across England to Bideford, where I had to address the School of Combined Operations. I am getting good at this public speaking, compared to what you might expect!
It is nice here in England now that my family have arrived. They greatly admire that decanter and glasses which you sent. That is a very beautiful little set and a handsome gift which we will treasure. It has sherry in it now and decorates the mantel in the study here at Romany. I am just running out of that "Monopole Rouge" that Sherbatoff purchased, to my great regret. Also that priceless fluid, that nectar of the Gods, "Armanac," is almost finished. We serve it from an eye-dropper now. I am looking forward to Sherbatoff's return for other reasons, one of which is that I like him. I wish that you were to come over, too, to reform the old team that used to confound the opposition at the council table.
I am still somewhat dubious about whether you did not finally short-change yourself on my financial problems, shopping missions, etc., and I urge you to bill me for the balance due without hesitation or restraint. I now have a flag lieutenant who is struggling with the same burden.
I hope that you have been able to find the sort of job that suits your taste and abilities. I saw the news item that UN was cutting down their staff. I suppose, however, that our foreign services are still open and you probably will land something with them. Perhaps we will see you over here before too long.
I like my job immensely and hope that I can stay two years. I have been bolstering up the old staff and we will be hitting on all eight cylinders before too long. I am not yet on that diet but will start next Wednesday. Next time you see me, I will be about the build of Weer. It is just a matter of giving your vanity and will-power an opportunity of overcoming a keen appetite and an excellent digestion.
I hope that everything is going well at home with you and with Mrs. Borel. Best of luck to you both and Happy New Year.
Sincerely,
Conolly
For more letters, click here ("Letters from World War II").
My fellow passengers were almost entirely members of general and evacuation hospitals returning for demobilization after extended tours throughout Europe. Some of these we picked up two days later at Southampton.
They were anxious to get home. One wag penned a poem which included this verse:
When once I place my feet on earth,
And leave the waves behind me,
They'll have to drag me back to ship,
That is, if they can find me.
Water is wetter.
But earth is better.
With 4,000 people on board, enough talent was present to put on good entertainment. By 20 November we had reached Boston. I was back in the Zone of the Interior.
As preplanned, Miriam and I met at the Edgewater Beach Hotel – on a cold, wet night – proceeding the following day to see the children and her parents at Oak Park. A joyful Thanksgiving indeed!
By Christmas I had also seen much of my parents, brothers, sister and friends in Kansas City. A second honeymoon seemed very much in order. So we bought a used Lincoln-Zephyr (new car production was scarcely underway), with sleek lines and 12 cylinders. Left the children with parents. And had a wonderful several weeks touring the US west, all the way to California. In all we covered over 8,000 miles, even dipping down into Mexico. What a wonderful country!
Still, we were on at least one occasion reminded that victory on the battlefield does not solve all problems. One night, looking for a place to stay, we drove into a motel in Arizona. An Indian, or he was perhaps a Mexican, was ahead of us only to be told that there were no vacancies. He left, and I was at the point of leaving when the manager offered us a room, stating by way of explanation that "we don't accommodate his kind." Startled, I simply said: "You have no room for him, you have no room for me," and walked out.
I should say that at some point after my return from Europe, and before our trip West, I was in Washington. There I found Navy colleagues engaged in interesting work in the field of international affairs, and was asked by Rear Admiral Wooldridge to consider staying on for awhile. Undecided about my ultimate plans, and with the consent of Phillips Petroleum (I was still an employee in military leave status), I agreed. During our trip west all fell into place. Orders, dated 20 February 1946, were telegraphed to me while we were in Yuma to "proceed on or about 15 March, Washington, D.C., report Chief of Naval Operations, duty OP 35, Office of Politico-Military Affairs. . . "
This I did, coming on alone in order to find a place for my family to live.
Rentals in Washington were then very scarce, at least those we could afford. Temporarily I rented a room in a military academy dormitory. I did not want to buy a house because I did not envisage Washington as our permanent home, but eager to get the family settled, I did so, putting as a down payment our entire savings of $3,000 on the house at 101 North Granada, in Arlington. The purchase price was $13,000. It was to be our home for five years.
My new duties proved very interesting (and included a promotion to Commander). To start with I covered European and Middle East affairs. Later I was put on Western Hemisphere and United Nations affairs. In short, the work consisted in representing the Navy on working groups of the State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee for the purpose of preparing foreign policy papers. This Committee, on which the Navy was represented by its under-secretary, in effect foreshadowed what became the National Security Council.
An excerpt from a letter dated 24 March, to my wife, gives some clue of my tasks: "Today the skipper threw me one I didn't think I would be worrying about. He said, 'Borel, write me a memorandum stating the U.S. position on Korea.' Well, you'd be surprised how much you can learn about something you know nothing about in a short time if you have to. Another thing I had to do was to comment (for Admiral Nimitz) on General MacArthur's proposal to send a few Korean businessmen to the U.S. for commercial purposes. What next?"
Daily I wrote a memo for Secretary of the Navy Forrestal covering noteworthy items in the news. I did a study for him on the world oil situation, and worked extensively on the Austrian State Treaty, all manner of things interesting in the postwar period.
During the latter part of July, I was assigned to attend the Paris Peace Conference as a member of the U.S. Delegation headed by Secretary of State Byrnes, and reported to Vice Admiral Richard Conolly, the Secretary's naval advisor, as his assistant and aide.
We left Washington on July 27, in a special Navy Flag C-54 with plush appointments. Conversations with members of the crew disclosed some interesting facts. Only a few days previously the plane had been in Tokyo, had returned to its base in Honolulu and immediately started for Washington in order to pick up our party; the crew numbered ten; the plane cost $250,000, had a cruising speed of 180 miles/hour, and would be scrapped after having flown between 4,000 and 5,000 miles.
What follows are selected letters that I wrote to Miriam during the course of my absence from home between late July and early November 1946.
PARIS 29 JULY 46
Here we are! I can't say at last for it took such a short time to get here. We had a marvelous trip. A huge plane and we were only five passengers. I think we'll all like the Admiral. His wants are simple and he gives the impression of one used to looking after himself. We actually took off about 9:00 AM and headed north. Our first and only stop was at Stephensville, Newfoundland. This was at 3:00 PM and we enjoyed a big steak dinner. Then we hopped from Newfoundland to Paris non-stop. Altogether we dropped some 5 or 6 hours (I don't know yet which) so we didn't get as much sleep as any of us felt like.
I happened to awaken about 3 or 4 in the morning and the sky was pink and aglow. It reminded me much of the painted desert – only up side down. The crew were a swell gang and took good care of us. We had good hot meals. And the beds were made of full size single mattresses.
We were met at the airport by quite a delegation and were taken to our suites in the "Meurice." George Scherbatoff (the Mad Russian) and I share a luxurious affair which consists of a huge bedroom, living room and bath very well furnished. The Hotel is one of the older ones but has at one time or other had most of Europe's royalty as guests. The who of the U.S. delegation is housed here and has offices here as well. Secretary of State Byrnes came in about two hours after our arrival. I went to bed early last night and still need some sleep.
PARIS 30 JULY 46
Today we went to London. The Admiral had a conference at the Admiralty so we got a plane and were on our way shortly after eight o'clock. We got there a little after ten. Got a chance to see Commander Kittridge who was one of the founding fathers of civil affairs. He took me to lunch at the American Club. Then I delivered the shirts which Captain Dennison had given me for a British officer. I got no chance to see any of my old pals. Kay got married last week to an American lieutenant colonel who is stationed in Germany; Brenda got engaged to an Englishman and I had a chat with her on the phone; Warren Tute was in the country and not expected back until tomorrow; Jock was in Scotland; and all my Navy buddies were back in the States. It seemed a good deal like going back to school after having been out a number of years. The anticipation is keen but the results so disappointing that one wishes the opportunity for a revisit had not come about. Of course in this case, I was only there a few hours and I knew that many changes had taken place. We got back to Paris at eight o'clock and after the Admiral and I had eaten at the Embassy Club we came to the office. He still has some work to do so I have taken the opportunity to tell you that I love you. We could have a swell time here together. . . if we didn't eat out. Prices are absolutely frightful. I don't see how people get along. But you really should see our room. George and I had breakfast brought up today and I was thinking how nice it would be if you were there instead of him.
I hope that you had a nice trip home. It must have been a tiring one in any case but with our good parents with you I am sure things went all right.
Tell Nancy and Elaine hello for me and give them a big kiss. I don't have any nice little girls to walk part of the way to work with me here. I guess I should have brought three suitcases full of you after all.
PARIS 2 AUGUST 46
Another day is slipping by. Everything happens so fast here. Or perhaps there is so much happening that it seems to happen fast. Since I last wrote we’ve become sort of “broken in” and are getting the feel of things. Tuesday we went to London and back as I wrote you. Wednesday I attended the Plenary Session with the Admiral and heard Molotov of Russia, Evatt of Australia, and da Fortoura of Brazil. It seems strange to be in a room – and not a very large one at that – with so many of the leaders of the nations of the world (21 are gathered here). Prime Ministers Atlee of England and Mackenzie King of Canada are probably the highest ranking of the Delegates. The interest which one naturally has in what is being said is somewhat taxed however by having to listen to two translations of each speech after it has been delivered. (They do not follow the Nuremberg Trial procedure of having headphones and providing simultaneous translations.)
Thursday (yesterday) we went to the party given by Secretary of State Byrnes for the delegates of all the nations. This was given at the residence of the American Ambassador to France – which was the Embassy itself prior to 1931. This was quite a party with all the trimmings. Oh, yes, mustn't forget the gala ballet performance at the Opera House to which we received a personal invitation from the President of France. They had four lovely ballets and the guard of honor was resplendent. It was all formal and quite elegant.
Sunday the Admiral and I have been invited to have dinner with the Ambassador and his wife – how is your country boy doing?
PARIS 4 AUGUST 46
It is Sunday morning and until a few moments ago I was intending to accompany George to the Russian church. He called from the garage to say that the car was on the blink and by the time we could make other arrangements it was 11:30 and too late.
Yesterday we made a call on Admiral Lemonnier, Chief of the Naval General Staff, French Navy. In the afternoon we attended the Plenary Session at which the concluding preliminary speeches were made – India, Ukraine, Greece, Belgium and the Union of South Africa. Next week we should begin to get down to business. The session lasted from 4-8 and by the time we came back and got through supper it was ten o'clock and so we turned in rather early. This business of being aide as well as assistant is tiring. Not that the Admiral is demanding, far from it – he is a very good fellow and an excellent officer (one of the youngest Vice Admirals in the Navy). But I have to be with him almost constantly from about 8:30 AM to 11:00 PM. However, I can do useful things that way, a compensation for the restrictions that are attendant on the job. One officer who was already here had been sent home – for talking too much – so it leave us with 4 officers and 2 men – plus marine guards. Quite a compact staff. There is the Admiral, a Captain who is his Deputy, myself the assistant, Sherbatoff the interpreter and a Lieutenant named Watson who is communications officer. In a few minutes the Adm. and I are going to a luncheon given by Ambassador Caffery for Mrs. Forrestal (the Navy Secy's wife) here on visit.
PARIS 7 AUGUST 46
Boy was I glad to get your two letters. And surprised that they should have come so quickly. Yes, you can cut that 30¢ postage down. Use the return address on this envelope and you can get air mail service for 6¢. C/o U.S. Navy 100 is the same as to a service address in the U.S.
Sunday, we had a wonderful lunch at the Embassy. On my right was perhaps Brazil's richest man and on my left a U.S. Foreign Service officer. There were about 20 people altogether. In the afternoon the Adm. and I took a ride in the country and went through the little town of Barbizon (where they sell paintings). They have increased considerably and I'm going to do some shopping around before I buy, though they do have some nice ones. Went to bed fairly early Sunday.
Monday, nothing special happened. For supper the Adm., Sherbatoff and I went to a little bistro for a French supper – very nice but too expensive. The prices go up as soon as Americans start patronizing the place. Yesterday, the Adm. gave a small cocktail party for the Brazilian admiral and military people so as aide I had to stage it. I had a few bad moments when the "stuff" was slow getting here from London, and then too the Adm. had given very short notice so it was nip and tuck as to whether the guests would be able to come. But everything came off O.K. and everyone had a nice time. The Brazilians are charming people if these at the conference are any sample.
I do wish you were here dear. It's been warm with our "blues" but the nights are cool! And the gardens and parks are lovely. Those permanently attached here have their wives. If you were here it would be a considerable boost to the U.S. average – you're pretty swell!
PARIS 9 AUGUST 46
Wednesday evening we went to the tennis match at the Racing Club in the Bois de Boulogne. The teams playing left for the States yesterday for tournament play. After the match there was the reception. All these things are parties given in honor of the delegates and it appears that hardly an evening is likely to go by but what there will be some kind of a get together. After that we brought the French admiral and the army representatives back to the hotel and had a late supper of sandwiches in Capt. Pryce's room. Yesterday while the Admiral was at a meeting which I did not have to attend I had a nice visit with Mile. Peyron (now a Lt. Col. in the Salvation Army). She is well and in process of setting up a new training college in a nice building which was given to the S.A. She showed me one of your cards and said it was the only thing identifying a package she received about 2 months ago. I don't recall whether you told me about sending such a package – or was it someone else. Anyway I told her it was your card and so as it stands she will probably drop you a note. When the folks come through I'll organize a little dinner for them and ask her to it. Last night was the reception given by the President of France and it was a splendorous affair in a great palace on Quai d'Orsay. A truly picturesque party and naturally I wore the big "eagle guts." Wish you could have been there – you'll probably see some news photos of it.
PARIS 12 AUGUST 46
Monday evening is drawing nigh and another rather uneventful day will soon be over. This morning I attended another of the Plenary Sessions but the tedious wrangling which seems to be a necessary part of reaching the final objective made it a boring session.
Saturday evening I spent alone in my room even to the extent of having my supper brought up to the room. George was out with one of his many friends and the Admiral did not have anything planned which required my participation. I spent the evening reading a book on Russia called "I Chose Freedom" which makes the outlook for American and Russian cooperation in maintaining a permanent peace very gloomy indeed.
This did not tend to lift my spirits which started low because I was unaccountably and all of a sudden lonely for you, the kids and our little home. I purposely stayed at home so that my mental frame of mind would not have a chance to lead me to do something which I might later regret. Once I got to sleep I slept well though.
Sunday morning I went to the Russian church. I didn't get much out of the service since it is all done in old Slovonic but the atmosphere was the atmosphere of any church and I had a chance to be quiet for a few moments and collect my thoughts. The church has no pews so that the congregation stands throughout the service. They had a very fine choir of male and female voices which you would have appreciated.
After the service, George and another emigre Russian Count who was with us and I went to a little Russian shop and had some little cakes which in reality were doughnuts without holes with bits of unidentifiable meat within.
Then lunch. After which I joined the Admiral for my regular Sunday sightseeing tour with him. This time we spent some time looking through the great palace of Fountainbleau. Then supper at the Racing Club. By the time we were through it was ten o'clock and we came back to the hotel and hit the sack.
PARIS 17 AUGUST 46
It is late Saturday afternoon and everything seems to be quiet. It has been a dull, gloomy day but the expected rain has never come. It seems ages since I've heard from you. After the first two letters I got one and then no more. I suppose mine have taken long in reaching you too. I hope you and Nancy and Elaine are well and that you are enjoying yourselves. I miss you a lot and am eager to be able to come home. If this drags out too long I'll ask for a relief rather than extend my stay beyond a reasonable period. Of course simultaneously with the Conference the Council of Foreign Ministers will be meeting. This organization will continue to meet after the Conference is over. The Admiral would like me to stay on for this. This would mean I could bring the family over. However, it doesn't seem advisable for me to do so. For one thing winter will be coming. For another, the coming of our new offspring had best be awaited in the U.S. Also since I do not plan to stay in the Navy I should get out and getting something else lined up. Just yesterday I sent in my application to the Foreign Service. I should be in Washington in October and November for oral examination if my application is accepted. Then the business of having the house and all. If it were just a matter of bringing you over you would love it and we could live at a nice hotel but there would be nothing to gain except to have you see something of Europe and I'll see that you do that when it isn't such an ordeal for you. Do you agree with my reasoning?
PARIS 20 AUGUST 46
I have just put the folks on the train for Switzerland. It is now 8:15 AM and I have come back to the office to drop you a line about their arrival and visit. . . and to tell you, of course, that I love you.
Saturday night I had gone to a musical; a very fine piano concert played by an accomplished young lady. It was a nice night so that I purposely walked back to the hotel which was about a half-hour's walk. I got home about midnight and went to bed. I still had had no word about the folks. Then about one o'clock I was awakened by the phone and it was Poppy. They were at St. Lazarus station and had no place to go. He had sent a wire to some address which he had in his book but since it had no name attached he assumed it was mine. Of course it was not and to this day he does not know who belongs to that address. He had misplaced the paper you had so carefully written out and found it only the next morning in the cold light of dawn.
Well they had been waiting at the station for a couple hours while Dad was trying to locate me and/or find a hotel. Of course he couldn't get a room; that is impossible just coming in like that and at that hour especially. Finally he ran into someone who knew what hotel the American Delegation was housed in and reached me by phone.
I jumped out of bed and dressed; ordered two cars (one for the bags), and on the way out badgered the hotel into agreeing to let them stay there the night in a couple of rooms which were to be occupied the next day by some other people. Within a few minutes I had them at the hotel and got Mommie to take a hot bath and drink some hot tea to warm her up. It appears that they had travelled with light clothing and it has been unseasonably cold since they left New York, as it is here for that matter.
Sunday we all had a good time together. The Admiral had planned for the two of us to go visit Chartres but when he found out that the folks were here he all of a sudden decided to stay in his hotel all day and let me have the car. Pretty swell fellow eh? I took them to the Racing Club for lunch. In the afternoon we visited Noverraz (our friends here in Paris). Then we came back to the hotel and talked a while. They went to bed early so as to rest up a bit. Mother seems to be in good shape; in fact better than when they left Kansas City I'm told.
Monday Dad and I dashed around making preparations for getting them to Switzerland. I had good luck working through the Army for reservations. Then to attend to getting the baggage sent on, etc. At noon we had dinner served at the room and an old friend of the folks' came for lunch. We did the same at night with Mille. Peyron as the invited one. (I guess we didn't get to bed so early Sunday night after all because we went to an S.A. meeting where we saw Mille. Peyron and invited her for supper. At this meeting Commissioner McMillan spoke in English and Mille. Peyron translated. We met them after the meeting.)
Anyway we had a grand time and I got as much enjoyment at looking at the pictures which Mommie showed to Mille. Peyron as she did because in all my haste I left Washington without a snapshot to my name. I don't suppose you have any handy but if you have send me a couple please.
My sister Ruth and I took Mille. Peyron home then visited a while in my rooms. Then this morning we all had breakfast together and I took them to the station. Well, they are off and I hope that they have a good vacation. I am going to try to go spend a few days with them in Switzerland before I start back to the States. Hope I can swing it as long as I am this close.
PARIS 25 AUGUST 46
Hello dear. How I wish we were together! It rained last night but now the sun is shining and it would be nice to take a walk in the park. It seems an awful waste of time to be doing anything alone when I could be doing it with you.
Thanks for the pictures. They came after the folks left but I'll send them on – except maybe one or two. Got a card from Ruth yesterday saying that they were well received in Switzerland and already enjoying their stay.
The Admiral and George went to London Friday and came back yesterday. I could have gone too but had some preparations to make for our party so stayed here. There was little attraction to going to London for a day especially when your time is not your own. Today I have a report to work on or I would be taking in some of the ceremonies in connection with the 2nd anniversary of the liberation of Paris. But I first wanted to have this chat with you, especially since it has been several days since I last wrote.
How are you making out with little Stranger? Hope he (or she) is not giving you too much trouble. I am anxious to see what the rascal will look like. Bet Nancy and Elaine will be crazy about that little baby. Quite a brood you are beginning to gather unto yourself. Well, they couldn't have a nicer mother. In addition to swell kids, you have, believe me, all my love.
PARIS 1 SEPTEMBER 46
For several days now I have been trying to write you without much luck. Every time I tried it the Admiral or someone would call and I would have to get busy. Your letters are wonderful and do me much good. And the girls' letters were cute.
I have said that I've been busy but it has been purely in the capacity of aide and not as an assistant. You see we have visitors: Admiral Mitscher, Vice Admiral Sherman, Commodore Burke and six other officers. As host we have to plan one round of activity after another and as aide I bear the brunt of planning and execution.
Of course our big party came off Friday night. We planned it then so these visitors could attend but it was given to honor all the military and naval delegates to the Conference. It was my baby from beginning to end and I sweated plenty before it was over. We had 200 guests. It was cocktail-buffet so there was a big food problem. We had canapes, eggs and mayonnaise and nuts for hors d'ouevre; roast beef and ham for entree; cucumber and tomatoes, and potato salad; coffee and ice cream. The drinks were highballs, martinis and Coca Cola. We had an orchestra and lovely flowers. All in all it was quite a party though it would have been nicer if it had not rained. This kept us from using a lovely garden where the tables and chairs would have relieved the indoor crowds. The Admiral seemed pleased the next morning at least. I threw the whole thing for $338.00.
Last night we went to the Folies Bergere and then on to a nightclub. As soon as I got everyone seated I left and came home to bed not being interested in a stuffy environment where the smoke was thick enough to cut with a knife.
PARIS 9 SEPTEMBER 46
Last Monday after I went to the airport to see our visitors off, I came back to the hotel and went to bed. I had picked up a chill somehow and didn't seem to be able to get warm. I was feeling pretty good by the next morning. There seems to be something abroad that resembles food poisoning and I got a bit of that in the bargain.
Wednesday Captain Dietrich came to town. He is the skipper of the cruiser Houston which came to Havre on a goodwill mission. No, I guess it was Tuesday that he came to town for Scherbatoff and I drove him back to the Havre on Wednesday. We had lunch with him aboard the ship and it was all very nice indeed. We had Mrs. Goff along. She is a friend of Captain Pryce's and works for our local office here in Paris. She comes of a good family in England and during the war volunteered as a car driver for the U.S. Navy in London. We stopped at a little Auberge on the way back and had a nice – but expensive – supper. Nothing is cheap here damnit.
Saturday night the Admiral and I went to the opera and saw "Othello." It was well done and we enjoyed it. Yesterday we started about eleven and went to Chartres which is some sixty miles from here. We had lunch first and afterward we visited the great cathedral. From there we went to Orleans and visited another cathedral. During the visit to the first we attended the mass during which a priest gave a remarkable sermon (in French of course). Which meant that I had to translate it to the Admiral as we went along for although he knows some French it is not enough for him to get much out of a sermon.
I have now picked up a cold so that I went to bed almost as soon as we got back home. This morning I wrote to my boss in Washington, Captain Dennison. It was about time as I had not written to him since my arrival.
The naval work here is making considerable progress so that I think the end will soon be in sight for the Admiral – which means for me too. The Admiral's new job will be to command all U.S. Naval Forces in Europe. We will probably therefore go to England about the 21st of Sept. and have a ceremony where he will hoist his flag on the cruiser Houston, which is to be his flagship. After that I hope to get a few days off in order to go to Switzerland. After that – home! How does that sound for a program. George will stay here with the Captain to continue the work here. I have definitely turned down the offer to stay on here and bring my family. I felt from your letter that you agreed with me, and with both of us feeling the same way it would be foolish to do just the opposite. You might write Moreland and let them know that we would like to be back in our house about 1 November. Or maybe earlier if you would rather be sure to have them out by the time we want the house. I really don't think that I can be back before 15 October at the earliest. By the time I come out to get you and drive back and maybe take a few days off in the bargain it is bound to be near the latter part of October. Another possibility of course would be for you to go back to Washington before my return. That would involve some member of your family going with you in order to be practicable. Then the business of the car and all might not work out for the best. (By the way, I think a light blue Nash similar to the one I have seen here is about as nice as any. And if they are putting out a two-door model we should get that. Next to that there appears to be a model with a bulge-back design which is nice.) But they should give you as much or more credit on the trade in than you can get from the Packard people.
Sorry you haven't warm clothes with you. Here we have been having fall weather right along. Haven't worn anything but blues since our departure and now it is not likely that I will.
My best to the kiddies and the folks. I haven't any recent word from the folks in Switzerland but should get some in a day or two.
PARIS 12 SEPTEMBER 46
This morning is a quiet, rather dreary, day. The Admiral and the Captain have just left for the meeting of the Military Commission and George and I are in the office with not much to do until they get back. We had a late breakfast since two friends from the Embassy came over to join us. One was John Williams, a Lt. Comdr. who formerly was aide to Admiral Stark in London and is now aide to our Ambassador to France; the other Elim O'Shaughnessy, the Ambassador's private secretary.
Tuesday night the Admiral and I witnessed a marvelous spectacle: a reception at Versailles Palace – all furnished with the old furniture and rugs, with attendants in Louis XIV costumes, fountains all going, and an honor guard of mounted colonial troops – the Spahis. It was a show that probably will not be duplicated for many years to come.
The letter from Moberg said that he and his wife would visit us in Washington on their way to Chicago on Sept. 10. I'll write him and have him contact you. You'll like both him and Evelyn.
So Nancy's a school-girl. You did well to have her start on her own as much as possible. That was a nice letter Lainie wrote me – and after I have taken so long "going to Paris"!
PARIS 15 SEPTEMBER 46
It is Sunday morning and when George got up he did so very quietly. Hence I didn't wake up and by the time I did it was too late for church. What a way to start the day off. Now I am in the office awaiting the Admiral's pleasure. I haven't the vaguest idea what he will want to do today since I didn't have supper with him last night. I ate with Jack Watson and then we went to the GI movie for lack of something better to do.
I've only taken in a couple of places of interest since my last letter to you: Friday afternoon I visited the Musee des Invalides which is in the building with the tomb of Napolean and his son; in the evening the Admiral and I went to see Madame Butterfly.
The plans for going to London seem to have firmed up a bit. We leave Paris on the 19th of this month (that's only four days away) and go to London. From there we go to Southhampton where the cruiser HOUSTON will be at anchor. On the 23rd we have the big ceremony where my Admiral takes over from the present one (Admiral Hewitt) the command of all U.S. Naval Forces in Europe. On that day he gets promoted to a full four star admiral. We will remain on board ship for about four days then go to our new headquarters in London. Within a few days time I will come back to Paris alone and go on to Switzerland for some leave. I got a passport which will be ready tomorrow so that I will not be tied down to any military regulations while I am on this leave. Then I'll come on home. . . . Oh boy! I could stay with the Admiral as his Flag Secretary and get my family over to London but I've gone over all that and decided to turn it down as well as the Paris offer. (The London job would entail quite a trip in the near future as the Admiral plans to visit most of the capitals of Europe and Mediterranean Africa.)
LONDON 25 SEPTEMBER 46
Yes, we're back in London already. Just last Friday the Admiral and I came from Paris. We were put up at the Claridge, each with a very nice room. Saturday I tended to some business and in the evening Mike Besson (a Comdr. who had been the Admiral's aide in Washington) and I went to the Players' Theater – you know that club Seymour and I used to love. Sunday the Adm. and I left for Southhampton and boarded the cruiser Houston. We had a nice dinner with her Captain that evening. Monday at 11:30 we had the turn-over ceremony after Admiral Hewitt had come down from London. Conolly was promoted to full four star Admiral so now I wear four strands at my shoulder instead of the three. My boss is now the head man for all of the Navy in Europe. Monday afternoon we visited retired Admiral Dickens with whom I had served in Holland and with whom the Adm. had served in North Africa. He has a nice country home about 30 minutes drive from Southhampton. Tuesday we made an official call and inspection at our Naval Base at Exeter. Today, Wednesday, we called on the British C-in-C Portsmouth, Adm. Sir Geoffrey Layton – we did this on our way back to London. Now after a few hours in the office getting our bearings we are both writing letters in the Adm.'s town flat – in the same building as the office. He invited me to stay with him since his wife is not yet here. We have a good kitchen staff so had a good supper. He probably will not live in his country home at Romany, Surrey, until Mrs. Conolly arrives. Sunday we start on a trip of inspection which will take us to the following places: Brussels, Paris, Rome, Naples, Casserta, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Frankfurt, and Berlin.
I am beginning to work on getting a plane ride home so as to be there for our anniversary. Gosh, I’ve just got to get home for that!
LONDON 27 SEPTEMBER 46
Just got a mighty nice letter from you – the first one since I left Paris. Also Lainie's very cute picture and the invitation to her birthday party. Wish I could have attended. She looks big in the picture. How they can change in a matter of weeks is a mystery.
So Morelands will be moving out soon. It probably will make it unhandy not to be able to move right in. But it would be more unhandy yet to go back to Washington before I get back.
Have been quite busy these last few days. It isn't just getting used to new faces, new surroundings around the office, and new things to do, but also getting things lined up for the trip. We are now leaving London Sunday morning and going directly to Berlin. Then work our way back through Bremen, Bremerhaven, Frankfurt and Paris before going on to Brussels then Italy. The Admiral and I are getting to be quite good friends. I am the only one accompanying him for the first few days. At Paris another Comdr. will join us for the remainder of the trip. Also our secretary of course, Chief Yeoman Weer.
We have just finished supper and are back in the office – he working and I writing to you for the moment.
I wrote Moberg to contact you and I hope he does so soon if he has not done so already. I've also written to Seymour. Other than that – I've maintained my usual low rate of correspondence – for the same inexplicable reasons – for I do like to keep in touch with our friends.
PARIS 2 OCTOBER 46
Already we have finished about one half of our trip. As you know, we left London early Sunday morning and flew straight to Berlin. It was a glorious day throughout. I do not remember having seen such a nice day in the many weeks that I spent in Berlin last year. Hugh Awtrey met us, among others, at the airport and we spent some nice moments together since he is Rear Admiral Shuirman's aide. Hugh will be leaving Europe on 16 October to go back to the States and be demobilized. I told him of our trip at the instance of my return last fall and Hugh said that that was exactly what he and Bonnie planned to do too.
Monday while the Admiral was having lunch with General Eisenhower I had lunch with Milton Muelder. His wife Kathleen, whom you met in New York, is here with him and they have a nice little house with servants etc. They both send their best regards and were very much interested in how you and the children were. He had invited two other friends of mine who also had formerly been in the Navy in Berlin and are now civilian employees of Military Government there. These were Joe Slater and Phil Abbey of whom I may have spoken to you at times.
Monday afternoon we flew to Bremen and from there motored to Bremerhaven. There we spent the night. The next morning we inspected the Naval installations and motored back to Bremen. After a fine luncheon we flew to Paris, arriving last night. While the Admiral was having dinner with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, I joined in with a group of fellows in a stag dinner for Captain Pryce who is getting married tomorrow. What an evening. . . enough said.
Today I spent answering some of the Admiral's mail. Tonight we go to the wedding rehearsal and have dinner with the bridal party. The Admiral is to give the bride away and I will be one of the ushers. All this reminds me of our wedding and brings to mind memories which are as real and close to me as they are precious.
Got a telegram from Poppie this afternoon. He is lucky to catch me when we have been on the run so. He has asked me to call him long distance tonight. I suppose he will want to know when it may be possible for me to go to Switzerland. With time creeping along and no word about the arrival of a new aide I am getting anxious about when exactly I will be coming home. If it is a close call re our anniversary and the Morelands are no longer in the house I think it might be an excellent idea if you came to Washington by train alone leaving the kids in Chicago until I could get away to go pick up the new car. But I do not wish to propose plans which may not be practicable until factors of which you are aware but I am not are fully considered.
LONDON 10 OCTOBER 46
We have covered a good deal of ground since I last wrote you in Paris. Some of it we covered so fast it almost seems it didn't happen at all. If I remember correctly, I wrote you just before the wedding. Well, the wedding went off swell. The setting was beautiful – the American Cathedral is a lovely church having been built about 1870.
The guests did not number many but were distinguished including Sec. State Byrnes and Ambassador Dunn, and their wives. After the ceremony came the reception at the Royal Monceau Hotel. (This is a fine hotel which was used for Navy officers during the war – located near the Place de l'Etoile.) At 9:30 PM the Admiral and I left for the Military Commission meeting at Palace Luxembourg. This turned out to be quite a session – it didn't break up until 6:30 the next morning. There were many arguments with the Russians. We dashed from this meeting to the hotel – packed and checked out – then the airport where we bolted a bit of breakfast and we were off to Naples.
We had a nice trip though parts of it were spent snoozing. We got there at 12:30 and were taken to Villa Emma – Vice Admiral Bieri's residence. This Villa is a beautiful thing at the foot of which roar the breakers of the Mediterranean. It was the villa where Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton wrestled with the facts of life! After lunch on the terrace we went aboard the destroyer tender Grand Canyon and had a staff meeting, and were generally busy disposing of some of the problems which constituted the reason for our visit. Then we inspected certain installations and went back to the villa for supper. Just as we finished there came an electrical storm followed by the first rain Naples had had since May. This was refreshing and a perfect setting for some needed sleep so I turned in about 10:00.
At 9:00 AM the next morning the two admirals accompanied by their two aides left for Caserta, the location of Allied Forces Hq. Here we had a great ceremony commemorating the 3rd anniversary of the establishment of AFHQ. (Since I had a seat on the reviewing stand you might see me in one of the newsreels after all. I suppose the newsreels of the ceremony on Houston never got extensive distribution.) After the impressive ceremony we had cocktails with the British General Morgan and U.S. General Lee and de Gasperi, the Prime Minister of Italy – plus a good many guests of various nationalities. Then the group broke up for lunch. I ended up with five other aides in a special lunch in a cottage near the hunting lodge of the estate of the former King of Naples. This is back on the hills of the Palace in front of which the ceremony was held. The Palace was built by the King of Naples in an attempt to outdo Versailles. After lunch – back to Naples. We stopped there just long enough to pick up our bags and headed for – guess where? – the Isle of Capri.
I'll pick it up from there next time sweet. Breakfast is about ready.
* * * * * * *
I have found no letters to Miriam after this date to cover my closing weeks in Europe, though several must have been written. In a Circular Letter, dated 19 December 1946, written from Arlington, Virginia, to bring friends up-to-date, I concluded as follows:
". . . The charms of this lovely isle (Capri) cannot be over-rated. It is a wonderful feeling to swim in blue Mediterranean waters while high overhead the ruins of the palace of Tiberius cast their reflection. Or to take a lazy walk through San Michele.
". . . Following the final plenary session in mid-October, I successfully negotiated a bit of leave until our ship sailed for home. Thus I was able to spend eight days with my parents and my sister in Switzerland. They had come to Europe in August and we had had two days together in Paris. Now, a month or two prior to their departure, we were able to share many delightful moments among friends and relatives – and just by ourselves – in our native land. We all could agree on the verdict: Switzerland is without doubt the healthiest spot on Europe's pimpled body.
"On October 27, the delegations of the US, the UK, the USSR, and France boarded the Aquitania, bound out of Cherbourg for New York, for meetings of the Council of Foreign Ministers. It was a quiet crossing considering the time of year and very enjoyable, an extension of the associations of the previous three and a half months. We docked on November 2, and, being again overdue to leave the Navy, I came on to Washington to complete the necessary arrangements.
"Now once again we are 'settled' in Arlington and once again I am on terminal leave. I have accepted a post in the Division of International Security Affairs, Office of Special Political Affairs, Department of State. (Division Chief: Joseph Johnson; Office Chief: Alger Hiss; Secretary of State: James Byrnes.) This office was created for the purpose of developing United States policy toward the United Nations. My particular work will deal with the enforcement of international treaties. As soon as the inevitable red-tape has been properly tied and my papers have been 'processed,' I will begin to work: in fact, start my third career in twelve years. This approach to entering into life's work is not such as to permit one to put money in the bank. There is, however, seldom a dull moment."
* * * * * * *
What was the Paris Peace Conference all about? It was necessary mainly to tidy up post hostilities developments. Necessary as a preliminary to making a fresh start under the hopeful aegis of the United Nations. Charles E. Bohlen, a US foreign service officer expert in Soviet affairs, was Secretary Byrnes' Russian interpreter (and later became US Ambassador to Russia.) He makes little mention of the Paris Peace Conference in his book Witness to History: 1929- 1969. Secretary Byrnes himself devotes a chapter to it in his book Speaking Frankly, from which selected quotes serve to provide a summary.
The Paris Peace Conference
We approached the conference from a point of view entirely different from that of the Soviet Government, and that fact produced conflict from the very start. We believed the discussions should be full and free; that the countries which had helped to win the war should have the widest latitude in suggesting amendments and proposals for peace, and that their recommendations should carry great weight. We believed that a lasting peace had to be a people's peace.
The Soviet attitude, however, seemed to be that the conference should simply and speedily confirm the agreements made in the Council of Foreign Ministers and that establishment of the conditions of peace was primarily, if not exclusively, the concern of the great powers, (p. 139.)
* * * * * * *
The conference began with twenty-six unagreed articles before it in addition to all the articles agreed upon in the council, and in all, some three hundred amendments were con¬sidered. But the real issues of the conference focused on Trieste, the total of reparations obligations, and the control of the Danube, (p. 147.)
* * * * * * *
In all, the peace conference passed on to the Council of Foreign Ministers fifty-three recommendations voted by at least a two-thirds majority and forty-one others adopted by a simple majority. This list made it quite clear, when the conference finally adjourned on October 15, that the Council of Foreign Ministers was faced with more weeks of tedious effort before the treaties would be completed.
Although the conference had not accomplished all we had hoped for, we did feel that our months of effort to obtain it were well and wisely spent. Our contention that wisdom was not a monopoly of the Big Four and that the smaller powers could make important contributions to the treaties had been thoroughly vindicated. The value of their recom¬mendations is proved by the number subsequently included in the treaties, (pp. 149-50.)
* * * * * * *
The treaties, as I stated in my radio report at the end of the Paris Conference, were "not written as we would write them if we had a free hand," but I was convinced they were as good as we could hope to get by general agreement for a long time to come. They did represent an important step in the restoration of stability. As long as the armistice terms remained in effect, all five of these countries were subject to uncertainty and interference in every phase of their national life. No planning for the future, particularly in respect to economic development, was possible under these conditions.
The treaties also paved the way for the withdrawal of Allied forces from Italy, Bulgaria and Finland and the reduction of garrisons in Rumania and Hungary. The Trieste issue was settled in such a way as to give reasonable hope that serious conflict may be avoided in the future. Italy has been disarmed so that aggressive action cannot be supported, and Yugoslavia, despite its militant nationalism, will hesitate, I believe, to challenge the authority of the Security Council in this area. While the reparations penalties against Italy were heavier than we believed wise, at least we succeeded in arranging for alleviating the methods of payment, (pp. 154-55.)
Secretary of State James F. Byrnes in Speaking Frankly, Chapter 8: The Paris Peace Conference and Its New York Finale.
As 1946 drew to a close, so came to an end my WW II-associated active duty. On 29 December, I got a farewell letter from Admiral Conolly, and my thoughts turned to new things though I was to continue service in a non-pay volunteer Politico-Military Affairs Unit which I helped to found and of which I for a time served as commanding officer.
Romany 29 December 1946
Dear Paul,
I have missed you a great deal, especially when traveling about Europe. We made a very fine tour of the Mediterranean by air stopping on successive nights at Rome, Athens, Istanbul, Cairo, Malta, Port Lyautey, Tangiers and London, in time for dinner. A few days later I went to Belfast in the "Spokane" for a courtesy call. What a reception we had there!
My wife and daughter finally arrived in the SS Washington on 8 December. They had a marvelously smooth trip over and arrived in good shape. We have been living here at Romany since except for a motor trip across England to Bideford, where I had to address the School of Combined Operations. I am getting good at this public speaking, compared to what you might expect!
It is nice here in England now that my family have arrived. They greatly admire that decanter and glasses which you sent. That is a very beautiful little set and a handsome gift which we will treasure. It has sherry in it now and decorates the mantel in the study here at Romany. I am just running out of that "Monopole Rouge" that Sherbatoff purchased, to my great regret. Also that priceless fluid, that nectar of the Gods, "Armanac," is almost finished. We serve it from an eye-dropper now. I am looking forward to Sherbatoff's return for other reasons, one of which is that I like him. I wish that you were to come over, too, to reform the old team that used to confound the opposition at the council table.
I am still somewhat dubious about whether you did not finally short-change yourself on my financial problems, shopping missions, etc., and I urge you to bill me for the balance due without hesitation or restraint. I now have a flag lieutenant who is struggling with the same burden.
I hope that you have been able to find the sort of job that suits your taste and abilities. I saw the news item that UN was cutting down their staff. I suppose, however, that our foreign services are still open and you probably will land something with them. Perhaps we will see you over here before too long.
I like my job immensely and hope that I can stay two years. I have been bolstering up the old staff and we will be hitting on all eight cylinders before too long. I am not yet on that diet but will start next Wednesday. Next time you see me, I will be about the build of Weer. It is just a matter of giving your vanity and will-power an opportunity of overcoming a keen appetite and an excellent digestion.
I hope that everything is going well at home with you and with Mrs. Borel. Best of luck to you both and Happy New Year.
Sincerely,
Conolly
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