V (1*1- THE PEACE CONFERENCE PARIS, 1919. REPORT OF THE DELEGATION OF THE JEWS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE ON THE TREATIES OF VERSAILLES, SAINT- GERMAIN-en-LAYE AND NEUILLY AND THE ANNEXED MINORITY TREATIES. PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF DEPUTIES OF BRITISH JEWS AND THE COUNCIL OF THE ANGLO-JEWISH ASSOCIATION, FEBRUARY, 1920. LONDON. The Joint Foreign Committee of the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Anglo-Jewish Association. 2, Verulam Buildings, Gray's Inn, W.C. 1. 1920. THE BOARD OF DEPUTIES OF BRITISH JEWS. PRESIDENT. SIB STUART M. SAMUEL, Bart. VICE-PRESIDENTS. The Eight Hon. LORD ROTHSCHILD, F.B.S. ANTHONY DE ROTHSCHILD, Esq. THE ANGLO-JEWISH ASSOCIATION. PRESIDENT. CLAUDE G. MONTEFIORE, Esq. VICE-PRESIDENTS. D. L. ALEXANDER, Esq., K.C. The Right Hon. the EARL OF READING, The Haham Dr. M. GASTER K.C.V.O. The Very Rev. Dr. HERTZ, Chief Rabbi LIONEL DE ROTHSCHILD, Esq., O.B.E., M.P. SIR PHILIP MAGNUS, Bart., M.P. I. The Right Hon. SIR MATTHEW NATHAN, SELIGMAN, Esq. G.C.M.G. OSWALD JOHN SIMON, Esq. SIR SIR GEORGE FAUDEL-PHILLIPS, Bart., EDWARD D. STERN G.C.I.E. THE JOINT FOREIGN COMMITTEE. N. E. ADLER, Esq. NATHAN LASKI, Esq., J.P. BERTRAM B. BENAS, Esq. CLAUDE G. MONTEFIORE, Esq. R. WALEY COHEN, Esq. JOSEPH PRAG, Esq., J.P. LEONARD L. COHEN, Esq. ANTHONY DE ROTHSCHILD, Esq. Dr. S. DAICHES The Right Hon. LORD ROTHSCHILD S. H. EMANUEL, Esq., K.C.. LL.D. SIR STUART M. SAMUEL, Bart. H. S. Q. HENRIQUES, Esq. I. SELIGMAN, Esq. Dr. D. JOCHELMANN B. S. STRAUS, Esq. H. LANDAU, Esq., O.B.E. The Right Hon. LORD SWAYTHLING SIR ADOLPH TUCK, Bart. DELEGATION TO THE PEACE CONFERENCE. SIR STUART M. SAMUEL, Bart. H. S. Q. HENRIQUES, Esq. CLAUDE G. MONTEFIORE, Esq. JOSEPH PBAG, Esq., J.P. LUCIEN WOLF, Esq. (Secretary). 21166B7 TABLE OF CONTENTS. APPENDIX II. continued. No. Name. Date. Subject. 13 M. Take Jonescu. August 9, 1918 Note of interview. M. Jonescu outlines plan of Jewish emancipation. 14 M. Take Jonescu to August 10, 1918 Approving above note of interview. Mr. Wolf. i 15 Mr. Wolf to M. Take September 18, Enquiring as to interpretation of No. 13. Jonescu. 1918 16 M. Take Jonescu to October 11, Reply to above. All Jews not claiming Mr. Wolf. 1918 foreign protection will be Roumanian nationals. (d) Finland. 17 Anglo-Jewish Associa- January 17, Calling attention to the situation of Jews tion to Secretary of 1918 in Finland, and asking that independ- State. ence of Finland be not recognised until equal civil and political rights are granted to all its subjects. 18 Note of interview. Situation of Jews in Finland. Mr. Kihlman will enquire. Scope of Jewish rights in Finland. Reply to above. Civil and political dis- abilities still imposed on non-Lutherans. Finnish question will not be lost sight of. Acknowledging above. The general prin- ciple involved. (e) Allied War Aims. 23 Joint Committee to June 18, 1918 Asking that emancipation of oppressed Secretary of State. Jews be included in War aims of H.M. Government. 24 Sir Ronald Graham June 28, 1918 Reply to above. H.M. Government to Joint Committee. anxious to do everything in their power to emancipate Jews of Eastern Europe. APPENDIX III. continued. (b) The Memorials. No. Name. Date. Subject. Page- 29 Sir Stuart M. Samuel Feb. 20, 1919 Instruction to present Memorial to Peace 77 to Mr. Lucien Wolf. Conference. 30 Joint Delegation to Feb. 21, 1919 Memorial proposing formula of Emanci- 77 Peace Conference. pation to be inserted in Treaty of Peace. Joint Delegation to Feb. 21, 1919 Memorial proposing that special article 79 Peace Conference. emancipating Jews of Roumania be inserted in Treaty of Peace. 32 Mr. Ian Malcolm to Feb. 24, 1919 Mr. Balfour will give closest consideration 80 Mr. Lucien Wolf. to Memorials. 33 M. George Sydorenko March 25, 1919 Ukrainian Republic sympathises with 80 to Mr. Wolf. views expressed in No. 30. (c) Poland. 34 Mr. Lucien Wolf to May 14, 1919 Special requirements of Jewish Minority 81 Mr. E. H. Carr. in Poland. 35 Joint Delegation to May 20, 1919 Jewish right to Sunday labour in Poland. 82 M r. Dl Lloyd Asking that it be confirmed in Treaty. George. 36 M. Clemenceau to M. June 24, 1919 Explaining scope of Minority Treaty and 83 Paderewski of clauses relating to Jews. The Powers & Poland June 28, 1919 Text of Minority Treaty. 87 Mr. Lucieu Wolf to June 28, 1919 Congratulations on Treaty of Versailles 91 M. Paderewski and annexed Minority Treaty. (d) Austria. 39 The Powers & Austria Sept. 10, 1919 Extracts from Peace Treaty relating to 92 Minorities, (e) Czeeho-Slovakia. 40 The Powers and Sept. 10, 1919 Text of Minority Treaty. 94 Czeeho-Slovakia (/) Serbia: 41 The Powers & Serbia Sept. 10, 1919 Text of Minority Treaty. 95 (g) Roumania. 42 Roumanian Govern- Dec. 28, 1918 Text of Decree Law relating to Jewish 97 ment naturalisations . 43 M. to Joint Com- Feb. 28, 1919 Stating that No. 42 has been declared un- 100 mittee constitutional by Roumanian Law .- Courts. 44 Joint Delegation to April 16, 1919 Observations on Draft Treaty with 101 M. Dutasta. Roumania. 45 M. Dutasta to Mr. April 23, 1919 No. 44 shall be submitted to the Supreme 102 Lucien Wolf. Council. 46 Mr. Wolf to M. April 26. 1919 Proposing amendment of Article 4 of 102 Dutasta. Draft Treaty. 47 Roumanian Govern- May 22, 1919 Text of new Decree Law relating to 103 ment. Jewish naturalisation. Law of December, 1918, cancelled. (See No. 42.) APPENDIX III. continued. No. Name. Date. Subject. 48 Joint Delegation to July 1, 1919 Urging insertion in Treaty of special 105 Mr. E. H. Carr. article as proposed in No. 31. The Powers and Dec. 9, 1919 Text of Minority Treaty. 105 Eoumania. (h) Bulgaria. 50 The Powers and November 27, Minority Clauses of Treaty of Peace. 108 Bulgaria. 1919 (i) Greece. 51 Mr. Lucien Wolf to August 23, 1919 Note of conversation on draft Minority 108 M. Venizelos. Treaty. 52 M. Venizelos to Mr. August 27, 1919 Acknowledging above. Elections in Greece 109 Wolf. are held on Sundays. Sunday Best Law not applied to Jews of Salonika. 53 Mr. Wolf to M. August 28, 1919 Acknowledging above. 109 Venizelos. 54 Mr. Wolf to M. September 8, Referring to No. 52. Joint Delegation 110 Venizelos. 1919. grateful for M. Venizelos' assurances, and do not regard retention of Article 10 of Draft Treaty as essential. (j) Finland. 55 Joint Delegation to July 3, 1919. Expressing hope that Peace Confer- 110 Supreme Council. ence will propose a Minority Treaty to the Republic of Finland. (k) Russia. 56 Russian Delegation. May 19 and Communicating telegrams from Admiral 111 June 6, 1919 Koltchak explaining policy on Jewish question. Government in favour of complete equality of all people of Russia. 57 The Powers and May 26 and Correspondence on conditions of recogni- 111 Admiral Koltchak. June 4, 1919 tion of Admiral Koltchak's Government. (I) Palestine. 58 Joint Delegation to April 14, 1919 Communicating statement of policy of 112 Peace Conference. Joint Foreign Committee on Palestine question. 59 Peace Conference to April 25, 1919 Acknowledging above. 114 Mr. Lucien Wolf. 60 Sir Eric Drummond April 19, 1919 Acknowledging on behalf of Mr. Balfour 114 to Mr. Wolf. copy of No. 58. 61 Joint Delegation to July 3, 1919 Forwarding petition on Palestine question 114 M. Dutasta. for submission to Supreme Council. 62 Mr. Lucien Wolf to July 3, 1919 Forwarding copy of petition enclosed in 115 Mr. Balfour. No. 61. 63 Mr. Balfour to Mr. July 30, 1919 Acknowledging above. Petition will re- 115 Wolf. receive most careful attention of H.M. Government. 64 Peace Conference to July 4, 1919 Acknowledging Nos. 55 and 61. 116 Joint Committee. REPORT. 1. The Delegation of the Jews of the British Empire, referred to throughout this Report as the Joint Delegation, was appointed " " in pursuance of a plan of action in regard to the Peace Conference adopted by the Joint Foreign Committee of the Jewish Board of at its on Deputies and the Anglo-Jewish Association sitting November 14, 1918 three days after the signature of the Armistice 1 Clause 4 of this ran as follows :- with Germany^ ) plan That a Delegation of the Joint Committee, accompanied by a suitable Secretariat, shall proceed to the seat of the Peace Conference and act together with similar Delegations from the Alliance Israelite, the American Jewish Com- mittee, and the Jewish Committee of Rome, in watching Jewish interests, and more especially in promoting before the Conference adequate measures for the emancipation of the Jews in all countries where they still labour under political, civil, and economic disabilities. 2. On January 28, 1919, the Committee nominated its two Presidents, Sir Stuart M. Samuel, Bart., and Mr. Claude G. Monte- fiore, together with Lord Rothschild and Lord Swaythling, to act as the Delegation, and their election was confirmed by the two parent bodies on February 16 and March 2 respectively. Subsequently, owing to the inability of Lord Rothschild and Lord Swaythling to proceed to Paris, Messrs. H. S. Q. Henriques and Joseph Prag were elected in their place. 3. In order to understand clearly the task confided to the Delegation, and the policy pursued by it, a brief survey of the rele- vant activities of the Conjoint Committee and of its successor, the Joint Committee 2 since the of Berlin in is neces- ( ), Congress 1878, sary. 1. Appendix III., No. 25, p. 71. 2. The Conjoint Foreign Committee, consisting of Delegates of the Board of Deputies and the Anglo-Jewish Association, was appointed under a Treaty between the two bodies in 1878.