2. Peace Conference.—­M.  Clemenceau considered it to be most urgent that the delegates should be set to work.  He understood that President Wilson would be ready to put on the table at the next full Conference, proposals relating to the creation of a League of Nations.  He was anxious to add a second question, which could be studied immediately, namely, reparation for damages.  He thought the meeting should consider how the work should be organized in order to give effect to this suggestion.

Mr. Lloyd George said that he agreed that these questions should be studied forthwith.  He would suggest that, in the first place, the League of Nations should be considered, and, that after the framing of the principles, an International Committee of Experts be set to work out its constitution in detail.  The same remark applied also to the question of indemnities and reparation.  He thought that a Committee should also be appointed as soon as possible to consider International Labour Legislation.

President Wilson observed that he had himself drawn up a constitution of a League of Nations.  He could not claim that it was wholly his own creation.  Its generation was as follows:—­He had received the Phillimore Report, which had been amended by Colonel House and re-written by himself.  He had again revised it after having received General Smuts’ and Lord Robert Cecil’s reports.  It was therefore a compound of these various suggestions.  During the week he had seen M. Bourgeois, with whom he found himself to be in substantial accord on principles.  A few days ago he had discussed his draft with Lord Robert Cecil and General Smuts, and they found themselves very near together.

     Mr. Balfour suggested that President Wilson’s draft should
     be submitted to the Committee as a basis for discussion.

     President Wilson further suggested that the question should
     be referred as far as possible to the men who had been
     studying it.

Mr. Lloyd George expressed his complete agreement.  He thought they themselves should, in the first place, agree on the fundamental principles and then refer the matter to the Committee.  When that Committee met they could take President Wilson’s proposals as the basis of discussion.

(It was agreed that the question of appointing an International Committee, consisting of two members from each of the five Great Powers, to whom would be referred President Wilson’s draft, with certain basic principles to guide them, should be considered at the next meeting.)

3. Poland.—­M.  Pichon called attention to the necessity for replying to the demand addressed by M. Paderewski to Colonel House, which had been read by President Wilson that morning, and asked that Marshal Foch should be present.

     (It was agreed that this question should be discussed at the
     next Meeting.)