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explainable. But as the man, the man whose single committee was run up through the fabric of the Council of National Defense until it formed the focus of the war government, he is not explainable.
It was not only during the war, but also after the armistice, that these tokens of signal choice were showered upon Mr. Baruch. He went to the Peace Conference. Resigning as chairman of the War Industries Board on December 31, 1918—
- “I went down to my place in South Carolina, and there received a wireless message from the President to come to Paris. I then went to Paris. I think I sailed about the first or second of January. I know one vessel broke down and I had to transfer from one to the other. But I had no further activities in connection with the government; that is, the War Industries Board.
- Mr. Graham—“How long were you in Paris?”
- Mr. Baruch—“I sailed, returning June 28 or 29. I came back on the George Washington.” (This means that he was a part of the President’s entourage.)
- Mr. Graham—“What were you doing there, Mr. Baruch?”
- Mr. Baruch—“I was economic advisor connected with the peace mission.”
- Mr. Graham—“You stayed until the Peace Treaty was concluded?”
- Mr. Baruch—“Yes, sir.”
- Mr. Graham—“Did you frequently advise with the President while there?”
- Mr. Baruch—“Whenever he asked my advice I gave it. I had something to do with the reparation clauses. I was the American Commissioner in charge of what they called the ‘Economic Section.’ I was a member of the Supreme Economic Council in charge of raw materials.”
- Mr. Graham—“Did you sit in the council with the gentlemen who were negotiating the treaty?”
- Mr. Baruch—“Yes, sir; sometimes.”
- Mr. Graham—“All except the meetings that were participated in by the Five?” (Meaning the Big Five premiers.)
- Mr. Baruch—“And frequently those also.”
