Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-01-18
MEETING TO REQUIRE
MANY WEEKS FOR
SETTLEMENTS
WILSON TAKES LEAD
AMERICAN EXECUTIVE OCCUPIES
MOST IMPORTANT PLACE OF
ANY ENJOYS AT CONFERENCE
SET IN MOTION TODAY.

Paris, Jan. 1S.-Exactly forty-cight
years after William | had proclaimed
himself the German emperor at Yer
sailles, peace ENJOYS from twenty-five
associated powers met here today to
settle the fate of the German nation.
The first session of this historic
peace conference-probably the most
important international gathering
since the beginning of mankind-was
scheduled to open at 3 p. IN, at the
foreign office. Arrangements were
made for the seating of upwards of
one hundred ENJOYS and invitations
were extended to fifteen journalists
three of them Americans- to be pres
ent to hear President Poincare deliv-
err his address of welcome to the plen-
ipotentiaries.
End Gag Rule.
The publicity controversy that had
been raging for three days was set
tied upon the eve OF the conyening
of the conference by allowing a linn
tied number of correspondents to be
: present at the plenary sessions with
Ythe reservation that they could be
excluded when expediency demanded
it.
Wilson at the Helm.
The foremost statesmen of the
world were gathered here for the con
ference with President Wilson taking
the lead in the movement for the Gre
alton of league of nations that is
designed to make wars forever i'm
possible
The negotiations are TO take up
many weeks before the sessions are
transferred to Versailles, where the
final treaty will be sisned,
Great crowds had begun to gather
early along the thoroughfares lead
ing TO the Quai D'Orsay and around
the foreign office. where a military
guard was established.
Meet in Foreign Office.
Inc CLOAK room OF Jnc foreign OIL
fee, containing an immense horseshoe
shaped table. was selected as the
meeting place of the delegates The
seating arrangements placed the
American commissioners President
Wilson, Col. f. NJ. House, ':ecretar.
of State Lansing, Henry White and
General Tasker fl. Bliss opposite
the British ENJOYS.
The Italian envoys Premier Or
lando. Baron Sonnino the foreign
minister. aud three others were
placed opposite the French delega
ton.
The Japanese commission, readed
by the Marquis Saionj, was put op-
posite the Brazilians.
CIemenceau Presides.
Premier ClemenCeau was selectc@
to preside. The program for the
initial session called for the selection
of a secretary probably A. Ductata
the approval of methods of procedure
and the clearing up of minor details.
One OF tne HTSt SIedL lHlerHdtlpldi
questions which Will be taken up by
the conference is he situation in Rus.
sia, with the disturbing problem OF
bOlsheviSm.
Germany Not Represented.
The central powers will not be rep
resented at the preliminary confer
ence. but their ENJOYS will be called
in later after the allied plenipoten
tiaries have settled the problems di
rectly involving them.
Additional seats had been allotted
TO the Servians and Belgians by the
supreme inter1allied war council just
twenty-four hours before the confer
ence, an action that was warmly re
ceived by the French press today.
Chair There for Foch.
Premier Clemenceau, as the presid
ing officer. was assigned to the chic
seat at the head of the table At hi'
right was an extra chair for Presiden
Poincare; at his left was another spe
cial chair for Marshal Foch. who ha'
just arrived from Treves, where h,
gave the Germans an extension of tht