Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-01-28
COUNCIL IS
UNITED ON.
SUBJECTS
OF PEACE
Nineteen Small Powers Give
Full Adhesion to 0rganiza-
ton Formulated by
Five Great Powers.
BY Associated Press.

Paris. Jan. 7.-The peace confer
ence today made a distinct gain
when the l9 small powers gave full
adhesion to the organization form
ulated by the five great powers,
thus securing united front OF the
great and small powers at the OUT
set of the work on the main sub
jects before the members of the
commission.
This was largely due to the skillful
direction of Jules Cambon, French
delegate and former ambassador at
Washington, who was designated by
the council of the great powers to
preside over the meeting of the
small powers held this afternoon.
This meeting convened at the fer
eign office at 3 o'clock at the same
time the council of the great pow
ers met, the two separate gatherings
proceeding simultaneously, one in
the office Of NJ. Pinchon, the foreign
minister, and the other in the Sale
De La Paix.
Full Delegations Present.
For a time there was some ex-
preston of the sequel to the differ
ent viewpoints expressed at Satur-
DAYS conference but today's meeting
of the small powers was without in
cident or renewal of the claims then
set up for increased representation
OF the various committees. Belgium,
Serbia, Roumania and all the other
small powers had their full delega-
tions at the afternoon meetings. ,s
M. Cambon in opening the meet
ing took occasion to allude to the
great part played by Serbia, Ru-
mania. Greece and others. This dis
sipated any lingering shadows Of dis
agreement, and the meeting proceed
ed with entire harmony to designate
the membership of the small powers
on the commission.
Two New Commissions.
In the meantime the council of the
great powers held two sessions dur
ing the day, resulting in the lorna
ton OF two new commissions to deal
with financial subjects and the ques-
ton of private and maritime laws.
While the official communiques
give no indication of the nature of
the question of maritime law. It
would seem to be term embracing
President Wilson's second point,
freedom Of the seas.
The council also proceeded TO
hearings on the disposition OF the
conquered German colonies in the
Pacific and the far east, final con-
clusion not being reached. The con-
ference is giving evidence OF real
progress since the committees were
named and most of these bodies be-
gan to initiate their work today.
Wilson Holds Conference.
President Wilson, who is chair
man OF the committee on the league
OF nations, joined his collegue
Colonel House, also member OF
that committee, during the noon re-
cess o fthe council. Later in the
day Lord Robert Cecil, British mem
ber of the committee joined him in
further consideration of the ques-
tions which the president and
CSlonel House had examined.
.Rhe labor commission also began
TO get under way. President Will
son met Samuel Gompers. president
of the American Federation OF
labor; James Duncan, John +. Al
pine and other members OF the
American labor delegation, for a
brief exchange of greetings, and
later Mr.. Gompers and Edward N.
Hurley, who are the American
members Of the labor commission.
held their first conference on the
work ahead
The military committee on de-
mobilization also had a session,
while NJ. Pichon completed the
draft of instructions for the COM
mission, which leaves for Poland in
Henry White, the American, dele
gate on the waterways commission,
also established relations with his
colleagues Of that body.
Thus, real progress on all the
main subjects is becoming apparent
as the commissions are beginning to
formulate detailed projects for pre-
sentation to the conference.