The Washington herald., 1919-01-19

Paris. Jan. 1S.-warning the
peace delegates that the destintes
of the world are--$n their control,
President POincare today opened the
conference of Paris with a speech
in which he urged establishment OF
a league of nations to safeguard
humanity from further suffering.
POincare declared the nations which
made sacrifices in defense of right
would lay down the rules for the
league. Its aim, he said, would be
to prevent wars and gain respect
for the righteous peace the confer
ence is to establish.
Calling attention to the fact that
the German empire was born forty
eight years ago today, POincar3 said
it had ended its career in disgrace
and had sunk into oblivion, perish
ing by the sword it unsheathed.
Homage TO Suffering France.
President Poincare said:
"Gentlemen: France Ereets
and thanks you for having
unanimously chosen as the seat
Of your Iabors the city which
tor over four years the enemy
has made his principal military
objective and which the valour
of the allied armies has VIC
toriOusly defended against un-
ceasingIy renewed offensives.
Allow me to see in your de-
cision, the homage of all the
nations that you represent to-
wards a country which still
more than any others has en-
dured the sufferings of war; of
which entire provinces, trans
formed into vast battIefieIds,
have been systematically vast
ed by the invader and which has
paid humanity's tribute to
death.
France has borne these enor-
nous sacrifices without having in
CURED the slightest responsibility
for the frightful catastrophe which
has overwhelmed the universe;
and, at the moment when this
cycle of horror is ending, all the
powers whose delegates are as
sembled here may acquit them
selves of, any share in the crime
which has resulted in so unprece-
dented a disaster. What gives
you authority to establish a peace
of justice is the fact that none
of the people of whom you are
the delegates has had any part in
injustice. Humanity can place
confidence in you, because you are
not among those who have out
ragged the rights of humanity.
There Is No need Of farther in
formation or for special inquiries
into the origin of the drama which
has just shaken the world. The
truth, bathed in blood, already has
escaped from the imperial arch
ives. The premeditated character
of the trap is today clearly
proved.
Bound by Secret Plot.
In the hope of conquering. first.
the hegemOny of Europe and, next,
the mastery of the world, the Cen
trail Empires, bound together by a
secret plot, found the most abomi-
-, uable preteXt for trying to crush
Serbia and force their way to the
East. At the same time they dis
owned the most solemn undertake
inGs, in order to crush Belgium
and force their way into the heart
of France. These are the two un-
forgettable Outrages which-opened
the way to aggression. The COM
bined efforts of Great Britain,
France and Russia broke them
selves against that man-made ar
roEance.
IF. after long vicissitudes, those
who wished to reign by the sword
have perished by the sword. they
have but themselves to blame.
They have been destroyed by their
own blindness. What could be
more significant than the shame
full bargains they attempted to Of
fer to Great Britain and France at
the end of July. 1914, when to Great
Britain they suggested, Allow us
to attack France on land and we
will not enter the Channel and
when they instructed their Am
bassador to France to say. We
will only accept a declaration of
neutrality on your part if you sur
render to US Briey. TouI and Yer
dun
CONTINUED ON PAGE EIGHT.