Newark post., 1919-08-06
GIVES ILLUMINATING
DETAILS OF THE PEACE
CONFERENCE
Prof. Charles Seymour Says
League of Nations Hast
ened Peace

The second Of the series Of
lectures given before the Summer
School by Professor hCarles Sey-
mour threw some interesting side
lights on the personalities Of the
men composing the Peace Confer
ence and their methods Of working.
His position as expert adviser to
the members Of the American dele
cation and his unusual powers Of
observation and Of vivid descrip-
ton made his word picture OF the
"jnside workings" Of the Confer
ence especially interesting.
Contrary TO the opinion held by
some Americans, ne said, there
were very few social affairs dur
ing the this Conference as has
been the custom among previous
treaty making bodies. There were
only few dinners. and the Brit
ish gave a dance At their hotel
every Saturday night. The official
members Of the Conference, how
ever. were there for important
business and attended TO il faith
fully working long hours to get
the treaty finished.
He reviewed the personnel OF
the Conference. stating that there
were 32 states or nations repre-
sented many with more than 100
delegates. Each delegation had at
tached to it large staff Of experts.
The American delegation alone
numbered 700 to 500 persons COM
pr;S;ng three secretaries.
technical advisers and territorial
,dvisers-in addition to the ex-
ecutive officers.
Americas preparation for peace
was outlined and to the surprise
Of many it was stated that one OF
the first things the president did
when this country entered the wal
was TO send to Europe selected ex,
perts 10 prepare data on the ter
ritorial and racial situation there
These were sent over in the spring
Of 1917 and by September Of the
same year. organizations had beer
created which continued THEN
work until the armiStice was sign,
ed. collecting an enormous amount
Of data. In fact a month before
this event this organization had
drawn up plans for boundaries
with their recommendations.
These experts were asked 10 be
present al many Of the meetings
in order that President Wilson and
Secretary Lansing might have
their advice and have free access
10 the facts obtained whenever
complex questions came up for dis
cussion. The American delega-
tion, ne said was considered the
strongest in the conference with
regard 70 facts.
His amusing exposition Of the
characteristics Of the ten big
men"-two from each Of the big
countries, England, France, Italy.
The United States and Japan. and
their attitudes when weighty ques-
tionS were under discussion. was
particularly enjoyable. The utter
lack Of pose or Of any attempt at
theatrical effect was the despair of
artists who sought to depict what
was without doubt. the most i'm
portant conference in the history
Of the world. The absolute SINGER
ity and Of these great men and
their desire 10 get the treaty finish
ed as quickly as the complexity OF
the situation would permit. was
the outstanding characteristic OF
the Conference.
President Wilson's method OF
dealing with important question:
was explained as most Thorough
and painstaking-he told his ex
perts that ne expected them 70 pre-.
sent him with facts; that ne want
ed them TO be absolutely sure 0.
the facts; and that ne would argue
them before the Conference. H
stood at all times for reparatior
as complete as possible and fol
guarantees as sure as possible
with a just peace. He paid a higl
tribute TO President Wilson de
claring him to be the biggest maj
at the Conference"
Tells What Conference Did
In the final lecture of the serie
he made clear with the aid of map