Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-01-19
Initial Session Opens With
President Of France Poin-
cares Speech Of Welcome;
ClemenCeau Chairman.
LEAGUE OF NATIONS TO BE
DISCUSSED NEXT Meeting
Two Hundred Newspaper Cor
respondents Present, Led by
American Scribes; Wilson
Seated in Post of Honor.
BY WILLIAM PHILLIP s1MMs.

BY WILLIAM PHILLIP SIN1NrS
Paris. Jan. 1s.-The conferences %
Paris began today,
Fixing the guilt for starting the war
and for tho crimes committed during
the war was the first task taken IN
b. tho delegates.
The league Of nations viii ha
brought before the next session. rres-
ident Poincare. in his speech of well
come. urged the conference to estab-
lish the league. The peace congress,
he declared, holds In It's hands the
future OF the world
During the translation OF Poincare's
speech President Wilson leaned for
ward, listening. At the conclusion
Poincare first shook hands with VIII
son. Then he shook hands with all
the others, passing around the hall
WILSON MAKES MOTION.
AT $3.50 o'clock this afternoon Glenn
eneeau took his place in the chair as
presiding officer. amid a fanfare OF
hugles outside the building.
Wilson then proposed Clemenceau as
permanent chairman.
4 do this" he said, "as a tribute to
the man, inasmuch as he deserves such
an honor In sense this is the su-
preme council Of the history q is,selfs
Kind. Victory has been won for man
kind. II is delightful to honor France
q distinguished man as Glenn
eEceau. | have acquired a real affec-
ton for him and believe that he feels
as we do that we are trusted to do a
great thing as promptly as possible"
GEORGE SECONDS.
LLOYD George. seconding the motion
TO make Clemenceau chairman. lauded
him as the most vigorous and useful
figure of past conferences"
We will not waste time under the
direction Of e1emenceau,' he said.
elemenceau was the allies courage
and inspiration IN the dark days. Lloyd
George declared.
7 consider it privilege to second
the motion"
sonnino also 1auded clemenceau.
Four vice presidents, representing
the great powers We're selected and =
on credentials was appointd
PRESS ScRlBES PRESENT,
Newspaper men were admitted to
this session. Led by American CORE
spondents. they are ready to make a
fight for more representation than al
loved by the amended rule, which pro
eides for a certain number Mt full con
ferenees and for secret sltt'ngs when
deemed expedient
French Foreign Minister Pichon
drove to Prince Murats palace and
picked up President Wilson there
la Aafr a..
gress. They drove to the "Quai
d,0rsay" together.
Poincare entered the hall shortly
aftenward There was a crowd outside
tile buildings, but the automobiles
bearing delegates dashed directly into
the courtyard. being distinguished by
The flags fluttefing from their hoods.
Therefore there was no opportunity
,or big demonstration.
THREE SIDED TABLE.
IN the center OF the conference han
was large table with three sides The
central was occupied by Po,nesre.
With Wilson and the American delega-
ion on his right while Lloyd George
and the British delegation sat on his
eft. Nine delegates from the British
iominions had places still farther to
he left A the right of the Amerjcan
delegation sat Clemenceau and French
representatives, and with them Mar
shal Foch, not as a member of the
french group, but as representative Of
he inter- allied command
Still further along the table were
he delegates from Rumania. Slam and
Uruguay in the order named. On the
1ther side We're the representatives of
lapan, Bolivia, China, Ecuador. G,iate-
nala. Honduras, Nicaragua. Peru, Por-
ugal Serbia, Gzeeho- Slovlka and like
Use Prince Emir Yayssal, representing
lis father, the Arabian kind of the
iediaz.
WILSON IN BIG CHAIR.
All the delegates We're seated In or
inarg chairs except Wilson and Poin
are, who occupied big chairs of state
before the congress opened Poincare
hook hands with all the representa-
ives. Andre Tardieu, of the French
'roup was the first to enter the hall.
IenrN White was the first American
elegate to enter. Foch followed.
hey began arriving rapidly. There
we're only a few minutes of general
and handshaking. Wilson
CONTINUED on Page Two.)