The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-01-26

Paris, Jan. 23.--"The Crillon peace
conference" 1t has come TO he called.
this daily meeting between the Amer
lean correspondents and the mem
hers of tho American commission to
negotiate peace. which occurs In the
red room of the Hotel CrillOn. on the
place De LA Concorde. Here at lu'3 80
O clock every morning except sunday.
the men who gather the news or the
great affair over here for The Aneri-
can press associations and newspapers
meet for a conference on inquiry ana
confidential instruction with the -FOUR
plenipotentiaries whom Mr.. wilson
has desi grated 10 represent the tnited
States at tld peace table.
In it's way the daily function is not
without interesting formalities, Es-
tablished at the presidents own sug-
restion in order that the newswrtfers
! over here might have the benefit or
the peace commissioners counsel on
: the thousand and one obscure points
! that will arise in this settlement OF
+ the affairs OF the world, the session IN
the red room partakes in measure
Of the dignity OF an affair of state
! There are hedges and restriction
/ thrown around it quite comparable 10
/ the formalities surrounding n cspl-
net session; Il seriousness of deport-
ment and somewhat rigid etiquette
obtains on both sides, which lends the
weight of gravity to the AFFAIR.
! None but American correspondents
duly accredited as representatives or
! American journals. magazines or
news associations is eligible for at
tendance Each correspondent must
show a special army pass before ne
NAV gain admittance To the hotel u
self, and a soldier at the door OF the
red room inspects this pass second
time before the conference room may
be gained.
Tho newspapermen usually gathered
IN the large natl outside Of the rec
room and pass in ss body wher
an ORDERLY announces that the com
misstouers are ready to receive them
With Secretary OF state Lansing 1T
their midst Mr.. White and Genera
Bliss are waiting. standing In line
, against the western end of the beauti-
fully furnished room, The cor
RESPONDENTS bow. exchange greetings
and range themselves In semi-ctrcie
before the statesmen--about nfty OF
them at each conference.
II is all very formal. There r. ar
air Of stiffness about the proceedings
Them from the secretary:
II n.td not remind you again gen
tlempr. that we are here. not TO give
YOU news but to answer questions al
best we can and that everything ina
passes between. us snail be hein IT
etrictest confidence.
This latter injunction tho secretary
knows himself, from Washington ex
perlenSt, is not 1ikeiy to be violated
half his audience is comprised 81 mer
with whom ne has been dealing or
tta same terms for several years ane
The other half holds instinctive1y tt
the code Of honor. which is the Amer
ican newsrapermans
Then the question commence com
ing.
seemingly by consent, the commits
sionern permit Mr.. Lansing to be their
ispok esman: only when he turns &c
one of them for help in giving an an
swer or conformation Of his statement
does he share responsibilities. MT
Tansine's answers come slowly
thouPhtfuily. AZ II he weighed care
fully each word before delivering II
II he cannot give an answer 10
question. through lack OF knowledse
ne says so frankly: with equal frank
ness ne denies an answer when
would be impolitlc to reveal infor'
nation at this time. Occasionally ne
permits himself a shadowy smile wner
he ends the correspondents duizzins
pursuing by artful indirectjon course
toward a forbidden subject
! While MIR. Lansing undergoes tne
half hour OF rapid fire interrogation
the attitudes of the other commis'
Esioness arc interesting studies
General Bliss. who always a ppears
tof course in uniform with ribbons oi
this and that campaign on the breast
Of his tunic. stands with feet apart
and arms folded across his chest, ms
head held slightly forward in a pos
ture of keen attention. HIS voice
when on rare occasions he supplies
word. comes in deep rumble
Mir. White, man big of body and
| with a huge head, rocks back anc
forth on heels and toes at the con
Eference. smiling gently at times, pur'
sing his mouth and putting out his
! cheeks when a particularly knottS
problem is touched upon. He gives
the impression Of rather envynG MT
Lansing his job Of talking.
AS for the correspondents, not more
than FIVE of whom are familiar with
paris and the vast inVolutions OF
European politics. these daily guides
through the mazes of the biggest news
story since the food are n tonic In
preparaiion for day OF dis,ressful
proptng in strange country.
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