El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-01-18
PEACE CONGRESS
FORMALLY OPEN
Allied ENJOYS Meet In
Paris To Decide Destinies
Of the Nations.
6Coutiuued from page L.

FIRST formal SESSION OF the peace con-
rress al g o'clock this afternoon
No speech BY Wilson
While there had been some expecta-
linn that president Wilson might al
dress the opening session OF behalf
81 the foreign delegates, in response 10
president Poincare's address or vel
come % was finally determined that
there would be no speeches except
those by president Poin are and pre-
rrfer Clemenceau, when the premier
takes the chair a e the presiding officer
u the congress-
Han Ready for Delegates.
sale d'Horlogees now rechristened
the sale de la Paix and one OF the
most splendid reception rooms I'm Eu-
rope. had been placed in readiness for
the delegations as they inaugurate
the slttlnEs Of the full congress
FIRST % catch the eye OF the pleni-
rotenrfaries entering the hall a statue
n peace holding al0ft the torch OF
civilization had been placed This
heroic marble figure stands directly
behind the chair OF premier Clemen-
ceau. OF France, the presiding officer
In front Of the statue Is spread the
council q bic. covered with the ira
dltionzi green baise OF diplomacy
This table is IN the form or huge
horseshoe Across the upper end
are nine seats Of honor. Tor the pre-
siding officer. the vice presidents ana
prsmierz On each side OF the two
arms q the horseshoe there are 10
seats. making SO seats. besides the
nfne At the head Of the table.
Magnificent Setting.
Each deleEate's chair Is upholstered
n bright red leather and before each
place g. q complete equipment OF writ
Ing materials The fittings OF the
room are In white and gold. with a
frescoed ceiling. bordered by dancing
cuplds Four great luster chandeliers
hang from the ceiling, while i've large
windows, looking out over the Seine
river. cast a flood Of light over the
sumptuous parliament
Leading from the council room IS
another large chamber. overlooking
che gardens To this room the dele
yates can retire for consultatiors- A
large table at one end suggested that
refreshments would be served there
20 the delegates The whole suite
of rooms IS suggestive Of elegance and
beauty and the artistic taste OF the
French
when the supreme war council
adjourned Friday, there was
PENDING a plan for one open and
i've secret sessions per week
American press Representatives
decided At a meeting to continue
their efforts 60 have the publicity
feature q the peace congress alb
soluteIy unrestricted.
Another call was issued for meet
ing today for all press representatives,
including the French II Is under
stood that these concessions were
made after a vigorous discussion, led
10y president Wilson. who was sup
ported b. British delegates. Mr. Will
son has received many cahlegrams
from the United States urging him to
contend for the fullest publicity con-
sistent with the success Of the con-
Erezs.
To Renew Truce AEnIr.
The agreement for the renewal Of
the German armistice, signed by mar
shall Foch, admiral Browning and the
German armistics commissioners on
Thursday, provided for the renewal
of the armistice from time to time,
after the month Cor which the ex-
tension rms until the conclusion OF
peace. subject to the approval OF the
allied governments
The principal terms Of the renewal