The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-19
SOLEMNITH REICNS
AS POINCARE SPEAKS
Expressions OF Lasting Friend
ships Numerous.
By the Associofed Press.

PARIS, Jan. 1s.-The peace congress
destined to be historic and on which the
eyes of the world are now centred, was
opened this afternoon in the great Sale
de la Paix. The proceedings. which were
confined to the election Of Georges
Clemenceau, the French Premier, as per-
manent chairman OF the conference an
address of welcome by the President Of
the French Republic, Raymond Poincare.
and speeches by President Wilson.
Premier Lloyd George and Baron Son
fiino. were characterized by expressions
OF lasting friendship and the apparent
determination OF the representatives of
the various nations to como to an ami
cable understanding with respect to the
problems to be decided by the confer
ence.
When President Poincare spoke the
entire assembly stood, and the fact that
according TO custom no applause
greeted his utterances gave greater So
lemnity TO the scene.
NJ Clemenceau's acceptance OF the
presidency OF the Congress was both a
feeling expression OF personal gratitude
and a definite outline OF the great
questions Immediately ahead. Three OF
these larger general subjects he defined
as responsibility for the war. RESPONSE
bility for crimes during the war and
International labor legislation. The
league OF nations, he declared. was at
the head Of the programme for the next
full session.
|. " Seats at Opening Session,
In all seventy-two seats were provided
for the opening session OF the peace
conference. On the outer side Of tho
| great horseshoe were arranged the Japa-
nese, the British and colonial delegates
and the seat OF the NTH British delegate
chair for the fifth American delegate
also was reserved Immediately to the
| right OF the table OF honor.
Tho italian, Belgian. Brazilian. Cuban,
Haytian. Peruvian. Portuguese, Serbian,
Czecho-slovakian and Uruguayan dele
gates sat In the order named. Across at
\ the left wing OF the table sat the Siam
/ csc. Rum anian. Polish. Llberian. Hedjas.
Guatemalan. Ecuadorean. Chinese and
Bolivian delegations.
AS the delegations arrived they were
| met by fanfares OF trumpets and re-
ceived military honors by the troops.
The japanese were among the earlier
arrivals and were followed By tho Sia-
mese and East Indians in picturesque
| turbans
President Wilson's arrival at ten min
| utes OF was the signal for demon
! stration from the crowds. The p-,-I.
| dent passed into the ante-chamu-7,
| where NJ. Pichon. the French Foreign
Minister awaited. and conducted him
| to the council room.
Already tho Chambcr was crowded
with delegates, who greeted President
Wilson warmly as he passed toward
the table OF honor. Here he was Joined
by Secretary Lansing, Mr.. white and
| Gen. Bliss. and exchanged greetings
| with the British and many other dele
gates
Trumpets Blsre for Poincarc.
Just at o'clock n life OF drums and
blare of trunrpets announced the ap-
| proach of NJ. Poincare. The French
/, President was escorted by the group Of
Premiers 10 the head of the table, while
a hush fell upon the assemblage AS the
moment arrived for the opening of the
congress.
| 1t WAS exactly three minutes past 3
when VI. Poincare began his address,
and the peace conference came into be-