The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-01-17
THE STATESMEN MEET
AROUND GREEN TABLE
Supreme Council of Peace Congress
Holds Its First Session
i'm Paris.

Paris, Jan. 16.-The supreme
council of the peace congress. con-
sisting of President Wilson and pre-
miers and foreign ministers of the
four great powers. Great Britain,
France, United States and Italy.
met at 3 o'clock Monday at the
French foreign office for the first for
NAL exchange OF ideas.
The meeting was chiefly interest
ed in it's personal aspects-the
bringing together for the first time
in contact of the worlds best known
statesmen, who are now the guiding
figures of the congress. The scene
as they assembled was one of unus-
ual activity.
The day was dark and raw, and
the statesmen arrived at the meeting
place in heavy wraps. The usual
Sunday calm across the Seine was
interrupted by the great crowds
which lined the Quai D'Orsay, anx-
ious to pay tribute to the notable fig
ures concerned in the worlds most
dramatic function. Lines Of soldiers
and other guards preserved order.
Marshal Foch was the first OF the
high plenipotentiaries to arrive. He
came at 2 o'clock. and finding him
self in the van of the delegations he
waited in the vestibule.
Soon after FoCh came Robert
Lansing, the American secretary Of
state, accompanied by his military
aide. who was followed by Mr.. Fra
ger, counsellor OF the American en-
bassy, who is now attached to the
person of Colonel House.
Wilson's limousine swung up to the
entrance The President was accom-
panied by Mrs. Wilson and was
greeted with "Vive Wilson" With
the President and his wife were Ad-
miral Grayson, the Presidents ply
sician. As he alighted President
Wilson lifted his hat to Mrs. Wilson
who drove away with Admiral Gray
son
AS Mr.. Wilson entered the vesti-
bule of the foreign Office Stephen
Pichon. the French foreign minister,
stepped forward TO greet him and
escorted him into his private office,
where the conference was held.
NJ. Clemenceau, the French prime
minister, followed. He was alone
and bore serious mein.
Signor Orlando. the Italian pre-
mer. came soon afterwards, accom-
panied by Signor Sonnino, his for
eign minister.
The last 70 arrive was David LLOYD
George. the British prime minister,
and Arthur J. Balfour. the British
foreign secretary, who motored up
together.
In addition to the chief factors
announced above were NJ. Leygues
the French minister OF marine: NJ
Clemcntel, minister of commerce.
and NJ. Loucheur. minister OF indus.
trial construction.
The conference opened promptly
at ? o'clock From the Offices OF NJ.
Pichon. the vista was over the gar
dens Of the foreign ministry. The
desk Of NJ Pichon had been pushed
back and a large table OF Flemish
oak substituted a large marble
statue Of the republic, surmounted
by cap OF liberty. looked down on
the assembled statesmen who found
themselves gathered for the first
time around the traditional green
table"
The meeting was an extended
one. II was mainly for the purpose
OF settling new terms for proionging
the armistice. which expires Jan
uary II, and for determining the
number and composition OF the dele
cations OF the various countries for
the sessions OF the peace congress
which is about to open.
AS a result OF the council II is
explained that formal notices will be
issued convoking the conference. as
signing the fixing OF the hours of
meeting.
The council ushers in the long
awaited meeting OF the peace dele