The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-02-08
FRENCH DEPUTIES
HONOR WILSON
Address Delivered Before Cham
Der of Deputies and Dis
tinguished Audience.
DEPUTIES STAND WHILE
HE MAKES SPEECH
French Seem to Have Reached
Climax in Desire to Acclaim
American President.

Paris, Feb. 3.-(By the Associated
Press. s.)-President Wilson this even
ing delivered an address in the cham
Der of deputies having; as auditors
President Poincare the presidents OF
the chamber and the senate and large
numbers of members Of both houses
of parliament and the personnel OF
the French cabinet.
The president was accompanied to
the Palais Bourbon by President
Pojncare who called for him at the
Murat Mansion. Premier Clemenceau
and M. Dubost, speaker Of the senate,
also were in the party, which reached
the Palais Bourbon exactly at five
O'Clock.
PeauI Deschanel received the party
on the steps Of the building, standing
bare-headed in the damp and chilly
weather. The party then disappeared
into the chamber of NJ. Deschanel
leading the way with President Will
son and NJ Poincare walking side by
side, and with NJ. Dubost and NJ.
CIemenceau bringing up the rear.
Military honors were rendered By
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new uniforms and their full regalia.
The presidential party entered the
chamber amid fanfare Of bugles and
the rolling of drums. Then the band
Of the Republican Guard played the
American National Anthem and The
Marseillaise," all those inside the
chamber meanwhile rising and cheer
ing.
The chamber was decorated with
French and American flags. The
spacious room was packed to its limit
President Wilson, President Poln-
care and N. Clemenceau and NJ. Du-
bost were given seats facing the pres
dental chair which was occupied by
VI Deschanel, who opened the Sit
ting.
Mrs. Wilson, Nine. Poincare and
Mnlc Deschane] had seats in the pres
idential gallery while the diplomatic
section. was filled with many distin-
guished personalities, including mem
hers Of the peace conference, among
them David Lloyd George, B.:tiSn
prime minister; Arthur j. Balfou:'
British foreign secretary. and Secfe-
tary Lansing. All the ministers were
en- the government bench.
NJ. Dcschanel opened the sitting
with short but eloquent speech OF
welcome to which President Wilson
replied in English, an Interpreter
translating it into French.
As President Wilson rose and walk
ed toward the tribune, with qulcN
step, the deputies. senators aid 9TH
ers arose and cheered and applauded
for fully five minutes. The audience
INSISTED on hearing the presidents ad-
dress standing. VI. Poincare. ~
Clen.enceau and NJ. Dubost also stood.
This seemed to embarrass President
Wilson. who made gestures that the
deputies remain seated but they
shouted: Standing. We Will near
YOU standine!"
President Wilson turned to NJ. Des-
chs.ae ot-Sging him to ren'1hst that
-he deputies be seated but the presl-
deHt OF tho chamber shrugged his
shoulders as If helpless, and President
Wilson began in a low voice, which
gained force as he proceeded.
There was a ripple Of applause now
nd then as he was speaking but the
ma jority of the deputies and senators
werc unable to understand English
clearly: thus the enthusiasm did not
breai; out until the interpreter trans
iatcd the speech. Then deputies and
gave full vent to their feel
'ngs.