Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-05-02
Germans Present Creden-
tials at Meeting.
HIN SECRETARY
SHOWS EMOTION
The Initial Session Is Exceedingly
Brief And Lacking liz
FOrmaIitieS.
nv The Associated Press.)

Versailles, May LIN session be-
ginning at 3:15 o'clock this afternoon
and lasting barely five minutes the
German plenipotentiaries of the
peace congress presented their Gre
dentials.
It was the first step in the neace
negotiations. The German credentials
were presented, to representative OF
the allies and the United States.
Pale and almost fainting from emo
ton, Count Won Brockdorff- Rantzau,
the German foreign secretary and the
head of the delegation, passed thru
what evidently was one of the bitter
est moments of his life. He was bare
ly able to sustain himself through
the brief ceremony and reach the
waiting automobile, which had
brought him to the gathering.
TrianOn Hotel Scene.
The meeting took place in the room
Of the Trianon Hotel, previously used
for the sessions of the supreme mill
tary council Count Won Brockdorff-
Rantzau, on entering, was accompan-
led by Herr Landsberg, Professor
Schuecking, and two secretaries, and
waiting for him, the allied representa-
tives were grouped around Jules Cam
bon. the former French ambassador
to Berlin, who is chairman of the
commission.
Other members of the allied party
included Henry White, of the United
!, States; Lord Harding, Great Britain,
and Ambassador Matsui, Japan.
M. Cambon. Immediately addressed
Count Won Brockdorff- Rantzau, stat
ing that he was chairman of the
commission entrusted by the allied
powers to receive and examine the
credentials of the German delegates
as the first step in conference,
which, it was hoped, would lead to
peace.
Cambon Gives Credentials.
Here are ours" continued NJ. Cam
bon. extending as he spoke, the for
nal credentials of the allied commits
SION as plenipotentiaries to the con-
gress.
Count Won Brockdorff- Rantzau
surrendered the German credentials,
with even less Of a. formal address,
MS emotion being too great to en-
able him to deliver an extended dis
course.
After these brief ceremonies the
Germahs turned and left the hall,
walking a few steps to the cars in
waiting. They were followed imme-
n,ately bv the allied representatives.
IN VIZ Ne ceremony was over and
the allied delegates were pacing
pack tow ard Paris bv $3.50 o'clock.
Inc setting for the preliminary
meeting n, was dull and INEXPENSIVE.
Inc skies were overcast and there
were occasional bursts of rain. This
caused abandonment of the original
plan which contemplated having the
, :, delegates walk from the
motel Des Reservoirs across the park
70 the Hotel Trianon.
M. Discard Precedent.
This would have followed the in
voluntary precedent set by Louis
liners, the French delegate, in dis
ry - peace with Bismarck in 1870.
IT wiz 1CA IIdilS I0SlUSU dL CIlC
MOTEL Des Reservoirs and made his
way afoot to the little hotel occupied
w bismarck, then the worlds diplo-
matte center.
automobiles, instead, were provid-
81 today. M. Cambon was the first
VI the mission to arrive in his car, &C
e y by William Martin, chief
u protocol of the foreign office.
LORD nord Harding, accompanied by Sec
mary Henry hoffman, Ambassador
WWaatsul, with his secretary and Henry
.mnte, with, Secretary Christian Her
Yer followed in quick succession and
immediately entered the conference
n nooln 10 await the arrival of the Ger
!, count Won Brockdorff- Rantzau at
h hae entrance to the hotel raised his
m nay 70 group of photographers, cor
aesp:ondents and officers who stood
o oo., the building, then passed dir
e..ly to the conference room. The
,a;;langements for the ceremony pro.
s s;ued Tor strict privacy and the eclu.
s. OF all not Immediately concerned
nm y, the precincts of the hotel.
In. me French foreign office will issue
t IS.er a formal statement covering
tne DrOcnod;rn.