The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-05-08

Il 81
scene at today's session of the peace
congress when the terms of the treaty
were presented to the German dele
Rates was an impressive one, and
the function was not without it's tense
moments. Indeed, the entire half
hour which it took Count Won Brock
dorff- -Rantzau to deliver his reply to
Premier Clemenceau was a period of
fenseness for President Wilson, Pre-
uier Clemenceau and Premier Lloyd
George, and in fact for virtually
eyery one present.
The speech was translated, SEN
tence by sentence by the German in
terpreters, who did not fail to bring
out with full emphasis every sharp
phrase in it, and the three allied
statesmen put their heads together
In evident anger at more than one Of
the German spokesman's cutting ut
terances. as if they were deliberat-
ing upon the advisability of an i'm
mediate answer.
The program was unaltered, how
ever. and when the German plenipo-
tentiary had finished Premier Glenn
enceau arose and put the customary
phrase:
HAS any one further observations
to make?1 and when there was no
response, continued:
& Il then declare the session closed"
The allied triumvirate- remained
I after the German delegates left for
a half hour discussion of the new sit
nation.
The scene within the hall during
the ceremony had none Of the pomp
and glitter of earlier peace confer
ences-no display of court and mill
tary uniforms such as marked the
congresses of Berlin and Vienna, no
theatrical ceremonial. 1t seemed TO
gain in impressiveness, however, by
these very circumstances.
At the head of the table Premiers
Clemenceau and Lloyd George and
President Wilson attracted every
eve. Marshall Foch, sitting with
the French delegation at the head of
one of the side tables was another
conspicuous figure. The bearded
faces of the Serbia statesma. NJ.
Pachitch, and the Greek premier,
nj. Venizelos, as well as the familiar
head of Ignac Jan Paderewc'i, the
Polish premier also stood out from
bthe mass of delegates. The impas-
sives faces Of the Japanese represen-
tatiyes. the Oriental lineaments OF
s. the Chinese, the brown countenances
OF the Arbabs from Hedjas and the
presence even Of the two delegates
from Liberia and Haiti gave evidence
that this was really world congress.
Confident As vietors.
The Germans who entered the
chamber with all the confidence OF
yictors bore themselves without a
trace of nervousness. and acted as II
they were taking part IN the delib-
erations on equal terms With their
adversaries.
The ceremony which attracked to
the hall a crowd Of correspondents
and officials who began arriving at
an early hour, started at 2:20 o'clock
M when servants brought in huge arm
ffuls of the printed. conditions OF
peace and distributed them, one
Fcopy to each delegation, around the
hollow rectangle. The Germans only
were excepted, their copy peing de-
!. livered to them at 3:17 o'clock dur
4 ing the translation OF Premier Cle'
menceau's speech.
A. 995 o'clock Premier Clemen-
ceau and stephen Pichon, the French
foreign minister, entered for final
survey of the arrangements and
Vi then ,srrtt to await the arrival OF
N president Wilson. Secretary Lans'
ing also appeared for an instant at
o.3o o'clock. The minor delegates
4 now were streaming into the room
and virtually all we're assembled in
+heir places when at 1855 o'clock
president Wilson, accompanied by
(. the other American delegates ana
Premier Clemenceau and Lioyo
George entered together and moved.
informally to their places at the neao
of the table. ,,..
Premier Orlando and Foreign MIN
lister Sonnino of Italy followeds an
y, 80
over to shake hands with President
Wilson and Premier Clemenceau De-
fore seeking their places.
German ENJOYS Announced.
After a five minutes wait Col.
Henry. the French liaison officer ap-
reared in the chamber, heralding the
approach OF the German deleSstion.
THE Germans entered the door an m
stant later, preceded by a function
ary of the French government wear
ing the glittering chain of his once,
who announced in loud voice;
"Messieurs, the German delegates"
There was some httle confusion
among the Germans while they we1e
Anding their proper places. Count
Von Brockdorff- -RantZau, who en-
tered. took the center chair, with his
ave colleagues, and Director Ven
Stockhammer, of the foreign othce.
i fanking him on either hand. Five
~ German secretaries and their inter-
nreters took their places at tables IN
the rear.
premier Clemenceau, as president
~ the congress, then arose aud de-
cIared the seksion opened. he
started Immediately upon his open
inr speech, pausing to permit this
IN he translated into English and
German by French interpreters. The
translation into the German was de-
cidedlv hating and faulty The pre-
,,,ier then addressed the German
arain 10 explain the conditions of
the negotiations, telling them there
uould be no cral discussions permit
TED and that they must submit their
observations in writing within fifteen
days. u,I,.
THE premier then read the headings
of the treaty and made his sugges-
Hon that the Germans, within q few
davs. might be ready to commence
tbe discussion Of certain sections OF
the treaty.
when the premier concluded with
tho customary phrase, has anyone
any observations to make" Count
Won Brockdorff- -Rantzau raised his
band. but he was not recognized uui
= iii the premier's remarks had been
translated.
DurinE the translation. Paul Du-