The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-19


Belgians. Rumanians and Brazilians
were on the outside Of the, right hand
table.
Nearly all OF these seats were filled
before the first occupants Of the nine
chairs At the head Of the table. which
were an object OF the greatest interest,
began to arrive with their secretaries.
The room held several hundred persons
and while the public was not admitted
all attaches were allowed, including
Bernard Baruch and>other Americans
Col. House Is Not Present.
President Wilson was the first OF the
chief figures in the great drama to ar
rive, accompanied by all the members
of the American mission except Col
f. NJ. House. who still Is too Ill to at
tend. Diplomatic procedure does not
permit of applause on such occasions,
but as the frock coated form Of the
head OF the United States was seen
advancing a stir was apparent in the
assemblage, majority OF the dele
gates not having seen him before.
British Foreign Minister Balfour
and President, Wilson are easily the
tallest Of the delegates. the great ma
jority of the delegates being small
men. There was another stir when
Marshal Foch appeared behind the
President. Premier Clemenceau came
a minute later and at once became es-
gagged in an animated conversation
with President Wilson, who took the
chair to the right Of that reserved for
President Poincare, with Secretary
Lansing, Henry White and Gen. Bliss
on his right. Tho first chair to the
left Of the French President was re-
served for Premier Lloyd George who
came in eighteen minutes late while
President Poincare was speaking. The
tall form Of Foreign Minister Balfour
lowered above all.
shaver Faces the Exception.
1t was a composite picture Of most
Of the civilized world. Germanic faces
alone being missing. Moustaches and
boards VASTLY predominated, the
shaver face Of President Wilson
showing UP conspicuously in this re-
spect.
The hum of voices suddenly became
hushed Just as the hands OF the Won
derful clock in the hall passed the
figure 3. Over the crowded room a
great figure of France cast its be-
nignart eye, as II were symbolical of
the hopes OF the world centred upon
the men standing beneath.
Without introduction Of any kind
and amid perfect silence President
Poincare, whose diminutiveness was
accenuated by the tall figure OF Presi-
dent Wilson beside him, began reading
his speech OF welcome. the delegates
all standing behind their chairs. His
first words were uttered in a low voice,
but the bilingual feature OF the con-
ference was emphasized when immedi-
ately an interpreter rendered the
speech in English.
Voice OF America Heard.
There was moment Of silence
again and then voice speaking in
English was heard, reaching every
corner Of the great hall. 1t was the
voice Of America, speaking for the
first time to such gathering. in the
person OF its President, who moved
the election OF the French Prime Min
lister as chairman, thus paying France
the first great honor OF the occasion.
The speech Of President Wilson was
one of the most graceful he ever has
made, particularly in his compliments
70 the nation which has suffered most.
His reference to Premier Clemenceau
10 regarded as particularly significant.
Z Evidently II was framed carefully and
possibly is suggestive OF hopes for an
accord in the future
ful =
speech the address OF Premier Lloyd
George, which followed, seemed TO
break the solemnity that had lain like
Il spell over the assemblage and
brought the first laugh. Thereafter
it was more informal.
II was partly the quizzically humor-
GUS expression on the rudy face of
the little Welshman when he chaffed
Premier Clemencean about his longev
ity but really the interpreters error
in translating the British Prime Min
istsr's English 'the grand young
man OF France" into the French
husky young man Of France" that
caused the laugh, for which all the
English speaking delegates were pre-
pared.
Premier Clemenceau's white mus
taches trembled as he laughed his Pc
ouliar suppressed laugh, and through
out the room one saw the strange sight
of nearly d hundred OF the world
greatest men met upon the worlds
greatest mission, breaking into laugh
ter Some OF the English almost guf-
tawed, the French and Italians wrig-
gled expressively, the Spanish Ameri-
cans pulled their mustaches and finally
the turbaned Arabs realized that some
thing funny had happened and smiled
family dignified smiles. Only the
japanese retained their sph!nxlike
calm.
lights were switched on and the red
gold room flashed into brilliant white
light that sparkled from the facets of
tho candelabra and seemed further to
enliven the gathering. BY an odd CO.
incidence, the light in the alCove or
side room occupied by the newspaper
men, the protagonists OF daylight upon
the proceedings, was lighted before
the main room so that for a moment
the delegates sat in comparative dark
ness.
Following Premier Lloyd Georges
speech came a brief one by Foreign
Minister Sonnino for Italy. He spoke
in French. Thus the three great Powers
had enoken hut the Japanese remained