New-York tribune., 1919-05-09

that more than malt OIL FRANCES
youth had disappeared.
full emphasis every sharp phrase, and
the three Allied statesmen put their
heads together in evident anger at
more than one of the German spokes
mans cutting utterances, as II they
were celebrating upon the ACCESSIBILITY
of an immediate answer.
Leaders Discuss Address
The programme was unaltered, how
ever, and when the German plenipoten-
tiary had finished, Premier Clemenceau
arose and put the customary phrase:
Has any one further observations to
make ." and when there was no re
sponse, continued. ~ then declare the
session closed"
The Allied trumvirate remained
after the German delegates had left
for half-hour discussion of the new
situation.
The scene within the hall during the
ceremony had none of the pomp and
no display of court and military uni
forms such as marked the congresses
of Berlin and Vienna, no theatrical
ceremonial. 1t seemed to gain in i'm
pressiveness by these very circum-
stances.
At the head of the table the striking
faces of Premier Clemenceau, Lloyd
George and President Wilson attracted
every eye. Marshal Foch, sitting with
the French delegation at the head OF
one of the side tables was another
conspicuous figure. The bearded faces
of the Serbian statesmen, NJ. Pachitch,
and the Greek Premier, NJ Venizelos,
as we'll as the familiar head of Ignace
Jan Paderewski, the Polish Premier,
also stood out from the mass of dele
gates. The impassive faces of the Jap
anese representatives., the Oriental
linements of the Chinese, the brown
countenances Of the Arabs from He'd
jas, and the presence, even of the two
delegates from Liberia and Hayti, gave
evidence that this was really a world
congress.
The Germans, who entered the cham
ber with all the confidence of victors,
bore themselves without trace of
nervousness and acted as if they were
taking part in the deliberations on
equal terms with their adversaries.
The ceremony, which attracted to
the hall q crowd Of correspondents
and officials who began arriving at an
early hour, started at 1920 o'clock
when servants brought in huge arm
fuls of the printed conditions of peace
and distributed them, one copy to each
q
cepted, their copy being delivered to
them at 3:17 o'clock, during the trans
lation of Premier Clemenceaus speech.
AT 2:25 o'clock Premier Clemenceau
and Stephen Pichon, the French For
elgn Minister, entered for final sur
vey of the arrangements and then
lett to await the arrival of President
Wilson. Secretary of State Lansing
also appeared for an instant at 2:3O
o'clock. The minor delegates were
now streaming into the room and Writ
uaily all were assembled in their
places, when at 1855 o'clock President
Wilson, accompanied by the other
American delegates and Premiers Glenn
enceau and Lloyd George entered to-
gether and moved informally to their
places at the head of the table.
Italians Greet Wilson
renter orlando and FOre1gn Min
lister Sonnino of Italy followed an in
stant later. Both walked over to shake
hands with President Wilson and
Premier Clemenceau before seeking
their places.
While the assemblage was seating it.
self without signal at two or three
minutes after 3 o'clock Premier Glenn
enceau and President Wilson engaged
IN an animated conversation. Premier
Lloyd George and Arthur Balfour, the
British Foreign Secretary, also in
dulged in a chat. Premier Paderewski
during this interlude made a belated
appearance.
After five minutes wait Colonel
Henry, the French liaison officer, ap-
peared in the chamber, heralding the
approach of the German delegation.
The Germans entered the door an IN
slant later, preceded by functionary
OF the French government wearing the
glittering chain of his office, who an
nounced in loud voice, "Messieurs,
the German delegates" There was
some some little confusion among the Ger
mans while they were finding their
proper places. Count Won Brockdorff-
Kantzau, who entered gloves in hand,
TOOK the centre chair, with his five col
leagues and Director Won Stockham-
mer, of the Foreign Office flanking him
on either hand. Five German secre-
taries and their interpreters took their
places at tables in the rear.
Speech Translated Twice
Premier Clemenceau, as President of
the Congress, rose and declared the
session opened. Hc started Immediately
upon his opening speech, pausing to
permit this to be translated into Eng
lish and German by French interpret
ers. The translation into the German
was decidedly faulty and haltng
When the Premier concluded with the
customary phrase: "Has any one OBJ
servations to make" Count Won Brock
dorf-Rantzau raised his hand, but he
was not recognized until the Premier's
remarks had been translated.
During the translation, Paul Dutasta.
the general secretary of the Assem- oage,
proceeded across the open space in the
centre of the rectanglo and deposited
a copy of he peace treaty before the
head Of the German delegation
Count Won Brockdorff- -Rantzau has
the floor" said Premier Clemenceau, as
soon as the translation had been fin