The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-01-19
72 SEATS PROVIDED


 |. In all, 72 seats were provided for the opening session of the peace conference. On the outer side of the great horseshoe were arranged the Japanese, the British and colonial delegates, and the seat of the fifth British delegate. A chair for s the fifth American delegate was also re- served immediately to the right of the table of honorI.
 , The Italian, Belgian, Brazilian, Cuban, Haitian, Peruvian, Portuguese. Serbian, Czecho -Slovakien and Uruguyan dele gates sat in the order named. Across ct the left wing of the table sat the Siat mese. Rumanian, Polish, Liberian, He'd jag, Guatemalan, Ecuadoran, ChineseIs Inc Bolivian delegations.
 As the delegations arrived they were met by fan fares of trurnpets and accord ed military honors by the troops The Japanese were among the earlier arrivals and were followed bs the Siamese and East Indians in picturesque turbans.
 President Wilson's arrival at-10 minutes of 3 was the signal fp5r demonstrtaior ] from the crowds. The President passed into the ante chamber, where M. Pinchon the French foreign iminister, awaited, and conducted him tolthe council room.
 Already the chamber was crowded with delegates. who greeted President Wilson [ warmly as he5' passed toward the table oi honor. HeI.e he was joined by Secre. tary Lansing. MT. White and General Bliss, and exchanged greetings with the British <and many other delegates.
 JustT at o'clock rdrfle of drums and blarIA of trumpets announced the ap- pr,6ach of M. Poincare, The French reresident was escorted by the group oi premiers to the head of the table, while a hush fell upon the assemblage as the moment arrived for the opening of the congress-
 OPENS AT 3:O3
 It was exactly minutes past o'clock {. when NJ Poincare began his address, and the peace congress came into being. The entire assemblage stood as the President spoke. President Wilson stood mmedi ately at his right and listened attentively M. Poincare spoke in an earnest, easy manner, without declamatory effect, and following usage, therewas no applause o Interruption.
 M. Poincare spoke in French, and wher he had concluded an interpreter read the discourse i'll English.
 As M. Poincare closed he turned {, receive the congratula tions of President Wilson and Premier Lloyd George, anc ! then withdrew, greeting each delegation as he retired.
 President Wilson rose as M. Poincare made his exist. Tt gives me great pleas ure,' he said, ito propose as permanent chairman of the conference Mr. Clemen- ceau.'
 President Wilson spoke in converse tional voice, which, however, carried throughout the chamber as he paid elo- quent tribute to the French premier
 Premier Lloyd George seconded tho nomination of Nj. Clemenceau, speakine ] earnestly of the distinguished servlce the French premier had rendered in wal and peace.
 Baron 5upnino, the Italian fcrn'cp min ister, added 1taly's tribute, whereupor the election of Mir Ciemenceau as pre- siding officer was made unanimously.
 In feeling address MT. Clemenceat acknowledged the honor conferred upor him. He turned first to President Wilson and bowed his thanks then to MT Lloyd George for the tribute he had paid him i 1t was not alone q tribute to him, ht said, but to France
 MUST REMAIN FRIENDS we have come together as friends he exclaimed; i've must leave this hal as friends
 Referring to the league of nations, NJ a Clemenceau declared it was already ir sthe way of being achieved by the gath ering of this conference.
 He then turned to the programme o the conference. which he said covered
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