South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-19
ARRIV AL OF
DELEGATIONS
PICTURESQUE
lust at 3 O'clock a RUffIe of
Drums and the Blare of
TrumpetS Announce
NJ. POinCare.
Associated Press service

Associated Press Service:
PARIS, Jan. IS.-The peace
congress. destined TO Do historic
and on which the eyes of the world
are now ccntered. was opened this
afternoon i'm the great Sale dc Ia
Paix. The proceedings. which
were confined To the election Of
Georges CIcmenccau. the French
premier. rs permanent chairman
of the conference. an address Of
welcome by the president of the
French republic. Raymond Poin-
care. and speeches by Prcs't WI
son. Premier lloyd George and
Baron SOnnino. were characterized
by expressions OF lasting friend
ship and the apparent determine
ton Of the representatives OF the
various nations TO come To an
amicable understanding with re-
spect to the problems TO be de-
cided by the conference.
When Pres't POinCarc spoke. the
entire assembly stood. and the fact
that, according TO custom, no ap-
pIause greeted his utterance. gave
greater sOIemnity 10 the scene.
NJ. Clemenceau's acceptance Of the
presidency OF the congress was botn
a feeling expression OF personal
gratitude and a definite outline 81
the great questions immediately
ahead. Three OF these larger gen
eral subjects he defined as respOn
sibilitv for the war, responsibility
for crimes during the war and in
ternationaI labor legislation. The
league Of nations. he declared. was
at the head Of the program for the
next fun session.
"Our ambition is great and noble
one" said NJ. Clemenccau. 1--WE wish
to avoid a repetition Of the catas-
trophe which hathed the world in
blood. II the league Of nations is 20
be practicable we must all remain
united Let as carry out our pro-
gram quickly and in an effective
manner.
Referring TO the authors Of the
war he said he had consulted two
eminent jurists on the penal respon-
sibility Of the former German en-
peror. and each delegate would re-
ceive a copy Of that report.
In all - seats were provided foI.
the opening session OF the peace
conference. on the outside OF the
great horseshoe were arranged the
japanese. the British and colonial
delegates and the seat Of the ffth
British delegate. chair for tho
fifth American delegate also was re-
served Immediately 70 the right 90
the table OF honor.
The italian. Belgian. Brazilian.
Cuban. Haitian. Peruvian Port1-
guese. Serbian. Czecho- Slovakien
and CrugUayan delegates sat in ths
order named Across at the Ief-
wing OF the table sat the Siamese.
Roumanian. Polish. Liberian. He'd
jaz. Guatemalan. Ecuadoran. Chinese
and Bolivian delegations.
As tho DELEGATIONS arrived ther
were met bv fanfares and trumuefa
and accorded military honors Ths
Japanese were among tho earlier ar-
rivals and were followed bv Tia
Siamese and East Indians in p.ctur-
csque turbans
Pres't Wilson'S arrival 90 DO min-
utes OF Q was the signal for dem
onstration from the crowds. Ths
president passed into the ante
chamber where 81 Pichou tina
French foreign minister awaitst
AMI conducted him TO the count
room.
Chamber Was Crowded.
Already the chamber was crowd
ed with delegates who greeted
Prest Wilson warmly as nc passed
toward the table of honor Here IS
was Joined br ~ec'y lansing. Ar
White and Gen. Bliss. and e.
changed greetings smith the British
and many other delegates
Just ~ o O'Clock q rufne of drum
and blare o. trumpets aunounceI
the approach OF 81. Poincare The
French president vas escorted D.
the group Of premiers 20 the head
N the table. while a hush fell upon
the assemblage as ;he moment arr
rived for the opening Of the con-
sress
10 was exactly three minutes pase
2 O'Clock when ST. Poincare besaR
his address and the peace congress
came into beirg. The entire asseul-
hlage stood as the president spoke
Pres't Wilson stood Immediately at
his right and listened attenttely. n.
Foincare spoke in an earnest. easy
manner without declamatory effect.
and following which there was I'D
81 POircare spoke in
French and. when he haI conclua-