Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1919-01-24
GREAT PEACE
CONGRESS OPENS
The French Premier Elected
Permanent Chairman
OUTLINES WORK AHEAD
Responsibility For War And War
Grimes And Labor Legislation on
Program - u Delegates
Provided For.


to be historic and now centered, was
opened Saturday afternoon in the
great Sale de la Paris. The proceed
ings, which were confined to the elec.
tion OF Georges Clemeneeau, the
French Premier, as permanent chair
man of the Conference, an address of
welcome by the President Of the
French Republic Raymond Poincare,
and speeches by President Wilson,
Premier Lloyd George and Baron
Sonnino. were characterized by ex-
pressions of lasting friendship and
the apparent determination of the
representatives Of the various nations
to come to an amicable understanding
with respect to the probsms to be de-
cided by the conference.
When President Poiucare spoke, the
entire assembly stood, and the fact
that. according to custom, no applause
greeted his utterance gave greater
solemnity to the scene.
NJ Clemenceau's acceptance of the
presidency Of the Congress was both
a feeling expression OF personal graf.
itude and a definite outline of the
great questions Immediately ahead.
Three Of these larger general subjects
he defined as responsibility for the
war, responsibility for crimes during
the war and international labor leg
islation. The League OF Nations. he
declared, was at the head of the pro-
gram.
"Our ambition is a great and noble
one" said NJ Clemenceau- 1--WE wish
to avoid repetition of the catastrophe
which bathed the world in blood. If
the league Of nations is to be practi-
cable, we must all remain united Let
us carry out our program quickly and
in an effective manner"
Referring to the author Of the war,
he said be had consulted two eminent
jurists on the penal responsibility of
the former German Emperor and each
delegate would receive a copy Of that
report
In all 72 seats were provided for the
opening session of the Peace Confer
ence. On the other side of the great
horseshoe were arranged the Jap
anese, the British and Colonial dele
gates and the seat Of the fifth British
delegate. A chair for the fifth Amer
lean delegate also was reserved i'm
mediately to the right of the table OF
honor.
The Italian, BELGIAN, Brazilian,
Cuban, Haitian, Peruvian, Portuguese,
Serbian. Czecho-Slovahan and Uru-
guyan delegates sat in the order
named. Across at the left wing OF
the table sat the Siamese. Roumanian.
Polish, Liberian, Hedjaz, Guatemalan,
Ecuadorean, Chinese and Bolivian
delegations.
The first formal session of the
press of all nations. How many of
the succeeding sessions will by the
decisions of the conference be held in
camera has not been indicated. but
the American newspaper men, and
probably also the British and Italian
are preparing to reopen the question
of publicity if they should decide that
the flow of news is impeded by rules
of secrecy.
As the delegations arrived they were
met by fanfares Of trumpets and ac-
corded military honors by the troops.
The Japanese were among the earlier
arrivals and were followed by the
Siamese and East Indians in pic
turesque turbans.
President Wilson arrival at 2,50
was the signal for a demonstration
from the crowds. The President passed
into the ante-chamber. where NJ.
Pichon. the French Foreign Minister,
awaited, and conducted him to the
councilToom.
Already the chamber was crowded
with delegates, who greeted President
Wilson warmly as he passed toward
the table of honor. Here he was
joined by Secretary Lansing, Mr.. White
and General Bliss. and exchanged
greetings with the British and many
other delegates.