The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-06-04

as the Once Mighty Empire that Ii
WaS Before the War, but as One OF
the Eight New Republics that have
Since Been Formed.
st. Germain, June 2.-The repre-
scntativcs OF the vanquished Austrians
met the victors at todays ceremony in
the Fifteenth century castle of ST.
Germain to appeal for grace and Just
and kindly treatment. No trace Of the
arrogant spirit with which Count Won
Observation-Disclosures, head OF the Ger
man delegation, attempted at Vcrsail-
les to arraign the allied powers as
Jointly responsible for the war and de-
manded participation in the ncgotia-
tons on equal terms, marked the
speech Of DR.. Karl Renncr, the Aus
trian chancellor, who replied to
George Clemcnceau the president Of
the conference.
The Austrian plcnipotcntiary speak
ing in French as a concession to his
auditors, did not seek to cXtcnuatc
the guilt Of the former Austro-Hun-
sarian government for "the horrible
crime of 1914"
lie asked only that the full weight
Of the punishment should not fall
solcly on tho little mountain republic
which was all that was left of the
once mighty Austria. but that II be
r1o &c
republics into which tho old monarchy
had been divided and that it be ap-
portioncd no more Of the penalty than
it could bear.
DR.. Rcnnor even went out Of his way
to praise the generous relief work
undertaken by the allies. The tone of
his speech evidently made a most fav-
orablc impression on the assemble
plcnipotcntiarics. President Wilson
listened with the closest attention
resting his chin on his hand The dele
gates Of Poland, Czecho-Slovakla and
Jngo-Slavia alone evinccd discomfort
at those parts of the speech in which
the Austrian chief by implication at
tempted to assign to them proper
tionate share Of reparation.
1t was evident however. that DR..
Rcnner had been carefully studying
the proceedings Of the allied confer
cncc and he adapted his uttcranccs to
the situation.
DR.. Rcnncr was calm and assured.
as If entering his own house. He
walked directly to his seat and mo-
toned his colleagues to their places.
The entire asscmblagc, which had
risen on the entry OF the Austrians,
seated itself. NJ. Clcmenceau alone re-
maincd standing and with scarcely an
instants pause the session started.
Ears which were eagerly strained to
hear from NJ. Clcmenceau some strik-
ing phrases on the origin OF the war
or Austria(s guilt and punishment
were disappointed. The Tiger refrain
cd from political allusiOn in his short
speech; he merely outlined the pro-
cedurc OF the negotiations and OK
planned that only part OF the treaty
was ready. Ee asked that any replies
or observations to such parts of the
treaties as were laid today before the
Austrans be submitted In writing
within 10 days.
M. Clcmenceau spoke in easy con-
vcrsational tone, beftting such rou-
time remarks, and at the end called
for translations which on this occa-
sion were given in italian as well as
German and English The French Of
fetal who attempted the German rem
dition opened by addressing "Thc dele
gates of the republic OF German Aus
tria."
He was Immediately stopped and
the diplomatic blunder in the appar-
ent recognition Of the Germanic attri-
butes OF the new republic corrected.
The translator was now so nervous
that presently he was caught telling
the Austrials that their replies must
be verbal, instead Of written.
tDr Karl Rcnner, head Of the Aus
trian delegation, rose TO reply at the
end Of the translation but NJ. Clcmen.
ccau waved him to his seat to permit
M. Dutasta, secretary Of the confer.
cnce, to place before him the text oi
the skeleton draft Of the treaty. The