PEACE CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16426, 21 January 1919, Page 7

PEACE CONFERENCE.

PREPARATION'S COMPLETE.

(By Cable.—Press Association.— CopynsHt.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) PARIS, January 16. ( The preparations for the official in- . auguration of the Peacc Conference on January 18th are complete. ] The 62 delegates will bo erouped according to their nations ana will all be seated around the horseshoe table in tJie famous Clock Room at the Foreign Office. President Poincare will enter and deliver a speech of welcome, and then retire, M. Clemenceau taking the chair. The first business will be theappointment of an Inter-Allied Committee, including the president, vice-presidents, and general secretariat. The decisions covering the procedure reached at the meetings since January 12th will bo read and ratified, and the document afterwards issued for publication. THE OPENING SESSION. j M. CLE.MEXCEAU ELECTED PRESIDENT. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received January 2lst. 1.50 a.m.) PARIS, January 18. M. Poincare opened the Poace Conference to-day. A large crowd witnessed the arrival of the world's diplo mats. The scene was without spectacular signmcaneo, but the Conference, which assembled in the great salon of the Clock Room, had special features of its ojyn. Tho Salon was resplendent with gold and crimson ancient tapestries. At the head of the table the American delegates were round M. Poincaro's right, and the English delegates on his loft. M. Poincare wolcomed the delegates. Ho said he saw in the decision to hold a Conference at Paris the homage all nations presented to the country which, more than any other, had endured the suffering of war. He referred to the successive entry of the Allies into the struggle, and felicitated each nation's efforts individually, specially paying a tribute to Great Britain and her Dominions. The Conference listened to M. Poincare standing, while a sense of awful responsibility seemed to descend and , cause a thrill of earnestness. President "Wilson moved that M. Clemenceau be the permanent president. He said the Conference must ba ' regarded as the supreme crowning of! '■ diplomatic history. Never had so many nations been represented with a view to • settling -problems. He paid a tribute to • M. Clemenceau's fitness for the posi--1 tion.

Mr Lloyd George supported the motion. Ho referred to M. Clemenoeau 1 as the greatest young man of France. M. Clemenceau, replying, said thei ambitions of those assembled were great —they wished to avoia a repetition of the "world catastrophe. All must remain united if the League of Nations: was to be practicable. He added that he had consulted two eminent jurists on the penal responsibility of the Kaiser, and their reports would be submitted to all the delegates. As regards the responsibility for the enemy's crimes in war time all the Powers wouldi oe invited to submit memoranda, thereupon the question of a League of Nactions would head the agenda for the next sitting. The Conference .then adjourned. POSITION OF RUSSIA. PARIS, January 16. It is understood that a committee or six representatives of the principal Allies will examine the situation in Representatives of the southern Russian States and also of Omsk will give evidence before the committeej also various Russian personages now in Russia who have been grouped under the presidency of Prince Lvoff. (Received January 20th, 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, January 17. The Paris correspondent of the "New York Sun" states that the American Peace delegation is not showing a willingness to reorganise the Soviet regime in Russia, but favours sending a Commission to Russia to investigate conditions. There is also talk of inviting representatives of the Soviets to come to Paris and prosent their case. FRENCH REPRESENTATION. LONDON, January 17. Some Parisian newspapers, commenting on the separate representation or the British Dominions, declare that on tKe same basis tlie French possessions are entitled to delegates. THE PUBLICITY QUESTION.

PARIS, January 17. A meeting of journalists at the Peaca Conference decided to urge the importance of full publicity. , • - The Americans favoured admission at all sessions, while the British suggested l that semi-official representatives of each nation should attend the conference to 'Resolutions ■were carried asking the British Government to secure permission for Sir George Riddell to attend tho ( conference whenever possible, and confer with tljo Press representatives on the proceedings. Fifty journalists later attended _ a meeting at the Conference's invitation. The official representative explained why it was necessary to preserve secrecy in certain discussions. Publicity _in some cases might put a weapon into the enemy's hands. The American spokesman demanded the fullest publicity in accordance with President Wilson's first point Sir George Riddell announced the resolution of the British Press Delegation. _ Italian journalists favoured the British proposal. After a meeting of_ tho committee, representing all the nations, tho journalists draftecT a joint petition, •which they are presenting to the Conference to-day. MR WILSON'S ATTITUDE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received January 20th. 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, January 17. The Paris correspondent of the "New York Evening Mail" states that President Wilson told the French, Italian, and Japanese delegates that he favoured an open Conference in accordance with his fourteen points. It is felt that the President will oppose with all his might a secret Conference.