LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 173, 16 April 1919, Page 7

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

HISTORIC SCENES AT VERSAILLES AMERICA'S IMPRESSIONS . The historic scene when President Wilson laid his League vl Nations scheme before (he Peace Conference was described vividly by an American correspondent in Ihe Paris edition of the "New York World." ''The correspondents, after being held in leash for threequarters of an hour in an adjoining room, were loosed into the .famous- Clock Doom—all read and gold and a glitter against the dull background of the day, with innumerable tiny lights mounted upon giant candelabra, hung Iroin the ceiling and dazzling with their panoplies of cube-shaped glass," says (he writer, "Hardly had wc scrambled in before we were conscious of a mild commotion on tho far side of the big room. The scene by then was well set. M. Clemenceau— seemingly somewhat old and tired, but giving, one a sense, nevertheless, of urging thoughts, of palpitating ideas—had arrived, and, with gray gloves on, stooil at tho head of the Conference table behind a chair, of marvellous, ancient workmanship that almost tipped his chin. Mr. Balfour, too. had comeruddy as any beef-fed Britisher, but infinitely distinguished, scholarly aiidwitli a world-wise, world-weary look in his eyes. He was sealed, more calm than any Sphinx, and gazing eeilingward. "The Japanese delegates were in their places, very serious and business-like, verv formally attired. So, too, with their turbans. Emir Feisal and M. Haidar from Hedja/,. Most indubitably the emissaries of the world had assembled; and then there was that slight commotion, and we saw that the President had inconspicuously and quietly made his entrance through a hardly noticed sidedoor and was slowly working his way through many hand-shakes up tho room. "M. Clemenceau came forward a step to greet the President, and Mr. Balfour, who in the absence of Lloyd George headed the British Delegation, rose and bowed. Some secretary laid a big black dispatch-ease before Mr. Witeon which he opened, fumbled briefly for a document and then .sat down. A 'wick hush fell on the room, the French Premier was suddenly speaking quietly and rapidly, and theii, before one had a fair opportunity to (alee in all that was happening, the President was addressing the Conference, and with a manner rnd in a tone of voice- absolutely not at all different from that which anv American financier might employ in making his annual report to his stockholders or board of directors. There was no stressing of, syllables, few inflections, few gestures; everything was as dry and metallic as the clink or coin.

"There was much else that was. interesting at Ihe session. From the start M. Clemenceau made demand vpon one's attention—so small that his chair seemed to enjulf him, so fiercely alert that one sensed his power, so ueglimont that, one knew him for the journali-t ho ip at soul. Mr. Lansing, Mr. White. Colonel House, and f'en, iust. nivuuid Hi" bend of (he long to'ile. General Bliss —nil looked and seemed in I hat momentous gathering of tho woplcs of the world precisely what they nre—intensely, unmistakably American."

A Kexlcv Heath restaurant proprietor wns awarded JilflO damages al the London Sheriff's Court against a man who had falsely called him a German. The plaintiff save nronf that his wife, himself, and their father;: and mothers and grandparents were all of English hirth. The German General Staff believed that for the,conquest and occupancy of Great Britain, a minimum forco of 250,000 men would have to be landed, together with all the field and heavy artillery, transport and military supplies.