THE "GRAND YOUNG MAN OF FRANCE"
LLOYD GEORGE'S NAME FOR CLEMENCGAU A FLATTERING TRIBUTE The "Grand Young Man of Prance" was the designation given to 3f. C'Jemenceau by Mr. Lloyd George at. the opening of the Peace Conference, in seconding President Wilson's motion that M. Clemenceau be. elected permanent chairman. A vivid picture of tho aged Premior was painted in that tribute, which summed up the characteristics of the man as known to his associates. Mr. Lloyd George said:— "I count it not merely a pleasure, but a great privilege, that I should be expected on behalf of the British Empire delegates to support the motion of President Wilson. I do so for the -reason which ho has so eloquently given expression to—as a tribute to the man. When I was a schoolboy, M. Clemenceau was a compelling and "a conspicuous figure in tho politics of his native land, and his fame had extended far beyond the bounds of France.
"Were it not for the undoubted fact,' Mr. President, I shoujd have treated as a legend the common report of your years. I ha,ve attended many conferences with if. Clemenceau. and in them all the most vigorous, the most enduring, and the most youthful figure there has been that of M., Clemenceau. Ho has had the youthfulness, lie has had tlio hopefulness, and the fearlessness of youth. He is, indeed, the Grand Young Man of Prance, and I am proud to stand here to propose that 'he should take the chair in this great conference that is to settle the peace of the world. ''I know of none better (nullified than or as' well qualified as 51. Clemenceau to occupy this chair. Although there will be delays, and inevitable delays, in the signing of peace, I will guarantee from my knowledge of M. Clemenceau that thero will be no waste of time, and that is important. "During tho dark days wo have passed through, his unfailing courage, his untiring energy, his inspiration, have. help, ed tho Allies through to triumph, and I know of no one to whom that victory is moro attributable than the man who sits in this oliair. In his own person, moro than any living man, ho represents Die heroism, he represents the gynius of the indomitable people of his land." In proposing M. Clemenceau for chairman, President Wilson said, iu part "I would do this as a matter of custom. I would do this i\s a tribute to the French Republic. But 1 wish to do n ijs something more than that. I wish (<> do it as a tribute to the man. . . . It is more delightful to honour France, because wo can honour her in the person of so distinguished a servant. We have all felt in our participation in tho struggles of this war a fine steadfastness which characterised the leadership of tho French in tho hands of jr. Clemenceau. We have learned to ' admire him, and those of us who have been associated with him have acquired a genuine affection for him."
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Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 259, 29 July 1919, Page 5
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509THE "GRAND YOUNG MAN OF FRANCE" Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 259, 29 July 1919, Page 5
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