THE GREAT PEACE CONFERENCE.

Otaki Mail, 22 January 1919, Page 2

THE GREAT PEACE CONFERENCE.

THE OPENING. ."•■--. sa A MEMORABLE SCENE. I • ■ 91 Paris, January iBJ President Poincarc opened the pJB Conference. A largo crowd witncM the arrival of the world's diploora The sceno was without, spectacular m uificance. The . American dclegJl were grouped at M. Poincarc's rill and the English delegates oh the H President Poincarc welcomed H delegates. He said ho saw in the i'|f ,sion to hold tho conference in Ml the homage of all the nations xcfi seated, towards the country which rJI than any other had endured tho sail ings of war. He referred to the W cessivc entry of the Allies jnto || struggle, and felicitated each- null upon its efforts individual!}-, cspo'aiS paying a tribute to Britain and I Dominions. j The* Conference listened, stamlffl I while a sense of awful rosponsibifi socnied to descend and/Cairse a earnestness. [ m. clemenceaxTelectedl president. the kaiser's eesponsibiliv) President Wilson moved that 1 Clemeneeau be permanent prcshl Ho said the Conference must bol garded ss the supremo crowningf diplomatic history. Never had so n| nations been, represented with a \| to settling problems. He paid a| bule fo M. Clemeneeau's fitness fori position of president.

Mr Lloyd George supported the B tion. referring to M. Clemeneeaufl "the greatest young man of FraarKl M. Clemeneeau, replying, said g ambitious of those assembled vPra great. They wished to avoid a re r |l tion of (he-.world catastrophe. MB must remain united if the ]',c.igiu>f« Nations was to bo practicable. added that he had consulted two cuSJ out jurists on the penal responsibi:||| of the Kaiser. Their reports wouldgl submitted lo all flic delegates. Asip gards tho responsibility for the r:,"| lay's crimes in war-time, all the ]' i ers invited would submit memoruJ upon tho question. The question ; the League of Nations would head 4a agenda for the next sitting. Tho Conference then adjourned, ra