CHAPTER XLIII

The Peace Conference

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207.

Opening of the Conference

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Jan. 18. The Peace Conference, long heralded and long awaited, was at last launched on its course in an impressive ceremonial held at the beautiful Salle de la Paix of the French Foreign Office at three o’clock this afternoon. It was chiefly interesting as a spectacle in which the world-statesmen gathered for the first time on the momentous work of peace and reconstruction before them. But besides the spectacular effect, there were these definite accomplishments of the day: President Poincaré welcomed the conference to France in a moving speech which sounded the tragedies of war and the glories of peace. President Wilson made his début as a speaker before the Conference in an eloquent tribute to Clemenceau, placing the French premier in nomination as permanent presiding officer of the Conference. Lloyd George, Orlando, Baron Sonnino, and some of the lesser figures also made their bow as speakers.

It was a stirring scene, as the presidents, premiers, and ministers gathered in the great council chamber with the figure of Peace occupying its dominating position back of the chairman’s seat. While there were two presidents — Poincaré and Wilson, nine premiers, and numberless foreign ministers, yet the congress bore the distinct stamp of democracy. In this it was in marked contrast with the Vienna congress, where emperors, kings, princes, and lords shaped the destinies of Europe, whereas to-day among the scores of European statesmen there was not one bearing a title of nobility with the single exception of Baron Sonnino.

The cosmopolitan character of the gathering was as striking as its democracy, for here were the emirs of Arabia, maharajahs of India, and the representatives of China, Japan, and Siam mingling with those from South Africa, Australia, and all the lands and islands of the Old and New Worlds. It was the first World Congress, moreover, to see representatives of Poland, obliterated from the political map for centuries, and Czecho-Slovakia, and the new Balkan confederation of Jugoslavia.

President Poincaré occupied the presiding officer’s chair pending the organization of the Conference. Immediately at his right sat President Wilson, and at his left Lloyd George. Ranged alongside President Wilson were the other American delegates, Secretary Lansing, Mr. White, Colonel House, and General Bliss. Lloyd George was flanked on his left by the imposing British delegation, fourteen members in all, occupying part of the head of the table and almost one entire side of the great horseshoe — a notable evidence of the diplomatic strength of imperial Britain. The French delegation, with M. Pichon, Cambon, Klotz, Tardieu, and Marshal Foch, were ranged alongside the Americans, and further along sat the Italian and Belgian delegations. The five Japanese delegates were close alongside the British colonial members, while the interior of the horseshoe was occupied by the many groups from the smaller countries. It was a striking picture as these notable figures gathered in groups and discussed the work lying ahead. President Wilson, Lloyd George, and Balfour formed one animated group, and further along Marshal Foch was extending greetings to the maharajah of Bikanir

President Poincaré’s opening address, and that of President Wilson, were both delivered in easy conversational tones, without oratorical effect, and without that applause which lends éclat to great oratory, it being one of the regulations of the Conference that there is to be no applause. Lloyd George and Clemenceau spoke also without declamatory effect. But all the addresses voiced the feeling of deep earnestness in the momentous character of the work about to begin. . . .

President Poincaré’s welcoming address contained some significant passages, notably an approval of President Wilson’s Fourteen Points and a clear intimation that some form of leaguing the nations together for mutual defense was one of the great works of the Conference lying ahead. While referring to the services on the field of all the countries taking part in the war, he was particularly warm in his tribute to the. United States.

After outlining some of the features of the peace work President Poincaré went on:

"An immortal glory attaches itself to the names of the nations and the men who are gathered here to collaborate in this grandiose work. Forty-eight years ago to-day, the empire of Germany was proclaimed by an army of invasion in the château of Versailles. Born in injustice, it has ended in ignominy. You have assembled to enact measures which shall forever prevent such brutal wrongs.

"Gentlemen, you hold in your hands the future of the world. I salute you, gentlemen of the Conference, and 1 declare the Peace Conference open for business."

As the French president closed, President Wilson stepped forward and grasped his hand, expressing thanks for the tribute paid to the United States, while Lloyd George and many others gathered about the two presidents. M. Poincaré passed among the delegations, greeting each one personally. With this over, the real business of the Conference began, with President Wilson making the initial move in a motion naming Clemenceau as presiding officer of the Conference.

"It gives me great pleasure," began the president, "to propose as permanent chairman of the Conference M. Clemenceau, the president of the council of French ministers. I would do this as a matter of custom, I would do it as a tribute to the French Republic. But I wish to do it as something more than that. I wish to do it as a tribute to the man. France deserves the precedence, not only because we are meeting in her capital and because she has undergone some of the most tragical sufferings of the war, but also because her capital, her ancient and beautiful capital, has so often been the center of conferences of this sort, upon which the fortunes of large parts of the world turned.

"It is a very delightful thought that the history of the world, which has so often centered here, will now be crowned by the achievements of this Conference. Because there is a sense in which this is the supreme Conference of the history of mankind. More nations are represented here than were ever represented in such a Conference before. The fortunes of all peoples are involved. A great war is ended which seemed about to bring a universal cataclysm. The danger is passed. A victory has been won for mankind, and it is delightful that we should be able to record these great results in this place.

"But it is the more delightful to honor France because we can honor her in the person of so distinguished a servant. He feels as we feel, as I have no doubt everybody in this room feels, that we are trusted to do a great thing, to do it in the highest spirit of friendship and accommodation, and to do it as promptly as possible, in order that the hearts of men may have fear lifted from them and that they may return to those pursuits of life which will bring them happiness and contentment and prosperity. Knowing his brotherhood of heart in these great matters, it affords me a personal pleasure to propose not only that the president of the council of ministers, but M. Clemenceau, shall be the permanent chairman of this Conference."

President Wilson’s nomination of Clemenceau was warmly seconded by Lloyd George, Baron Sonnino, and by a number of other delegates. It was mainly an occasion for paying tribute to the venerable French leader, and the result was established from the first. When Mr. Wilson declared Clemenceau the unanimous choice of the Conference, the old leader came forward smiling, expressing his thanks in a few words, and then at once turning to the business in hand, he announced that the programme for discussion was:

First, responsibility for the war.

Second, responsibility for crimes committed during the war, and the individuals to be punished for these crimes.

Third, international labor legislation.

Fourth, formation of a League of Nations, which will be placed at the head of the agenda of the next session of the Conference.

On the question of responsibility for the war, Clemenceau said, French international jurists had already prepared a memorial establishing the guilt of William II. All the powers, he explained, would be asked to present written memorials on such subjects as they wished to have considered — territorial, economic, military, naval, etc.

By unanimous agreement, M. Dutasta was named secretary-general of the Conference, and a list of vice-presidents from the great powers was announced, with Mr. Lansing, for the United States, at the head of the list. With this done, M. Clemenceau declared the session adjourned, and the delegates again gathered in groups discussing plans for the coming work.

¹ C. T. Thompson, New York, 1920. Brentano’s.

² Thompson, , pp. 118–123.