CHAPTER XLIII
The Peace Conference
1
207.
Opening of the Conference
2
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.