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The peace conference in session

By United Press

PARIS -- The Peace Conference convened for its first official session at 3:00 p.m. today.

Delegates representing 26 nations met in the famous Clock Hall of the Quai d'Orsay. President Poincare made the opening address. The peace delegates sat at the huge horse-shoe-shaped table with their secretaries at small tables nearby.

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This being the first session, it was open, and the newspaper correspondents were permitted to be present. None of the tremendous issues of the peace settlement were to be taken up. The sitting was to be devoted to the formalities attendant the convening of the most important gathering of the statesmen in modern history -- the gathering at which President Wilson, leading the peace delegation of the United States, intended to put through his League of Nations plan and other measures which he believes will end wars and make the world safe for civilization.

With great dignity the full commissions of the Association Powers, including two representatives of the King of Hedjaz, desert potentate, who helped whip the Turks, gathered in the historic Clock Room.

Having won their contention in the preliminaries, Belgium and Serbia had three delegates instead of two each, as previously announced.

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Having won their contention in the preliminaries, Belgium and Serbia had three delegates instead of two each, as previously announced.

There was a solemn brilliancy to the assemblage. The faces of some of the diplomats were very grave as they waited for the moment of opening the world's greatest peace congress. An honor guard saluted the Commissioners as they entered. The crowds waiting outside had glimpses of motor cars, the flags of the nations that crushed Germany fluttering from them as they whisked the the representatives into the court yard. There was frequent cheering and applause.

Under the alphabetical arrangement by which the delegates were seated in the conference room, the Americans were placed at the head of the table on the right of Premier Clemenceau. The other commissioners were arranged about the big horseshoe table in table in alphabetical order.

Great doors leading to the Clock Hall were thrown open so that diplomats and others invited to witness the initial sitting could observe the proceedings from adjoining chambers.

President Poincare in making his address stood beneath a marble clock surmounting a magnificent figure of victory.

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