[Sailor Steve]

January 18, 1919


PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE
Day 1

1500 The Paris Peace Conference officially opens. The date has been carefully chosen, as it is the anniversary of the creation of the German Nation, which took place on January 18, 1871. This is the first use of the Peace Rooms at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the preliminary meetings from January 12 through 17 being held in the suite of Stephen Pichon at the Quai d’Orsay, Paris.

The meeting opens with a lengthy speech by French President Raymond Poincare detailing all the major events of the war, including shifting alliances from the major combatants right down to the most minor players in the hostilities, and ending with a recounting of President Wilson's "Fourteen Points". The entire speech is then read in English by official translator Paul Mantoux.

Georges Clemenceau, acting as temporary president, opens proposals for electing a permanent president for the Conference. President Wilson immediately nominates Clemenceau himself for the job. Prime Minister David Lloyd George seconds the nomination. Both of these gentlemen give fairly lengthy speeches recounting M Clemenceau's actions on behalf of France. Italian Prime Minister Sidney Costantino, Baron Sonnino, also seconds in a much shorter declaration and Georges Clemenceau is named permanent President of the Conference.

Clemenceau's first action as President of the Conference is to ask for nominations for Vice Presidents for different duties. When this is done he makes another long speech about the job and goals of the Peace Conference.

The last order of the day is to establish the rules for the Conference. Who is to do what and how they are to do it, orders of preference for delegates and what will be discussed in turns is laid out and agreed upon.