Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 152, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 June 1919 — SIGN DOTTED LINE TODAY [ARTICLE]

SIGN DOTTED LINE TODAY

COVENANT READY FOR FIRST SIGNATURE AT 3 O’CLOCK THIS SATURDAY P. M. World War to End With Signing of Document —Wilson to Leave Sunday. [Bulletin] Versailles, June 27.—Dr. Hermann Muller and Dr. Bell, the German plenipotentiaries to sign the peace treaty, arrived in Versailles this evening. [Bulletin] Paris, June 27. —The Chinese delegation announced tonight that China would not sign the peace treaty with Germany because China would not be allewed to make reservations concerning the province of Shantung and also had been refused the privilege of making a declaration at the time of the signing of the treaty. [Bulletin] Paris, June 27.—Paul Dutasta, secretary of the peace conference, went to Versailles at 8:30 o’clock this evening to submit to the German delegates a letter from Premier Clemenceau, president of the peace congress, certifying that the peace treaty, to be submitted to the Germans for signature Saturday, conformed in all points to the text of the document submitted on June 16. - Treaty Await* Pen. Everything is in readiness for the signing Saturday afternoon by the Germans of the peace treaty framed by the entente and associated powers. Dr. Herman Mueller, foreign minister in the new German cabinet, and Dr. Bell, chief of the colonial office, designated as Germany’s signatories to the momentous document, arrived in Versailles late Friday night in order to carry out the promise of the cabinet and the national assembly to seal the

compact. I That the Germans are still dissatisfied with the terms of the treaty are indicated by reports that Dr. Mueller and Dr. Bell left Berlin for Versailles secretly, fearing attempts on their lives. Instructions Unchanged. Washington, June 27. —Announcement by the Chinese peace delega- | tion in Paris today that China ; would not sign the peace treaty is iin line with the instructions sent ■ the delegation several weeks ago by the Chinese government. These instructions were to refuse to sign the treaty unless some reservation was permitted as to Japan’s sovereignty over the Shantung peninsula, acquired by Germany from China under the treaty of 1897, These instructions, it was learned today, have never been changed and accordingly the announcement of the Chinese delegation was not. surpris- ’ ing to the officials here. Until very recently, however, it was considered here -as possible that China might sign the treaty in view of private assurances said to have been given her representatives that Japan's tenure of Shantung would not be long. China, it also had been believed, would assent to the treaty and leave the Shantung question to' be worked out by the league of nations.' Basis of Decision. The Chinese decision was believed here to be based on the following: “First, that the delegation was unable to obtain definitely expressed assurances that Japan would give up the Shantung province within a short, specified time and that the Japanese tenure would not be permitted ter run for the remainder of the ninety-nine year period under i which Germany held the territory, and, j | “Second, that definite assurances jwere lacking that Japan would re- i liinquish control of the railroad from ( Tsing Tao to Tsin Aufu, including all facilities and mining rights and . privileges of exploitation; of the Tsing Tqo-Shang Hai-Chefoo cables and of facilities at the port of Kiao Chau.’’ (Failure of China to sign the treaty officials explained, probably will exclude her from the league of nations including certain rights of redress under that covenant as well as work to her detriment in the resumption of trade.,