Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 July 1919 — PEACE TREATY SIGNED AT LAST [ARTICLE]

PEACE TREATY SIGNED AT LAST

Germans Affix Names First at Versailles Saturday. AMERICANS SECOND TO SICK '(■udn Hoom Peace Tiding* to tlK> World as Final Act Ending Great War In Completed. Versailles, June 28. —The treaty; ot peace, ending the world war, was signed In the Hall of Mirrors hero this afternoon and the tumultuous Joy that greeted the event here is echoed throughout the civilised world. The German plenipotentiaries. Dr. Herman Mueller and Dr. Johannes Bell, were the first to sign, the former writing down his name at 3:12 o’clock and his colleague affixing his signature a minute later. They were followed by the American delegates and then by the delegates of Great Brltlan, France, Italy and Japan. The smaller powers then followed in alphabetical order. China alone of all powers engaged In the war was not represented at the ceremony. The Chinese delegates maintained their attitude of refusing to sign the treaty without being allowed to make reservations regarding Shantung. The session was called to order at 3:10 o'clock and ended at 3:45» lasting just thirty-five minutes. The announcement that the treaty had been signed was the signal for a great demonstration by the crowd that had assembled at Versailles. As Premier Clemenceau, President Wilson and Premier Lloyd George emerged from the palace following the ceremony the great throng swept aside the cordon of troops, cheering madly. The three statesmen were swept along by the surging, thousands. Many soldiers brake ranks and Joined In the demonstration, while guns boomed and lowflying airplanes seemed to fill the air.

Premiers Clemenceau and Lloyd George and the president were photographed together on the terrace. After the demonstration they left Versailles together in the same hutomobile. President Wilson entered the Hall of Mirrors at 2:50 o’clock. All the delegates then were seated. The Germans entered the hall at exactly 3 o’clock. Premier Clemenceau called thesession to order at 3:10 o’clock,, saying: "The session is open. The allied and associated powers on one side and the German commission on the other side, have come to an agreement on the condition of peace. The text has been completely drafted and the president of the conference has stated In writing that the text is about to be signed now la identical with the 200 copies that have been delivered to the German delegation. The signatures will be given now and they amount to a. solemn undertaking faithfully and loyally to execute the conditions embodied by this treaty of peace. I now invite the delegates of the German commission to sign the treaty." x At 3:44 cannon began to boom, announcing the completion of the ceremony of signing. The signatures had not, however, as a matter of fact, then been completed, for. at that time the smaller nations were still signing in alphabetical order.