The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-21
VERSAILLES is
READY FOR FETE
Priceless Relics Are Being Re-
plAced and Gardens Re-
stored for Peace.
WAR GARB Is TAKEN OFF
Deliberations May Be Held
Where Marie AntOinette
Had Her Home.

PARIS. Nov 2o-The city Of Versailles
is preparing to receive the delegates to
the peace conference The deliberations
are expected to be held In the grand
trianon part of the Chateau OF yersail-
les, once occupied by Marie Antoinette.
The priceless tapestries and fnrniture.
removed to a place OF safety during the
course OF hostilities. are being replaced.
The gardens are being restored and the
camoufiage coverings on the statues and
fountains removed.
The waters of the Grand Canal, which
, also have been oamounaged TO avert air
plane raids, are being restored to their
natural condition.
Making Hall of Mirrors Ready.
THE Hall of Mirrors" where william
]. proclaimed the German empire and
where the peace treaty doubtless will be
signed, Is one of the first places TO be
made ready to receive the plenipotentiar-
les. NJ. De Nolhac. Conservator of the
palace. is In charge OF the preparations.
The American representatives at the
peace conference and their staffs will
occupy a building on the Place de la
ters OF the American Red Cross since
June. Headquarters for the Red Cross
are now In the Hotel Regina.
Practical details OF the congress. such
as the countries to be represented. the
size OF the delegations and the voting
strength OF the countries, are the sub
ject OF much discussion in Diplomatic
quarters. II Is, the general belief that
the countries to be represented will In
clude all which declared war against the
Central Powers. and those States which
were formed "a result Of the war, the
Czecho-Slavs and Jugo-Slavs
Besides Japan. the eastern countries
will include Siam and China The pres
ence OF China probably will have n bear
Ing on theefuture OF Kiao-Chau. which
has undergone a change since China de-
clared war on Germany, thus cAncellng
the lease whereby Germany held Kiao-
Chau before Japan occupied the port
at the outset OF the war.
Voting strength to He Decided.
The size OF the delegations doubtless
will be left to the various countries. but
voting strength will not be dependent
upon the size OF the delegation How
ever, the same voting strength for all
countries is considered open to objection,
as giving Hayti. Montenegro and coun-
tries OF that size the same strength as
Great Britain. France, the United States
and the other great Powers.
These are among the practical details
likely TO be adjusted before the sessions
are opened. After the adjustment among
the Allies it Is probable that the repre-
sentatives of the Central Powers will be
called in for the arrangement of pre-
mi n q RI fa NaI NN,ak
Central Powers will be represented. for
while armistces were separately signed
with Germany. Austria. Bulgaria and
Turkey, II Is not expected that separate
congresses will he necessary.
1t IL believed that the final conclusions
will be embodied in two treaties, the first
one, to be concluded early. covering the
essentials, and the second covering the
larger general questions after a more
thorough discussion.
All the delegates to the peace confer
ence should be asked 70 visit the depart
ments of France invaded by the Ger
mans and see for themselves the damage
ann devastation committed by the enemy.
says Raoul Peret. president OF the budget
commission OF the Chamber of Deputies
and Deputy Louis Dubois. The Deputies
have just returned from an official visit
to the liberated regions and express the
belief that France must exact from Ger
many not only reparaticn In money, but
also the restitution OF tools and raw
material carried away
BAsLE, Nov. s0.-Mathias Erzberger,
Secretary OF State without portfolio in
the German Cabinet and head OF the
delegates WHO were sent to Marshal
Foch's headquarters, has agreed, at the
request OF the Government. to continue
the negotiations relating TO the armistice
to prepare for those OF peace, according
10 the Post OF Stra ssburg
He thus, strictly speaking. Is Secretary
OF State for~Peace. II is said.