Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-07-04
VOLUME 50
TREATY.; INCLUDING LEA6UE COVENANT.
SIGNED SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

inr of the peace treaty with Ger
many.
The epochal meeting in the Hall of
Mirrors began ut $40 o'clock and
lhe German delegates, the first to
sign. affixed their signatures at 3.13
o'clock. They were followed by the
American delegates, headed by
President Wilson, and then by the
D,cnipotentiarieS of Great Britain,
France, Italy and Japan. The rep
rescntativeS of the minor powers
signed in alphabetical order.
China's delegates did not attend
the session, declining to sign the
treaty because they were not per-
mitted to make reservations, as to
Shantung. E@
The peace treaty was deposited
on the table in the Hall of Mirrors at
30 O'Clock that afternoon by Will
liam Martin, o. ine French Foreign
Office. 1t WAS enclosed in a stamp
cd leather case.
Premier Clemenceau entered the
nalacc at 2.2O o'clock. A few min
utes before o'clock the 5 enlisted
French armies entered the hall amid
dccorous cheers.
President Wilson entered the Hall
of Mirrors at $50 o'clock. All the
delegates then were seated except
the Chinese.
The Germans entered the hall at
exactly 3 o'clock.
Premier Clemenceau called the
session TO order at $40 o'clock.
He Ssaid:
"Thc session is open. The Allied
and associated powers on one side
and the German Commission on the
other side have come to an agree
mcnt on the conditions of peace. The
text has been completed, drafted
and The president of the conference
has stated in writing that the text
that is about to be signed now is
idcnical with the 200 copies that
have been delivered 10 the German
delegation. The signatures will be
given now and they amount to- a SOL
cmn undertaking faithfully and 10y
ally to execute the conditions en-
Eodied by this treaty of peace. l
now invite the delegates of the Ger
man Commission to sign the treaty."
Al 3.44 O'Clock the cannon began
to boom, announcing the compile
lion of the ceremony Of signing. The
signatures, however, as matter Of
fact, had not then been completed.
for at thai time the smaller nations
were still signing in alphabetical Or
der.
The proceedings were formally
closed at 3.49 O'Clock.
AS Premier. Clemenceau, Prcsi-
dent Wilson and Premier Lloyd
George emerged from the palace the
great crowd gathered outside swept
aside the Gordon Of troops, cheering
madly.
The three statesmen were swept
along by the surging thousands.
Many soldiers broke ranks and join
rd in the demonstration while guns
doomed and low flying airplanes
;crmcd to fill the air.
The German delegates left the hall
'rSt, the Allied representatives re.
naming in their seats. Those who
Fac assembled in The hall then went
|" The terrace TO see the fountains
playing.
Prcmicrs Clcmcnccau and Lloyd
"eor&e and President Wilson were
photographed together on the ter
lacc. After the demonstration .hc
lhrcc Allied leaders left Versailles in
me same automobile. The crowds
following andchccring. The scene
around tho Versailles palace was ali
animated one from an early hour.
as The morning wore on the crowds
hept increasing in size, but the vast
spaces around the chateau swallow
I" mem at first. BY noon II regi-
,nents OF French calvary and in
,ahlry, under command of General
,n'ccard, had taken positions along
nG approaches to the palace, while
MI.l'n the great court on either side
i1llo lines Of infantry in horizon
"'ne ,,, were drawn up at attention.
g. me Peace Treaty of Versailles is
"tc 1ruit of more than five months
o. conferences in which delegations
monn 81 Allied countries and Ger
;.ahy participated. The five lead
n9 nations, the United States, Great
wI,'ain, France, Italy and Japan,
for fTrre represented in the peace con-
v'Ghcc n,c at Paris by five delegates
n"th' n",' while the delegations of other
""lons and British dominions were
opposed of from one to three men.
nc representatives Of the United
"'I'cS ,'' were President Wilson, Sec
~, ,''rE Wy, OF Slate Robert Lansing, Hen
L,,,N1 Mn''c, formerly American am
ELH'oor at Rome and Paris; Col.
Ijj'Mard Il Mi,d NJ. House and Gen. Taskcr
/ georges CJcmo,co,,, pr,,,,;,r re