Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-29
Huns Unexpectedly First.

Contrary to expectations, the Ger
mans were called upon to sign first,
and no precedence was given NJ.
Clemenceau. President Wilson or Mr..
appear only as members of the respec-
tive delegations. and discard the dig
mites and responsibilities, which,
during the negotiations. were sum-
med UP in the phrase, the big
three"
The two German delegates arose
without a word at NJ. Clemenceau's
bidding and placed upon the treaty
the sign manuals which German gov
eminent leaders declared until re-
Gently would never be appended to 1t.
When they regained their seats
diately arose. followed by the other
American plenipotentiaries. and moved
around the two sides Of the great
horseshoe to the signature tables.
President Wilson. and not NJ Clemen-
ceau. thus had the honor Of signing
first of all the leaders Of the world
alliance. but the honor was due to the
alphabet, not other considerations, as
the signatures occur In the same
French alphabetical order as the emu
meration Of the allied and associated
powers in the prologue Of the treaty
the same order which determined the
seating of the delegations at the
plenary sessions Of the interallied
conference.
The five great powers hereunder
are grouped separately. the states fol-
lowing again in alphabetical order.
Reverse of 4s Years Ago.
Germany and the allied and associ-
ated powers signed the peace terms in
the same imperial hall where the Ger
mans humbled the French so igno-
miniously forty-eight years ago.
This formally ended the world war.
which lasted just thirty:.seven days
of peace, is the fifth anniversary OF
the murder Of Archduke Francis Fer
dinand at Serajevo.
The ceremony Of signing the peace
terms was brief. Premier Clemenceau
called the session to order at $40
o'clock. The signing began when DR..
Hermann Mueller and Johannes Bell,
the German signatories, affixed their
names. Herr Mueller signed at 3:12
o'clock and Herr Bell at 3:13 o'clock.
President Wilson. first Of the allied
delegates. signed q minute later. At
3:45 o'clock the momentous session
was concluded.
Wear Conventional Clothes.
All tho diplomats and members of
their parties wore conventional
civilian clothes. There was q marked
lack Of gold lace and pageantry.
There were few Of the fanciful uni
forms Of the middle ages whose
traditions and practices are SO stern
ly condemned in the great seal-cov-
cred document signed today.
A spot of color was made against
this somber background by the French
Guards. A few selected members of
the guard were Respondent in their
ed-plumed silver helmets and red,
white and blue uniforms.
AS @ contrast with the Franco-Ger-
man peace session Of 1871. held in the
same hall. there were present today
grizzled French veterans Of the
Franco-Prussian war. They replaced
the Prussian guardsmen Of the pre-
vtous ceremony. and tho Frenchmen
today watched tho ceremony with
grim satisfaction.
Tho conditions Of 1871 were exactly
reversed. Today the disciple Of Bis
marck sat in tho seats Of the 1owly
while the white marble statue OF
Minerva. goddess OF war, looked on.
Overhead on the fresooed ceiling were
Huns Protest Treatment.
When tho program for tho ceremony
was shown to the German delegation
Herr Won Haimhausen. Of the German
delegation. went to Col. Henri, French
liaison officer. and protested. He
said:
we cannot admit that tho German
delegates shoufd enter the half by a
different door than the entente dele
gates, nor that military honors should
DO Withhold. Had We known there