The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1919-07-16
GERMANSS|GN
.PEACETREATY.
Hun Representatives Affix
Signatures in Historic
Hall at Versailles.
Ceremonies Marked by Absence OF
Ostentation, Teutons Being Frigid'y
Received-.President Wilson
First to lnscribe Name.

and sealed In the historic hall of mir
rOrs at Versailles Saturday afternoon,
but under circumstances which some
what dimmed the expectations Of
those who had worked and fought dur
ing long years of war and months of
negotiations for it's achievement.
China Fails to Sign.
The absence of the Chinese dele
gates, who at the last moment were
unable to reconcile themselves to the
Shantung settlement, and left the east
ern empire outside the formal pur-
views Of peace, struck the first dis
cOrdant note in the assembly. A writ
ten protest which General Jan Chris
tian 'Smuts lodged with his signature
was another disappointment to the
makers of the treaty.
Huns Received Chilly Reception.
But, bulking larger, was the attitude
of Germany and the German plenipO-
tentiaries, which left them, as evident
from the original program of the day
and from the expression of NJ. Glenn
enceau, still outside any formal re-
Cancellation and made actual restora-
ton to regular relations and inter-
course with the allied nations Deepen
dent, not upon the signature Of the
"plenipotentiaries Of peace" but upon
ratification by the national assembly.
clemeneeau Gives Stern Warning.
III Nf C1ov,orooo,,sc c%o~,, TN ~
in his opening remarks that they
would be expected, and held, to OBJ
serve the treaty provisions legally and
completely, the German delegates,
through DIR. Haniel Won Haimhausen,
replied after returning to the hotel
that had they known they would be
treated on a different status after
signing than the allied representatives,
as shown by their separate exit be-
fore the general body of the confer
ence, they never would have signed.
Under the circumstances the gen.
eral tone of sentiment in the historic
sitting was one rather Of relief at the
uncontrovertible end of hostilities than
Of complete and unallOyed satisfac-
ton.
The ceremony had been planned de-
liberately to be austere, befitting the
sorrows and sufferings Of almost five
years and the lack of impressiveness
and picturesque color, of which many
spectators, who had expected a mag
nificent state pageant, complained,
was matter of design, not merely
omission.
Ceremony Ended in Less Than Hour.
The actual ceremony was far short
er than had been expected, in view Of
the number Of signatures which were
to be appended to the treaty and the
two accompanying conventions, ending
a bare forty-nine minutes after the
hour set for the opening. The pro-
ceedings were carried out without sur
face incidents, since the Germans were
silent and the Chinese refusal to sign
was evident only by the vacant chairs.
The sole words to be recorded in the
protocol of the conference We're NJ.
Clemenceau's short opening allOcutiOn,
with it's brief, stern warning to the
Germans, and his equally terse phrases
declaring the ceremony closed.
Germans First to Sign.
Contrary to expectations, the Ger
mans were called to sign first. and no
precedence was given NJ. Clemcnceau,
President Wilson or Mr.. Lloyd George
who in the peace treaty appear only
as members of the respective delega-
lions and discard the dignities and re-
spOnsibilities which during the negO.
tiatiOns were summed 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 govern
I,ment leaders declared until recently
never would be appended to it.
Wilson Signs First for Allies.
When they regained their seat,
after signing, President Wilson mme
diately arose, and, followed by thu
other American plenipotentiaries
moved around the two sides of til.
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 worlt
alliance.
| So many spectators had, in one man