Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-06-27
HUN ENJOYS
ENROUTE To
VERSAILLES
Plans Completed for Cere
mony That Will Mean
Arrival of Peace.

Paris, June 27.Plans were
completed by the council of four
today for the signing OF the
peace treaty at 3 O'Clock Satur-
day afternoon. No official
statement, however, was issued
by the council.
President Wilson said good
bye TO American newspaper
correspondents at the Hotel de
CrilIOn this afternoon.
According to adVices receiV-
ed by the American authorities
here, Minister Mueller and Bell
left Berlin in the greatest Sc
crecy on a special train, fearing
an attempt on their lives.
The president went to American
headquarters to meet the other
members of the American delega-
ton and General Pershing for a
final conference and to say fare
well.
1t was announced semi-officially
that the German peace plenipoten-
tiaries would arrive at 8 p. m.
Coblenz, June 27.-(By the Asso-
ciated Press) s).-Foreign Secretary
Mueller and Colonial Secretary Bell,
the two German peace delegates on
their way to Versailles, passed
through Cologne at 9:45 o'clock this
morning, a telephone message from
Cologne reported. A Berlin dis
patch to the Coblenz newspapers
says that the German delegates uu-
derstand that they are to sign the
treaty at 8 o'clock Saturday after
noon
While no official announcement
had been made up to shortly before
noon today regarding the time for
the ceremony of signing the peace
treaty with Germany, arrange
ments for the event are proceeding
on the understanding that it will
occur at p. m. on Saturday. The
council of four was in session this.
morning perfecting the plans for
the signing.
If the signing occurs as contem-
plated, President Wilson plans to
leave for Brest Immediately after
wards, sailing for the United States
at noon Sunday.
Chinese Agree to Sign.
On the advice of the council OF
four the Chinese delegates have
agreed to sign the treaty unreserv-
edly with the understanding that a
protocol later will be added to the
treaty stating that they signed with
the understanding that Japan would
return the Shantung concessions to
China within a stipulated time
Wilson to Sign in Shorthand.
Washington. June 27.-Probably
for the first time in the signature
OF an international treaty shorthand
characters will appear when the
seals are attached to the treaty of
Paris, which will mark the official
termination of the world war next
Saturday. President Wilson will
confirm his signature by an impress
upon wax of his own name written
in shorthand upon a seal ring
which he always wears. The presi-
dent, when a student in college. ac-
quired shorthand as an aid in TAX
ing notes of the lectures ofthe fac
ulty and years ago had engraved
upon a stone setting of his ring the
words Woodrow Wilson" as they
would appear in shorthand and 10
is the seal he will use upon the
peace treaties-for he must sign
and seal no less than a score of
treaties with the nations that par
ticipated in the war
VIII Use L. S. Seal.
There is a presidential seal, but
this is used at the White house
solely for stamping envelopes and
letter heads. 1t is almost a repro
duction in diminished size of the
great seal Of the United States save
that the stars are arranged in an
arc above the eagle instead of in
a circle and that it bears the leg
end president of the United States
of America" on the encircling belt.
The great seal of the United States
will appear twice. in connection
with the peace treaty or treaties;
first upon the article signifying the
ratification of the treaty and second
upon the proclamation which the
president will issue informing the
world of the completion of the con
vention. But authorities on treaty
making agree that the seals to BE-
attached on the first signature OF.
the treaty must be those of the in
dividual signers. This is a survival
OF the mediaval custom OF attach
ing the "sign of the arms" Of the
signatory, generally some belted
knight or noble Of high degree,
First President to Sign.
AS never before has the presi-
dent OF the United States been
known to sign a treaty, hence there
Is no record of a private presiden-
tial seal in connection with docu-
ments. Marking another precedent,
1t was necessary for Mr.. Wilson TO
duly accredit himself as a pleni-
authorized to negotiate
and sign the Paris treaty. This hel
did by causing Sidney Smith, CHIEF
of the diplomatic bureau of the
state department. who accompanied
him to Paris, to prepare full pow
ers" in his own name which he duly
signed.