Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-06-28
GERMANS SIGN PEACE TREATY AT 3:15 P. M.

| rangement wns signed by the Germans,
Americans. Belgians. British and
French plenipotentiaries.
cIsmsnesau's Address Brief.
Premier Clemenceau in opening the
session said:
"The session is open. The allies and
associated powers on one side and the
German commission on the other side
have come to an agreement on the con-
ditions of peace. The text has been
cosspletely drafted and the president OF
the conference has stated In writing
that the text that Is about to be sign
ed now is Identical with the 200 copies
that have been delivered to the Ger
man delegation. The signatures will
be given now and they amount to .
solemn undertaking faithfully and 10y
ally to execute the conditions embod-
led by this treaty of peace. now In
vite the delegates Of the German COM
mission to sign the treaty"
A box Of old fashioned goose quills.
sharpened by the expert pen pointer OF
tho French foreign office, was placed
on each Of the three tables for the use
OF the plenipotentiaries, who desired to
observe the traditional formality.
csrsmeny Expedited.
Last minute changes were made IN
the program to expedite the signing Of
the treaty. Two additional tables
were placed beside the one within the
peace treaty was laid. One OF the new
tables held the Rhine convention and
the other the protocol containing
changes and interpretations of the
treaty. All these documents had to be
signed by each plenipotentiary and
the arrangements Of the tables thus
enabled three persons to be, engaged
simultaneously in affixing their sig
natures
Crowds SThrens Versailles.
Hours before the time set for the
ceremony seemingly endless stream
of automobiles began moving up the
hill of Champs Elysees past the Arc
de Triumphe and out thru the shady
Bois de Boulogne, carried the plsai-
potentiaries, officials and guests to the
ceremony. The thoroughfare was kept
closed by pickets and mounted gen.
darmes.
In the meantime thousands of Pari-
slams were packing the regular ami
special trains upon the lines leading to
Versailles and contending with the
residents Of the town itself for places
in the park, where the playing Of the
famed fountain Of Versailles would
mark the end of, the ceremony.
The automobiles bearing delegates
and secretaries had reserved for their
use the avenue Du Paris, the broad
boulevard leading direct to the Cha
tau court Of honor, the French SOL
diers being arranged along the high
way on both sides. At the end Of the
court the guard Of honor was drawn
up to present arms, as the leading
plsnipotentiaftesr passed. This guard
comprised company Of republican
l161fdS in brilliant Uniform. The en-
trance for the delegates was by the
marble stairway to the Queens
apartments and the hall of peace.
giving access thence to the hall Of
mirrors. The walls, Of these apart
ments were hung with unique Goblin
tapestry. al
No Honors For :Gsrmans.
The route to- the peace rooms for
the plenipotentiaries was thru the
space reserved for some 400 guests
Iwho were instructed to be in their
seats well in advance Of the entry Of
the delegates. It had been arranged
. that the delegation instead Of straS-
Cling in without order, as when the
original terms OF peace were commu-
wi "a ha oh
by, groups. each one being formally
announced by ushers from the French
foreign office. ~
4 This forn1ality. was not prescribed
for the Germans, who were given a
separate route Of entry coming thru
the park and gaining the marble stair
way thru the ground floor. There was
thus the avoidance Of occasion for the
guard Of honor to render them military
honors. these being reserved for the
allied representatives. The dismounted
guardsmen on the marble stairway
and in the Queens apartments were
| instructed to remain In their places
for the entry Of the Germans.
Within the hall Of mirrors the his
torical furnishings and paintings gave
tone oAimpressive state which other
wise would have been rather lacking
In the soberly attired assembly.
Germans First TO Make Exit.
Seventy-two chairs for the plenipo-
tentiaries were drawn up around three
lsides Of the table, which faced an open
rectangle fully eighty. feet in length on
it's longer side. The chair for Mr..
Clemenceau, president of the peace
conference, was placed in $he center
|of the long table. facing the >window,
with those fsx President Wilson and
Premier Lloyd-George on the right
and left hand respectively.
The German delegates were as
signed seats at the side Of the table
nearest the entrance, which they could
take after all the others had been
seated. ~
ThN arrangement was made to per-
nit the Germans to leave after the
|sigfling Of the treaty before the allied
|delegation: not waiting for the semi,
state procession of allied delegates to-
the terrace from which to witness the
playing cS the Versailles fountain be-
fore returning to Paris.
PRAISE FOR WEsrFRN FARMERS.
Lafs Young Says iswa Farmers Be-,
hind tWssternsrS Socially.
Ames. June 2ss-Iowa farmers must
take q more optimistic view Of life and
pattern more after the farmers OF Col
orado <and Wyoming, Lafe Young, Of
|Des Moines, declared here at the clos
ing session OF the ninth annual. rural