The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-30
Council of Three Notifies
Delegates Blockade Is to
Be Continued.
FORCES EARLY ACTION
Step Necessary Owing to Fail
ure to Specify a Time Limit
in Peace Treaty.
BY LAURENCE HILLS.
Star Correspo ndent Of THE, suS.

cIdU Correspondent OF THB Sun
Copyright. 1919: all rights reserred
PARIS, June 29.-The Council Of
Three decided yesterday that Ger
many need not expect any relaxation
of the blockade now pressing so heav-
lily upon her until she ratifies the
treaty of peace. This, it is believed,
will insure prompt ratification, con-
cerning which some concern Is felt
here, as these dispatches already have
indicated.
Realizing that they had made Sc
rious mistake in failing to prescribe
the time for ratification by Germany,
the council drew up letter which
was handed to the Germans imme-
diately after they signed the treaty,
stating that the blockade will not be
lifted until Germany ratifies. I'm
doubtedly this surprised the Germans,
and significance is seen in the fact
that they were allowed to sign the
treaty before they received the note,
which means that the Council Of
Three finally awoke to the fact that
the ratification by Germany Is fully
as important as the signing of the
treaty, as the situation affords the
disgruntled elements in Germany
chance to defeat what has been ac-
complished here.
Text of Resolution.
The letter handed to- the German
peace delegation was in the form OF
resolution as follows:
The superior blockade council is
instructed to base its arrangements
for resembling restriction upon
trade with Germany on the as
sumption that the allied and asso-
ciated Powers will not wait TO raise
the blockade until the completion
of ratification. as provided for at
the end of the treaty with Ger
many, but that il is to be raised inn
mediately upon receipt OF informa-
ton that the treaty Of peace has
been ratified by Germany.
The lifting of the blockade, however,
will not wait upon ratification by three
of the Allies, but merely that of Ger
many. II is expected that because OF
this requirement Germany will be the
first to ratify. The treaty, however,
will not become effective otherwise
until three or the allied Powers also
have ratified It.
The German constitution is very
puzzling 10 the experts here and the
~ 10 Inta
mine just how this ratification is to be
accomplished. AS has been pointed
out in THE Sun, II would seem to re-
quire separate action by the Bavarian
and Prussian Assemblies as we'll as by
the German Assembly. This veXinG
problem must be solved by the Ger
mans themselves. The important point
is that Germany must notify the Allies
that the treaty has been ratified prop
erly before she gets peace.
Signing Lacks the Spectacular.
Seldom has a great International cere-
mony been so lacking In spectacular
features as the signing OF the peace
treaty in the Hall of Mirrors in the Pal
ace OF Versailles yesterday. A process
sion of frock coated men picking their
way through a crowded room 10 a small
table upon which reposed the vellum
treaty and then returning solemnly to
their gilded chairs-ths was all that the
signing of the treaty which brought the
worlds greatest war to an end had for
the eye.
Lacking all brilliance, and featureless
save for one or two incidents it left a
sense OF disappointment in the specta-
tors. Only the thought OF its tremen-
dous significance caught the breath at
times, and even then the thrills were
scarce. The Germans themselves were
one cause. Nothing could have been
more perfunctory than the way in
which the two professional looking del
egates from Berlin signed their names
and then marched stiftiy back to their
seats without a word. Whatever emo
ton they may have felt was carefully
concealed. Throughout the day, begin
ming with the presentation OF their cre-
dentials, they acted like automatons.
With their interest excited by the
long preparations for the day. delegates
as we'll as onlookers invaded Versailles
long before the hour set for the signing
OF the treaty. They found the great
avenue to Paris lined with troops ex-
tending to the very doors OF the palace.
Through these lines the motor cars
made their way the soldiers presenting
arms for the dignitaries.
CIemenceau Writes Autosrapb.
Inside the Hall OF Mirrors there was
a scene of great confusion, delegates.
! secretaries. Generals and even private
soldiers crowding about the tables. But
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