The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-07-10
GERMANS SIGN
PEACE TREATY
At VERSAILLES
Wilson, CIemenCeau and Lloyd
George Also Affix Sigma
lures to Document.
HALL OF MIRRORS SCENE
Signing of Document Formally Brings
to Close the Worlds Greatest War
Ceremony, Although Simple,
Was Most Impressive.

Was Most Impressive.
Versailles, June 2S.-The peace
treaty has been signed.
The world war, which for more
than four years ravaged the greater
part of Europe, was ended officially
at 3:45 o'clock today, when cannon
doomed, announcing that the last
plenipotentiary to the conference had
affixed his signature to the peace
treaty.
The delegates, in addition to sign
ing the world peace treaty, also at
fixed their signature to the Rhine
protocol and the Polish undertaking.
Germans First to Sign.
The meeting epOchal in the worlds
history-in the Hall of Mirrors in the
Chateau Louis XIV, began at $40
O'Clock, and the German delegates
the first to sign, had affixed their
names at 8 :13.
The signing was done within a few
yards of the spot in the same hall
where William I had himself been
crowned emperor of Germany on Janu-
airy IS, 1871, and where the German
empire was proclaimed.
Wilson Affixes Signature.
The American delegates. headed by
President Wilson, were the second to
sign. the American executive placing
his name below that of DR.. Johannes
Bell, the second of the German en-
voys.
Then the plenipotentiaries of Great
Britain, its colonies, France, Japan
and Italy signed, followed by repre-
sentatives of the minor powers in al
phabeticaI order, with Belgium in the
lead,
China Refuses to Sign.
Three incidents of moment marred
the signing of the treaty.
China's delegates did not attend
declining to sign because they were
not permitted to make reservations
The plenipotentiaries had written
Premier Clemenceau, president of The
peace conference, that they would moi
be present and that they were await
ing instructions from their govern
nent.
SHUTS Enters Protest.
Ger. Jan Christian SHUTS, one Of
the delegates representing the Union
of South Africa, signed under protest
He objected to certain territorial set
Elements, declaring that the indemni
ties stipulated could not be accepted
without grave injuries to the indus
trial revival of Europe.
He declared it would be to the in
terests of the allied and associated
powers to make the stipulations more
tolerable and moderate.
Unknown to the public, but of great
moment, was a protest by the German
delegates. Herr Haniel Won Haimhau
sen, secretary of the German delega
ton, declared to Colonel Henri, French
liason officer, that 1--WE cannot admit
that the German delegates should
enter the hall by a different door thar
the entente delegates; nor that mill
tary hOnors should be withheld. Had
we known there would be such ar
engagements before the delegates would
not have come"
After q conference it was decided as
q compromise to render military hon
lors as the Germans left.
i"Solemn UndertaI<ing."-Cie menceau
Premier Clemenceau's opening re
marks were:
1.-The session is open. The allied and
associated powers, on the one side
and the German commission, on the
other side, have come to an agreement
on the conditions of peace.
1.-THE text has been completed an(
drafted and the president of the con
ference has stated in writing that the
text that is about to be signed now i!
ito be signed now is identical with the
200 copies that have been delivered t.
the German delegation.
1.-The signatures will be given now
and they amount to a solemn under
taking faithfully and Loyalty to exc
cute the conditions embodied by thi
treaty of peace.
''I now invite the delegates of tn,
German reich to sign the treaty"
The credentials of the new German
delegates were approved by the peae
conference authorities during the fore
moon and everything was virtually IL
readiness here at an early hour 70
the ceremony set for three o'clock Il
the afternoon. The morning had beel
"a cloudy one, but shortly before mid