The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-29
DELEGATES AFFIX NAMES TO TREATY
 THUS ENDING WAR
 OF NEAR 5 YEARS
(Continued from Page Two)

reaty, those assembled in the hall had 'eeT urged to take their seats, but their sagerness to see the historic ceremony was so keen they refused to keep their eats, and crowded toward the center Of the hall. which is so long that good view was impossible from the distance Even with opera glasses, the correspon- tents and others were unable to observe satisfactorily. The seats were in no way 'levated; consequently there was a gen. ral scramble for standing room. Secretary Lansing was the first Of the distinguished diplomats to arrive. He was ollowed shortly by M. Clemenceau and 'eneral Bliss. Few of the spectators recognized any of the diplomats as they anne in, and there were no demonstra- ions.
 The delegates of the minor powers made their way with difficulty through the 'rowd to their places at the table. Off l ,ers and civilians lined the walls and I filed the aisles. President Wilson's ar | rival 10 minutes before the hour for sign 1 ng was greeted by faint burst of ap- olause from the few persons who were ,ble to see him.
 The German correspondents were ush- cred into the hall shortly before 3 O clock md were given standing room in win | dow at the rear of the correspondents l section.
 When Premier Lloyd George arrived I many of the delegates sought autographs l from the members of the council of four, 1 md they busted themselves signing copies of the official programme until the Ger l mans entered the room.
 At 3 o'clock a hush fell over the hall. and the crowds shouted for the officials 1 who were standing to sit down so as not ' to block the view. The delegates showed some surprise at the disorder, which dld
 not cease until all the spectators either | had seated themselves or found places | against the walls.
 | GERMANS ENTER HALL | At 3:07 Dr. Hermann Mueller, the Ger
 man secretary of foreign affairs. and pr. 1 Bell, the colonial secretary, were shown into the hall, and quietly took their seats at the left end of the U-shaped table. | They showed composure and manifested none of the uneasiness which Count Won | Brockdorff- Rantzau, head of the Ger
 man peace delegation, displayed when handed the treaty at Versailles.
 M Clemenceau, as president of the con ference, made a brief speech, inviting the
 Germans to sign the treaty, and there was
 a tense pause, William Martin, master ! of ceremonies, after a moments delay, escorted the German plenipotentiaries to | the signatory table. where they signed | the treaty, the protocol and the Polish l undertaking. Because of the confusion
 and the crowd, the signing lost much of its expected dignity.
 i After the Germans had signed, Presi- 1 dent Wilson, followed by the other Ameri- 1 can delegates, made his way to the table.
 and he and the others speedily affixed 1 their signatures. Premier Lloyd George came next with the English delegation. The British dominions followed--Canada, | Australia New Zealand, South Africa and India, in the order named.
 | A murmur of surprise passed around the hall when it became known that Gen
 eral Shuts, representing South Africa,
 signed under protest and filed a document
 declaring the peace was unsatisfactory. M. Clemenceau, with the French dele I gates were the next in line for the signing, and then Baron Saiorji and the 1 other Japanese delegates. The Italians came after the Japanese, and they, in j turn, were followed by the representatives of the smaller powers.
 {, During the attaching of the signatures of the great powers and the Germans a l battery of moving picture machines and | cameras clicked away so audibly they could be heard above the general disor- 'ider. e @
 1 CANNON ROOMS NEWS I At 3:45 the booming of cannon in cele- tbration, of the peace broke the monotony in the Hall of Mirrors, where the crowd sl had tired of the almost endless signing. Chinas failure to send her delegates to T the ceremony created much comment { The vacant seats of the Chinese were noted early in the proceedings, but it was N expected the delegates would arrive later When the report was circulated official Ii ly that the Chiense would not sign with out reservation op Shantung.t and would , issue a statement this evening on the-l position. N Ciemenceaus announcement N that the ceremony was at an end made
 1t clear China intended to have no par in the days ceremonies and that sh<
 must be dealt with by letter if the sigma tories are willing to grant her the privi- I iege of making the reservation
 Premier Clemenceau put the direc question to the Germans whether the, were willing to sign and execute loyallJ all the terms, The other delegates dir not arise when the Germans came into the hall
 The Germans. who were the first tt sign. did so at S:13 o'clock 2 The American
 delegates came next led by President Wilson The British followed the Amer. licans.
 | At 3:44 o'clock cannon began to boom Announcing the completion of the cere mony of signing. The signatures had not however. as matter. of fact. then beer lcompleted for at that time the smaller
 nations were still signing in alphabetica order.
 I The proceedings were formally closed a 3:49 o'clock. M s
 The protocol was signed by all thos' who signed the treaty The Rhine ar rangement was signed by the Germans Americans, Belgians. British and Franci plenipotentiaries.
 I All of the plenipotsntiaries havinl signed the treaty. M. Clemenceau dc
 clared the session closed
 ANIMATED SCENE
 The scene around the Versailles palAc'
 was an animated one from an early hour l intreasing In hise. but the vast space arouni the chatsAu swallowed them VI