Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-07-05
silver helments and red, white anu
blue uniforms.
VETERANS OF 1871 PRESENT

"SA"chtS anu Icu, "nlte anu
blue uniforms.
VETERANS OF 1871 PRESENT
AS contrast with the Franco Ger
man peace session of 1871, held in
the same hall. there were present to
day grizzlpd French veterans of tho
FRANCO RUSSIAN war. They replaced
the Prussian guardsmcn of the previ
Gus ceremony and the Frenchmen to
daS watched the ceremony with
grim satisfaction.
the conditions Of 1871 were exact
~ reversed. Today the disciples of
bismarck sat in the seats of the low
ly.
THREE UNEXPECTED INCIDENTS
Three incidents were emphasized
by the smoothneSs with which the
ceremony was conducted. The first
OF these was the failure of the Chin.
csc delegation to sign. The second
was the protest submitted by Gen. Jan
Christian SHUTS, who declared the
peace unsatisfactory. The third, un
known to the general public came
from the Germans. When tho pro
gram for the ceremony was shown to
the German delegation Herr Won
llalmhauscn, of the German dclcga-
ton, went to Col. Henri French
liaison officer and protested. He said:
I'VE cannot admit that the German,
delegates should enter the hall by
different door than the entente dele
gates. nor that military honors should
be withheld, Had we known there
would he such arrangements before
the delegates would not have come!
After Il conference with the French
foreign ministry it was decided as a
compromise to render military hon
orS as the Germans left. Otherwise
tho program was not changed.
FOR STANDING ROOM
An hour before the siging OF the,
treaty those assembled in the hall
had been urged to take their seats,
but their eagcrncss to see the historic
ceremony was so keen that they re,
fused to keep their seats and crowd
cd toward the center of the hall, which
is so long that good Wow was inn
possible from the distance. Even
with opera glasses the correspondents
and others were unable to observe
The seats were in no
way elevated, consequently there was
n general scramble for standing
room.
Secretary Lansing was the first OF
the distinguished diplomatSs to ar
rive. lie was followed shortly by NJ.
lpnl
the spectators recognized any Cf the
diplomats rs they came in and there
were no demonstrations.
gtr.''. ISA, .,.r.s.S >.-,-. %-s'.,:,:l
CROWD PROVES UNWIELDY
Tho delegates of the minor powers
made their way with difficulty
through the crowd to their places at
the table. Officers and civilians lined
the walls and filled the aislcs. Prcsi
dent Wilson's arrival ten minutes be
fore tho hour for signing was greet
ed by Il faint burst of applause from
the few persons who were able to SEQ
him.
The German correspondents were
ushcrcd into the hall shortly before
3 o'clock and were given standing
room in window ut the rear Of the
section.
When Premier Lloyd George ar
rivod many Of the delegates sought
autographs from the members Of the
council Of four, and they busted them
selves signing copies Of the official
program until the Germans entered
tho room.
At 3 o'clock n hush fell over the
hall and the crowds shouted for the
officials who were standing to sit
down, so as not to block the view
The delegates showed some surprise
at the disorder, which did not cease
until all the spectators had either
seated themselves or found places
against the walls.
At minutes past 3 DR.. Hermann
mueller, the German secretary for
foreign affairs, and DR.. Bell the eel
onial secretary were shown into the
hall, and quietly took their seats at
the left end OF the U-shapcd table.
They showed composure, and mani
tested none of the uneasiness which
Count Won Brockdorff RantZau head
Of the German peace delegation dis
played when handed the treaty at
Versailles.
NJ. CLEMENCEAU'S WARNING.
NJ. Clemenceau as president of the
conference made brief speech in
viting the Germans to sign the treaty
Premier Clcmenceau said:
''The session is open. The allied
and associated powers on one side
and the German Reich on the other
side have como to an agreement on
the conditions Of the peace. The text
has been completely drafted and the
president Of the conference has stat
ed in writing that the text is about
to be sibged now is identical with the
200 copies that have been delivered
to the German delegation.
'"rhe signature will be given now
and they amount to solemn under
taking faithfully and loyalty to ex
ecutc tho conditions embodied by this
Of 10 b, ,1n1