The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-06-28

ne peace treaty was deposited ON
the table in the Hall of Mirrors at 2;l0
o'clock this afternoon by William Mar
tin of the French foreign office. 1t was
enclosed in stamped leather case,
Premier Clemenceau entered the palace
at 2:20 o'clock.
A few minutes before o'clock Is en-
listed men from the American, British
and French armies entered the hall amid
deeorous cheers.
The Chinese delegates, shortly before
the hour set for the signing of the
treaty, reiterated their intention not TO
sign.
Premier Clemenceau called the session
to order at $40 o'clock
Premier Clemeneeau put the direct
question to the Germans whether they
were willing to sign aud execute Loyalty
all the terms. The other delegates did
not arise when the Germans came into
the hall
The Germans, who were the first to
sign, did so at 3:l3 o'clock. The Amer
lean delegates came next, led by Presi-
dent Wilson The British followed the
Americans
A box Of old fashioned goose quilts,
sharpened by the expert pen pointer of
the French foreign office, was placed on
each of the three tables for the use Of
those plenipotentiaries who desired to
observe the traditional formalities.
Two large chairs of honor were placed
in the Hall of Mirrors for the presidents
of the French Senate and Chamber of
Deputies. Additional rows of benches,
covered with tapestry, were arranged for
the marshals and generals of the allied
armies, guests of honor at the signing.
At 3:44 o'clock cannon began to boom
announcing the completion of the cere-
mony of signing. The signatures had
not, however, as 4 matter of fact, then
been completed, for at that time the
smaller nations were still signing in al
phabetical order.
The proceedings were formally closed
at 3:49 O'Clock.
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 historic
Hall OF Mirrors on which the peace
treaty was laid. One of the new tables
held the Rhine convention and the other
the protocol containing changes in and
interpretations of the treaty. All these
documents had to be signed by each
plenipotentiary and the arrangement of
the tables thus enabled three persons to
be engaged simultaneously in afIixing
their signatures.
Because of the size of the treaty and
h. frarviIN lie L. A.
sent 1T for signing to Premier Clemen-
ceau, President Wilson and Premier
Lloyd George seemed unlikely to be car
ried out, the new plan being for the
three conference leaders to step to the
table to affix their signatures.
Hours before the time set for the cere-
mony, an endless stream of automobiles
began moving up the cannon-lined hill
of the Champs Elysees, past the Arc de
Triomphe and out through the shady
Bois de Boulogne, carrying the plenipo-
tentiaries, officials and guests to the Ger.
emony. The thoroughfare was kept clear
by pickets, dragons and mounted gen
darmes
In the meantime. thousands of Paris
lans were packing the regular and spe-
cal trains upon the lines leading to Yer
sailles and contending with the resi-
dents of the town itself for places in the
park where the play of the famed foun-
tains 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 chateaus court of
honor, French soldiers being ranked
along the highway on both sides. At the
end of the court a guard of honor was
drawn up to present arms as the leading
plenipotentiaries passed, this guard com
prising company of republican guards
in brilliant uniform. The entrance for
the delegates was by the marble stair
way to the queens. apartments" and
the Hall of Peace, giving access thence
to the Hall of Mirrors The walls of