Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1919-07-02
PEACE TREATY SIGNED AT LAST.
Took Place in Same Hall in Which
Germans Humbled France.

Versailles, June 2S.-World peace
was signed and sealed in the historic
Hall Of Mirrors at Versailles this af-
ternoon, but under circumstances
which somewhat dimmed the expec-
tations Of those who had worked
and fought during the long years Of
war and months Of negotiations for
this achievement.
The absence Of the Chinese dele
gates, who at the last moment were
unable to reconcile themselves to the
Shantung settlement and left the
Eastern empire outside the formal
purviews of peace, struck the first
discordant note in the assembly. A
written protest which Gen. jan
Christian SHUTS lodged with his sig
nature was another disappointment
to the makers Of the treaty.
The biggest Disappointment.
But bulking larger was the atti-
tude Of Germany and the German
plenipotentiaries, which left them, as
evident from the official program of
the day, and from the expression Of
NJ. Clemenceau, still outside the for
NAL reconciliation and made actual
restoration to regular relations and
intercourse with the Allied nations
dependent, not upon the signature
day, but upon ratification by the ma
tiOnal assembly.
To NJ. Clemenceau' stern warning
in his opening remarks that they
would be expected, and held, to OBJ
serve the treaty provisions legally
and completely, the German dele
gates, through Dr.. Haniel Won Hahn
hausen, replied, after returning to
the hotel, that, had they known
they would be treated OH a different
status after signing than the Allied
representatives, as shown by their
separate exit before the general body
Of the conference, they never would
have signed
Under the circumstances the gen
eral tone and sentiment in the his
toric sitting was one rather Of relief
at the uncontrovertible end Of hos
tilities than Of complete and unal-
loyed satisfaction
Dramatic Climax.
The ceremony came to a dramatic
close--in fact, reached it's highest
dramatic pitch---with the wild, en-
thusiaStic reception Of President Will
son, NJ. Clemenceau and Mr.. Lloyd
George by the crowds outside the
palace, who ignored or disregarded
the minor discords Of the day. They
tore the three statesmen from their
escorts and carried them almost
bodily in their progress through the
chateau grounds to watch the play
ing Of the fountains, a part Of the
program which had been planned as
a dignified State professional Of all
the plenipOtentiaries.
Where Germans Hllmblcd French.
Germany and the Allied and asso-
piDtn1 Sipn0I
terms here to-day in the same inn
perial hall where the Germans hum
bled the French so ignominiously s
years ago. This formally ended the
world war, which lasted just 81 days
less than five years. To-day, the day
Of peace, Is the fifth anniversary Of
the murder Of the Archduke Francis
Ferdinand at Saverejo. The ceremony
Of signing the peace terms was brief.
Premier Clemenceau called the ses-
sion to order in the Hall of Mirrors
Of the chateau Of Versailles at $40
o'clock.
The Order OF sign!mg.
The signing began when DR.. Herr
mann Mueller and Johannes Bell,
the German signatOries, affixed their
names. Herr Mueller signed at 3.12
o'clock and Herr Bell at 3.13. Presi-
ueHI " llSoH, HiSt Vi tHe Allleu Qele-
gates, signed n minute later. At e As
o'clock the momentous session was
concluded. All the diplomats and
members Of their parties wore CON
ventional civilian clothes. There was
marked lack Of gold lace and pa
geantry. There were none Of the fan
ciful uniforms of the middle ages,
whose traditions and practices are so
Sternly condemned in the great. seal
covered document signed to-day.