New-York tribune., 1919-04-26
First Germans
In Paris for
Peace Parley
Advance Party, Headed by
Lerstner, Reaches Ver-
sailles and Ensconces
Itself at Headquarters

PARIS, April 26 (By The Associated
Press 1.-The first Of the Germans who
are to participate in the Versailles
congress arrived in Versailles to-day.
in two parties. The first group, con-
slstlng of three official couriers, ar
rived early in the day, and the second,
headed by Herr Lersner, came later.
they were escorted to the Hotel des
Reservoirs.
The Germans were met at the sta
ton by Colonel Henry, Of the Ministry
of War and NJ. Oudaille. of the Minis
try of the Interior, who were delegated
by the Foreign Office to take charge
of the German representatives.
Few Knew of Arrival
The arrival Of Lersner and his party
was so quietly arranged that few. if
any, persons in Versailles outside tho
carefully selected force of hotel SER
wants assigned to their rooms and 10
the serving of meals, were aware even
III the afternoon Of their presence.
A French detective of the most OBJ
vlous plain clothes" type lounging
at the front entrance to the German
wing of the Hotel des Reservoirs and
companions under the windows of the
rooms looking over Versailles Park.
were the only indications of the char
acter of the state guests who had dis
placed civilian dodgers and forced them
to seek other shelter in crowded Ver-
sailles.
Protection and the avoidance of
possible unpleasant Incidents. rather
than restrictions, will, in fact. be the
purpose of such police measures as
are taken, according to statement
made to The Associated Press TODAY
by one of the French representatives
assigned to the mission. The Germans
VIII not be expected, and probably do
not desire, to extend their movements
into the general quarters of Yer
sallles. but they will be allowed freedom
OF movement between their two hotels.
-
mediately went to their rooms, on ar
irving and had breakfast served to
them from the hotel kitchen. This fact
answered question over which the
french newspaper men have been con
cerned-whether the Germans were
expected to bring their own food to
Versailles. 1t is now understood rhat
they will have their own bills of fare
on the same footing as the other peace
delegations
Dining Room Reserved
The large dining room in the main
wing of the Hotel des Reservoirs has
been reserved for them. The summer
dining room, with glass enclosed We
randa, remains accessible to the gen
eral public. This dining room was
filled at noon to-day with persons ar
luncheon who were not aware of their
proximity to the Germans. Even MANY
OF the walters in the hotel had not
Learned of the arrival Of Lersner and
his companions.
The Germans remained IT. their
rooms during the morning, but COM
menced this afternoon to make the
preliminary arrangements for the ar
rival OF the main German delegation.
This probably viii be May !, although
the date has not been finally deter
mined.
BERLIN, April 20 Ry The Associated
Press )-Professor Walther NJ. A.
Schuecking one of the German dele
gates to the peace congress a. Yer
sailles, declared to-day that the powers
of the German delegates would be quite
sufficient to enable them to sign the
peace treaty on the spot. Naturally, he
added, the National Assembly must
sanction the treaty.
No more disappointment when You ask for
imported ginger ale. ROSES BELFAST