Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1919-07-04
.GERMANSS|GN
PEACE TREATY.
Hun Representatives Affix
Signatures in Historic
Hall at Versailles.
Ceremonies Marked by Absence of
ogtentation, Teutons Being Frigidly
Received.-President Wilson
First to lnscribe Name.

Versailles.--W World peace was signed
and sealed In the historic hall of mir.
rors az Versailles Saturday afternoon
but under circumstances which some
what dImned the expectations OF
those who had worked and fought dur
Ing long years Of war and months of
negotiations for ms achievement
China Fails to Sign.
The absence Of the Chinese dele
| gates, who at the last moment were
unable 10 reconcile themselves to the
Shantung settlement, and left the east
ern empire outside the formal pur-
views Of peace, struck the first dis
cordant note in the assembly. A writ
Ten protest which General Jan Chris
tlan SHUTS lodged with his signature
was another disappointment to the
makers Of the treaty.
Huns Received Chilly Reception.
Bur, bulking larger. was the attitude
Of Germany and the German plenipo-
tentlaries, which left them, as evident
from the original program of the day
and from the expression of NJ Glenn
enceau, still outside any formal re-
Cancellation and made actual restora-
tlOn to regular relations and inter-
course with the allied nations Deepen
dent, not upon the signature of the
'plenipotentiaries Of peace" but upon
ratification by the national assembly.
cIemenceau Gives Stern Warning.
To NJ. Clemenceau's stern warning
in his opening remarks that they
would be expected. and held, to OBJ
serve the treaty provisions legally and
completely, the German delegates,
through DR.. Haniel Won Haimhausen,
replied after returning to the hotel
that had they known they would be
treated on different status after
signing than the allied representatives,
as shown by their separate exit be-
fore the general body of the confer
ence, they never would have signed.
Under the circumstances the gen
eral tone OF sentiment in the historic |
sitting was one rather of relief at the |
uncontrovertlbIe end of hostilities than |
of complete and unalloyed satisfac-
tion.
The ceremony had been planned de-
llberntely TO be austere, befittlng the /
sorrows and sufferlngs of almost five
years aud the lack of lmpressiveness
and picturesque color, of which many
spectators, who had expected mag
nificent state pageant, complained
was matter of design, not merely
omission.
Ceremony Ended In Less Than Hour.
The actual ceremony was far short
sr than had been expected in view of
he number of signatures which were
% be appended TO the treaty and the
.wo accompanying conventions, ending
! bare forty-nine minutes after the
iour set for the opening The pro-
eedings were carried out without sur
ace Incidents. since the Germans were
ilent and the Chinese refusal to sign
vas evident only by the vacant chairs. I
The sole words TO be recorded in the {
PROTOCOL Of the conferecce were Nj. a
short opening allocution, /
Nth It's brief stern warning TO the
'ermanS. and his equally terse phrases c
eclaring the ceremony closed. I
Germans First to Sign. r
Contrary 10 expectations. the Ger Il
'anS were called TO sign first. and no 5
recedence was given NJ. Clemenceau. u
resident Wilson or Mr.. Lloyd George, $
no in the peace treaty appear only n
: members of the respective delega- 81
ons ana discard the dignities and re- y
possibilities which during the nego- II
ations were summed up In the phrase
he big three" 0
The two German delegates arose
ithout word at NJ. Clemenceau's V
ddlng and placed upon the treaty the
sn manuals which German govern
ent leaders declared until recently
'ver would be appended TO It. IL
Wilson Signs First for Allie. h,
When they regained their seats eli
ter signing, President Wilson imme- ST
ately arose. and. followed by the 70
her American plenipotentiaries. su
Dved around the two sides of the G'
eat horseshoe to the signature tables. an
esident Wilson, and not Nj. Clemen- III
au. thus had the honor OF signing
st OF all the leaders of the world WI
lance. TO
So many spectators had. In one man tn