The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-06-28

The Germans were the first to sign
the treaty. They were followed by
the American delegates, headed by
President Wilson, and then by the
plenipotentiaries of Great Britain,
France, Italy and Japan. Represent
atiyes of the minor powers signed in
alphabetical order. China's delegates
did not attend the session, declining
to sign because they were not permit
ted to make reservations.
The treaty was deposited on the
table in the Hall of Mirrors at 2.10
by William Martin OF the French
foreign office. 1t was enclosed in a,
stamped leather case. Premier Glenn
enceau entered at 2.2O. A few minut-
es before 3, enlisted men from the
American, British aud French armies
entered the hall amid decorous
cheers. President Wilson entered at
ESQ. All delegates were then seated
except the Chinese, who refused to
attend.
The Germans entered the hall at
exactly 3. Premier Clemenceau called
the session to order at $40. German
delegates were assigned seats at the
side Of the table nearest the en-
trance. This permitted the Germans
( to leave after the signature, not wait
ing for the semi-state procession of
allied delegates to the terrace from
which to witnes the playing of the
Versailles Fountain before returning
10 Paris.
General SHUTS, one of the delegates
representing the union of South Afri-
ca, signed under protests. He object
ed to certain territorial settlements,
making lengthy statement.
At 3.44 cannon began to boom an
nouncing the completion of the cere-
mony of signing. But the signing at
that hour had not been completed,
however. as the smaller nations rep
resentatives were still affixing their
names. The proceedings formally
clnsed at 3.49
| Versailles. June 2S.-Credentials
OF Drs Mueller and Bell. the German
/ plenipotentiaries sent here to sign
the treaty. were approved this morn
ms. Hours before the time set for
the signing, an uninterrupted stream
OF automobiles moved up the cannon
lined hill of Champs .Elysees, past the
arch Of triumph, carrying plenipo-
tentiaries, officials and guests. They
reached here over a thoroughfare
kept clear by pickets, dragons and
mounted gendarmes. and were cheer
I ed enroute by throngs gathered in
hag-decked suburban towns.
Places in the historic Hall of Mir.
rors where the signing is to take
place had been assigned to forty-five
stalwart American doughboys, French
Poilus and British Tommies.
Marshals and generals viii take the
first place on benches provided for
privileged guests; but fifteen privates
from each OF the principal armies will
stand within the enclosure reserved
for high officials, as a visible sign
of their role In bringing the new
Europe into being.
Paris, June 27.-Plans we're COM
pleted by the Council Of Four today
for the signing of the treaty at 3
O'Clock tomorrow afternoon. No Of
fetal statement. however was issued
by the Council.
Those holding tickets of admission
! to the ceremony in the Hall of Mir
rors have been notified that they
must be provided with Identification
papers. Each ticket must carry the
r Photograph Of the person to be ad-
4 mitted.
\ Marshal Foch, not being a delegate
to the conference. will not sign the
a treaty, but he viii attend the cere,
e monies Saturday, being seated with
e the French delegation
The original Of the treaty which
). will be signed by all the plenipotenti
a aries will be on Japan parchment, ac
d cording to L'lntransigeant II will
|. cost $4,000 francs to prepare the docu
ment