The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-06-29
HOW THE SCENE WAS SET
FOR MOST IMPORTANT
ACT IN WORLD HISTORY

Versailles, June 2S.-Ihe
treaty of peace with Germany
was signed shortly after 500
o'clock this afternoon in the
historic Hall of Mirrors under
the watchful eyes of as stall
wart American doughboys,
French poilus, British Tom
mics, the real artisans of the
peace which has been slowly
taking definite form during the
long months of the Paris con-
ference.
Marshals and generals Of the
allies took the first places on
the benches provided for privi-
legged guests invited to the cere-
mony, but Is privates from
each of the principal allied ar
mics stood within the enclosure
reserved for the plenipOten-
tiaries and high officials of the
conference as the visible sign
of their role in bringing into
being a new Europe.
The soldiers stood in the en-
brasures of the windows over
looking the chateau park, a
few feet from their command
er-in-chief, Marshal Foch, who
was seated with the French
delegation at the peace table.
A second change in the pro-
gram was introduced as a re-
suit of the attitude taken by
the German government press
and public toward the execu-
ton and binding validity of the
treaty. The German plenipo-
tentiaries, instead Of being re-
garded from the moment of sig
nature as representatives of a
formerly friendly power with
which diplomatic relations had
been renewed, left the hall af-
ter the signing through the
door through which they en-
tered, not joining the general
procession of delegates to the
terrace of the chateau to watch
the playing of the great foun-
tain of Versailles. For them
peace will be regarded as con-
cluded from the moment of
German ratification, since the
German government has an
nounced that it would sign the
treaty only under protest, and
German political leaders have
declared their intention to
work to undermine the pro-
visions of the treaty.
All day long yesterday,
workmen and officials were
busy in the chateau putting the
finishing touches. The peace
table-a huge hollow rect
angle with its open side facing
the windows in the hall-was
put in place, its tawny yellow
coverings blending with the
rich browns, blues and yellows
Of the antique hangings of the
room and the rugs covering the
dais. The mellow tints of his
torical painting OH the arched
roof of the long hall complete
the picture and were much ap-
preciated by those who visited
the Hall of Mirrors before the
signing.
The ceremony of signing the
treaty was shorter than expect
ed, as most of the ~ plenipo-
tentiaries had to write their
names only twice, once on the
treaty and once on the proto-
col containing changes and in
terpretations of the parent in
strument. The convention COW
ering the left bank of the Rhine
and the treaties regarding the
protection of minorities in Po-
land was signed only by the
delegates of the great powers.
Arrangements were made by
the French authorities to keep
the hour of the arrival of the
German plenipotentiaries and
officials secret, it being desired
to keep it from the public so
that the possibility of repeti-
tion of the unpleasant Incidents
attending the departure of the
old delegation from Versailles
might be avoided.
The tables for the secretaries
which threatened to interfere
with the view of the invited
guests and newspaper men