The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1920-01-16
VERSAILLES PEACE
PACT IS RATIFIED
SIGNATURES AFFIXED IN FRENCH
CAPITAL SIGNALLING FORMAL
ENDING OF WAR.
Treaty Not Only Defines Terms Of
Peace But Contains League Of
Nations Covenant.-united Ststes
Alone Has Not Ratified Treaty.

REHABILITATION of the treaty
Of Versailles were exchanged and
peace between Germany, France, Great
Britain and the other allied and asso-
ciated powers. with the exception of
the United States. became effective
at 4:16 o'clock Saturday afternoon.
January 10.
The outstanding comment on the
ceremony is that IL leaves the United
States the only power which was ac
lively ut war with Germany not now on
a peace basis. That was the note
sounded by Baron Kurt Won Lersner.
head of the German peace delegation.
The delegates assembled in the pri-
vate office of the minister of foreign
affairs where at secret session the
protocol was signed at 100 o'clock.
Led by Clemenceau the delegates
then fled into the famous clockroom.
where were held the plenary sessions
of the peace conference that fixed the
terms OF the treaty. Baron Won Lers-
ner and Herr Won Simson, were the
last to enter the room and the first
to sign the minutes recording the ex-
change of notifications.
The proceedings began without any
ceremony, Premier Lloyd George of
Great Britain following the German
was succeeded by Premier Clemen-
ceau of France.
Premier Nitti of Italy, Baron Matsui,
the japanese representative, and Paul
Hymanus, the Belgians' foreign min
lister, followed Premier Clemenceau i'm
the order named.
Then the delegates Of the other rati-
flying nations signed In alphabetical
sequence.
Peaceful relations between Germany
and most Of the nations engaged in the
great war with her are established by
the action taken on Saturday. The
peace treaty now goes into effect, as
between Germany and those powers
that have finally ratified it-Great Bril-
tain, France, Italy, Japan, Belgium,
Bolivia, Brazil, Guatemala, Peru, Po-
land, Siam. Czecho- Slovakia and Uru-
quay.
The United States alone Of the big
five" has not rated the treaty. AS
the list shows, formal ratitications
have been given by most of the smaller
powers signatory to the treaty. China
did not sign the document because of
her objections to the Shantung provi-
sions, but proclaimed state of peace
with Germany.
The all-important ratification by
Germany was given on July 9, 1919
the day following which President VIII
son presented the treaty to the United
States senate
The long interval between the as
sembling Of the peace conference at
Versailles on January IS, 1919, and
the signing of the treaty was occu-
pied with almost daily conferences on
its provisions among the representa-
tives Of the nations which had been
at war with Germany or had broken
relations with her, the principal parts
being taken by delegates of France,
Great Britain, Italy, Japan and the
United States. The first important
work completed was the drawing up
Of the covenant Of the league Of ma
lions, which was finished on February
II Tho Carmon ronroco,tot;co. -
ceived the treaty on May l.
The treaty not only defines the terms
Of peace with Germany, but contains
the league of nations covenant and the
provisions for the international labor
organization. The document comprises
fifteen parts, with numerous annexes.
1t provided that as soon as it had been
ratified by Germany and three of the
principal allied and associated power
a process verbal Of the deposit of ratifi.
cation should be drawn up, from the
date Of which the treaty would come
into force as between the powers
which had ratified it. The treaty will
enter into force for each other power
at the date of the deposit of its rati.
f1cation.
In October last a sufficient number
Of powers had ratified the treaty to
comply with the requirements for Its
effectiveness. Because of the sinking
Of the German interned ships by their
officers and crews at Scapa Flow, how
ever, and the failure of the Germans
to live up to some Of the armistict
terms, the Allies on November de
manded that before the treaty was pu,
Into effect Germany should sign pro
tocol providing for reparatlon for the
destruction Of the warships and guar
anteeing the carrying out Of the armis
tice terms.