The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1920-01-23
PEACE effective
WITHOUT AMERICA
Ratifications of the Versailles
Treaty Exchanged by Other
Leading Entente Powers.
COOL AND BUSINESSLIKE'
Ven Lersner, for Germany, Signs Pact
PIedging Strict Observance OF AIT
Terms - clemenceau Avoids
Shaking Hand Of German.

Paris.-Ratification of the treaty OF
Versailles were exchanged and peace
between Germany, France, Great Brit
ain and the other allied and associated
powers, with the exception of the Unit
ed States, became effective.
The outstanding comment on the
ceremony is that it leaves the United
States the only power which was ac-
lively at war with Germany not now
on peace basis. That was the note
sounded by Baron Kurt Won Lersner,
head of the German peace delegation,
in a statement Immediately after the
ceremony
81 am naturally happy that peace
Won Lersner said. "My great regret
is that the United States is the only
country with which Germany is still
in a state of war. l hope, however,
that this situation will soon. be
changed.
Execution of the treaty of Yer,
sailles imposes upon Germany the
leaviest sacrifices ever borne by a ma
ton in modern times. We lost in the
west and the east territories that be-
longed to Prussia for many centuries
We have assumed enormous economic
obligations. Nevertheless, l am glad
that peace is at last re-established,
because it will give back to Germany
her beloved sons still prisoners
abroad"
Asked as to execution of the terms
of the treaty, Baron Won Lersner de.
clared that Germany was ready and
determined to do her utmost. He con-
tinued: =
1--WE have already, even without be-
ing obliged by the terms Of the treaty
delivered a considerable quantity OF
products, including two and one-half
million tons of coal to France, and
can say that Germany will go to the
utmost limit of possibility in fulfilling
all the obligations she has incurred
1t will mean hard times for Germany
but with the recovery of our arder fol
labor and production we hope to meet
every emergency. It
"The recovery of our economic pros
perity is as much to the interest of the
entente as it is to US on account of the
great economic difficulties that threat
en- all Europe. 1t is obvious. speaking
chiefly Of France, that her economic
prosperity depends upon the economic
recovery of Germany"
The most thorny remaining problem
appeared to Won Lersner to be the
question of the extradition of a con
siderable number of Gelman officers
officials and soldiers to be tried abroad
for crimes alleged to have been COM
mitted during the war.
In conformity with the peace treaty
and the annex Of the League of Ma
tions covenant, Premier Clemenceau
has telegraphed Argentina, Chile, Co
lombia, Denmark, Span, Norway, Par
aguay, Holland, Salvatore, Sweden
Switzerland and Venezuela that the
treaty is now effective and inviting
|, them to membership in;fhe League OF
Nations.
The entire ceremony was over, when
III.
"The protocol having been signed
as well as the minutes recording the
exchange of ratifications, I have the
honor to declare that the treaty OF
Versailles is in full effect and that its
: terms will be executed integrally."
At the end of n. Clemenceau's re
marks all the delegates rose, and the
Germans, after slight hesitation, lee
the way out without either salute OF
exchanging words with any Of the 9th
er delegates.
The absence of American representa-
tives was particularly remarked. VI
to the last hour Hugh c. Wallace, the
American ambassador, was in doubt as
to whether he would receive instruc
tions to attend the ceremony. Finally
hearing nothing from Washington, he
returned to the secretary of the peace
conference the invitations that haC
been sent him. -.