The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-01-10
Exchange of RatifiCations
Closes Peace Negotiations
Between Germany
and Allies.
SIGNATURES ATTACHED

VI NeTsaiiies, making peace betWeer
Germany and the ratifying alice
powers, was put into effect at 4:1s
o'clock this afternoon by the ex.
change OF notifications.
The German peace treaty protooo
was signed by Germany's representa-
tive here today, preliminary to the
ceremony of exchanging notifications
putting the treaty into effect.
Baron Kurt Won Lersner, the head
OF the German mission, affixed his
signature to the protocol at 4:0e
o'clock.
The entire ceremony, which took
place In the Clock hall at the French
foreign ministry, was completed by
4:15 o'clock.
Previously Baron Kurt Won Lers-
ner, head of the German mission,
signed the protocol of Nov. /, pro-
viding for reparation for the sink
Ing of the German warships at
Scapa Flow and to insure the carry
ing out of the armlstice terms, The
signing of this document occurred in
the office of the minister of foreign
affairs.
Peaceful relations between Germany
and the greater number of the nations
engaged in the great war with her are
established by The action taken at Paris
To-Day. The peace treaty now goes into
effect as between Germany and those
powers that have finally ratified it
Great Britain Franco
gum, Bolivia, Brazil, Guatemala, Peru.
Poland, Siam, Czecho- -Slovakia and
Uruguay. Panama assembly has rati-
ned the treaty but ratification has not
yet been deposited in Paris.
Great Britain was the first of the
great powers to take such action, be-
ing followed in succession by France.
Italy and Japan. The United States
alone, of the big .five," has not ratified
the treaty. AS the list shows. formal
vatifications have been given by most of
the smaller powers signatory to the
treaty. China did not sign the docu-
ment because of her objections to the
Shantung provisions, but proclaimed
state Oh peace with Germany The all
important ratification by Germany was
given on July 8. 1918, the day following
which President Wilson presented the
treaty to the United States senate,
The making OF the peace which now
becomes effective was begun shortly
after the conclusion of the armistice of
Nov. II, 1918, which ended the great
war. The treaty of Versailles, as it has
become known, was signed in the his
torcal Versailles palace on June 2S,
1919.
Daily Conferences.
The long interval between the as
sembling of the peace conference at
Versailles ON Jan. Is, 1919, and the sign
ing of the treaty, was occupied with al
most daily conferences on its provisions
bptWppn the pf hn
tions which had been at war with Ger
many or had broken relations with her,
the principal parts being taken by dele
gates 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 nations which was finished
on Feb. IA. The German representa-
tives were invited to Versailles during
April, after the draft of the terms of
peace had been completed. They re-
ceived the treaty on May Z.
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 orr
ganization. The document comprises
fifteen parts with numerous annexes.
IT provides that as soon as it had been
ratified by Germany and three of the
principal allied and associated powers
a process verbal of the deposit of rati-
fications should be drawn up from the
date of which the treaty would come
into force as between the powers which
had ratified 1t. The treaty will enter
into force, for, each other power at the
date of the deposit of its ratification.
Letter to Be Delivered.
After the exchange of ratifications
of the treaty Premier Clemenceau
will hand to Baron Won Lersner the
following letter:
Paris, Jan. 10.-Now that the y
protocol provided for by the
note of Nov. has been signed
by qualified representatives of
the German government and in
consequence the ratifications of
the treaty of Versailles have been
deposited. the allied and associa-
ted powers wish to renew to the
German government their assur-
ances that while necessary repa-
rations for the sinking of the
German fleet in Scapa Flow will
be exacted, they do not intend to
injure the vital economic inter-
est of Germany. On this point,
by this letter. they confirm the
declarations which the general
secretary of the peace conference
was charged with making orally
to the president of the German
delegation on Dec. 23.
The letter gives details of the COM
pensation for the vessels sunk in
Scapa Flow as modified. which al
ready have been made public.
Without Any Ceremony.
Baron Won Lersner and Herr
Won Simson, the other German
representative, were among the
last to arrive at the foreign ministry
for the days ceremonies. They
passed into the foreign Office shortly
after Premier Clemenceau who, as
usual, was given an ovation.
The delegates assembled in the pri-
vate Office of the ministry Of foreign
affairs, where at a secret session the
protocol was signed at 400 o'clock.
Led by Premier Clemenceau, the
delegates then filed into the famous
Clock room. where were held the
plenary sessions of the peace confer
ence that fixed the terms Of the
treaty. Baron Won Lersner and Herr
Won Simson We're the last TO enter
the room and the first to sign the
minutes recording the exchange OF
ratificatsons.
The proceedings began without any
ceremony. Premier Lloyd George. Of
Great Britain. following the German
delegates at the signature table. He
was succeeded by Premier Clemen-
ceau, OF France. who on returning to
his seat after signing. stopped In
front Of Baron Won Lersner and Herr
Won Simson. Tho German represent
atives arose and bowed 10 NJ. Cl0m-
enceau. who said Il few words which
were inandible to the spectators.
The premier then passed on 70 his