Omaha daily bee., 1920-01-11
Ratifications of the Treaty Of
Versailles Exchanged Satur-
day Despite Rumors Of Fur
ther Postponement. I
HOPE AMERICA SOON
WILL RATIFY TREATY
Baron Won Lersner Declares
Germany Ready and Deter
mined to Execute All Terms
Of Agreement.

Paris, Jan. 10.-(By the Associat-
ed Press.)-Ratihcations of the
treaty of Versailles were exchanged
and peace between Germany,
France. Great Britain and the other
allied and associated powers, with
the exception of the United States,
became effective at 4:16 this after
noon. There were 18th hour ru-
mors of further postponement, but
these proved to be groundless.
The outstanding comment to-
night on the ceremony is that it
leaves the United States the only
power which was actively 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 to the Associated Press.
mediately after the ceremony.
81 am naturally happy that peace
has finally become effective" Baron
Won Lersner said. "My great re-
gret is that the United States is the
only country with which Germany
is still in state of war; hope.
however, that this situation will
soon be changed.
Heavy Sacrifice Imposed.
Execution of the treaty of Yer
sailles imposes upon Germany the
heaviest sacrifices ever borne by a
nation in modern times. We lost
in the west and in the east terri
tories that belonged to Prussia for
many centuries. We have assumed
enormous economic obligations.
Nevertheless, I am glad that peace
is at last re-established because it
will give back to Germany her be-
loved sons still prisoners abroad. y
Asked as to the execution Of the
terms of the treaty, Baron Won
Lersner declared that Germany was
ready and determined to do her ut
most. He continued:
"We have already, even without
being obliged by the terms of tht
treaty, delivered a considerable
quantity of products, including $500,
900 tons of coal, to France and | car
say that Germany will go to the ut
most limit of possibility in fulfilling
all the obligations she has incurred
1t will mean hard times for Ger
many, but with the recovery of ou
ardor for labor and production W.
hope to meet every emergency.
Economic Difficulties.
The recovery of Our economic
prosperity is as much to the interes
of the entente as it is to us, on &C
count of the great economic diff
culties that threaten all Europe.
is obvious. speaking chiefly o
France, that her economic prosper
ity depends upon the economic re
covery of Germany"
Baron Won Lersner said he ha,
several very satisfactory conference
with Louis Loucheur, French min
lister of reconstruction, regarding TIL
resumption of trade relations be
tween Germany and France AM
added that he hoped the Europeal
nations, working together. woul'
solve the great economic problems
The most thorny remaining prob
lem appeared to Won Lersner to b.
the question of the extradition of
considerable number of German OF
ficers and soldiers to be tried 70
crimes alleged to have been com
1nitted during the war.
Discuss Extradition Question.
81 do not want to give UP al
hope continued Baron Won Lars
ner, that among the allies the con
riction will finally prevail that b
availing themselves strictly of right
conceded in the treaty for the extra
dition of those accused, they ma
cause the greatest consequences, no
only for Germany. but for quiet an
order in Europe, generally. w
pointed out two months ago, yer
frankly tosthe allies the harmful cor
sequences that might ensue if thel
right to demand extradition shoul
be executed literally. At the sam
time we submitted written sugges
tions for the solution of the delicat
problem.
| The principal features of thi
proposition we're that German
would undertake to arraigr befor
the supreme court of Germany a
Continued on Page Two. Column One