HISTORIC CEREMONY AT VERSAILLES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 266, 6 August 1919, Page 8

HISTORIC CEREMONY AT VERSAILLES

AND THE RACE FOR HOME. * Mr. R. Riley, the official journalist,, supplies the' following report: "3ir. Jias6ey attended the historic ceremony at Versailles on June 28, and in exercise of his full powers as l New Zealand's plenipotentiary signed tho Treaty of Peace with Germany and the supplementary dooumente. The ceremony \na lass dramatic than the presentation of the Allies' terms to the truculent Prnssinn delegates at the Trianon Hotel,. but it was infinitely more satisfactory—it etded a period of tense anxiety and bealed the Allies' victory over Germany. There had been so nvucß"" doubt as to the Treaty being signed at all, that the prevailing 6ontiment of the great assembly in the famous Hall of- Mirrors, as was that of the concourse in the palace grounds and among the woods hard by, wus moro in the nature of relief than of satisfaction. ■ :

"After tjie French delegates had signed, Mr. Massoy proceeded to leave the hall in order to make the great race by spe? oial motar-car from Versailles, and thence by the' destroyer Oriand from Havre to off Spithead, where the llanretania was held up., by the Admiralty to enable tho New Zealand Prime Minister to get passage across the Atlantic and connect with the Niagara at Vancouver. It was a rather difficult business to get out of the crowded assembly room, and the gains were booming the tidings of peace ftud the famous fountains in the park 'were playing magnificently bcforei Mr. Massey was able to leavo the grounds of the chateau. The ample heavens over Versailles' eeomed crowded with aeroplanes as the Minister's racing car sped through tho woods about St. Germain and took the highway to Eouen. The pleasant journey through the charming countryside to Havre, a distance of over 200 kilometres, was made in less than five hours, in spite of two minor breakdowns. All the way, in innumerable towns and villages, the _ free citizens of Prance were'rejoicing with prudence and commoiwenso.

"Within a few minutes after the Prime Minister's arrival at Havre, which was stirred with gaiety, tho - destroyer was under way, and presently, making 27 knots an hour, tho Afnuretania was renohed at 1.45 a.m., and the homeward journoy immediately begun. 'All arrangements for the fast trip were niado t>y tho Peace Conference officials and the Admiralty."- v. • '