PEACE AT LAST.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 June 1919, Page 2

PEACE AT LAST.

SIGN UNDER PROTEST. LONDON, June 27. I A Note has been received intimating Germany will sign. It says: Geri many is in a suite of consternation that th 0 Allies have resolved to wrest, oy sheer tone, even the acceptance of conditions which seek to take away the honour of the German people, which however, will remain untouched by any act of violence. Germany, after years of frightful sufferings means to defend Iter honour externally, has to yield to overwhelming force; but, without abandoning her view regarding tlie injustice of the terms. Germany declares she is ready to sign the terms which the Allies have imposed. PARIS, June 27. Arrangements have been completed for siguing the Peace Treaty. The signing takes place at 3.30. o’clock tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon. ! TWO GERMAN SIGNATORIES' PARIS, June 28. The Peace Treaty has been signed. Two German Ministers, Herr Herman Mueller and Dr Johnues Rell (of the Centre Party) signed the Treaty on Germany’s behalf. On behalf of the Allies, M. Clemenceau asked the Germans a direct question as to whether they were willing to sign the treaty. Tlie Germans replied in the affirmative. The German signatories said, however, that they were to sign with a mental reservation.

The German people, they sa'd, would use every means in their power to meet the terms. Herr Mueller said that they believed that the Eintente would • ventually modify the terms of the Treaty. Herr Mueller, one of the German peace signatories, is one of the leading Social Democrats. Dr Bell, the other signatory, is a lawyer from Essen. He only entered political life in 1912. Dr Bell belongs to the Catholic Centre Party. .

INCIDENTS AT THE SIGNING. PARIS, June 28. The signing of the Peace Treaty began at 2.20. p.m. to-day, Paris time. Tiie German delegates signed first. Then M. Clemenceau, President Wilson, and Mr Lloyd George signed in that order.

Tn a statement, Herr Mueller said: “I believe that the Entente will not insist on the delivery of the Kaiser and other high officers for trial. A crowd cheered M. Clemenceau and Air Lloyd George as they emerged from the Palace. Soldiers joined in. An aeroplane swooped overhead. BLOCKADE TO GO ON. LON DO A, June 28. The Allied blockade of Germany will be continued until the Treaty has been ratified. The Treaty will be considered complete when it has been ratified by three European Powers, viz. England, France and Italy. CHINA REFUSES TO SIGN. LONDON, June 28. China has refused to sign the Peace Treaty. The Chinese delegates were absent from the signing. They refused to attend .

The United Press Paris correspondent states: The Chinese Delegates refused to sign the Peace Treaty because they were not allowed to make any reservations concerning tli> Allies’ disposition of Shantung to Japan.

CELEBRATING PEACE. ! (Received This Pay at 8 a.m.) 1 ! LONDON, June 28. i Peace dinners were arranged to-night 1 at various leading hotels. A wireless press mesnge from Paris l reports the Minister of War at 3.47. , wirelesed orders for sustained salvoes • ' throughout the country, from Stras- - burg and Metz to Morocco. 3 When the city hells clashed out ani. nouneing the signing at 3.40., London stood still for a few seconds with tre- ; meudous tension. It was easily surniis- . ed what the hells meant, for those who . had contributed to the triumph of right i over might. Peace had come, and the : sacrifices made by the dead were per- ; haps realised for the first time. There was a tinge of sadness in the welcome news, and London did not forget in its , joy, the memory of those who had fallen for the freedom of he world Groups met in the streets and were mutually congratulatory. The news was quickly communicated to the theatres and cinemas where it was flashed on the screen, the audiences spontaneously rising and fervently singing the National Anthem. There was great ' enthusiasm everywhere. ' GENERAL SMUTS’ PROTEST. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) ' PARIS, Juno 28. General Smuts signed the Treaty under protest, objecting to the territorial settlements. He also argued for a -e----duction of indemnities, owing to the impaired industrial conditions in Europe. Cannon boomed out at 3.44. crowds celebrated the news in Paris streets. A TREATY STIPULATION. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) PARIS, June 2. ,A(] .the last minute a stipulation was made in the Treaty allowing for the return of German prisoners immediately Germany ratifies the Treaty. ‘ After signing the German signatories < departed for Germany. LLOYD GEORGE. LONDON, June 29. Hon. Lloyd George addresses the f Commons in regard to the Peace Treaty r on Ist July. _______ 1

THE TREATY SIGNED. (United Service.) (Received June 29th, at 5.5 p.m.) London, June 28 The Peace Treaty has been signed.

RAPTUROUS RECEPTION. GIVEN TO ROYALTY. {United Service Telegrams). (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, June 28. The chief incident in London following the report of the news of the signing, was the rush of immense crowds to Buckingham Palace, demanding to see the Royalties. On tlie appearance of the King, Queen and family they were greeted with a prolonged thrilling disi play of the most affectionate enthusi--1 asm. THE ACTUAL SIGNING. A DULL CEREMONY. (Received This Day at 3 a.m.) PARIS, June 28 The Peace Conference assembled at three o’cloick. The (Germans entered almost immediately, bowing several times in a dignified manner. M. Clemenceau invited them to sign and they went to the table and within a couple of minutes their signatures were attached. Then Mr Wilson as head of the Americans, signed, and lie was followed by the British Empire representatives and those of France, Italy, Japan and other delegations.

As soon as the signatures were appended salvoes of artillery announced to the world that peace was signed. VERY PROSAIC. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) PARIS, June 28. With all file momentous potentialities of‘the Treaty, the signing could not have been a more prosaic ceremonial than was to-day’s. There was nothing picturesque outside- the beautiful hall itself. " There were no speeches or incidents and the process of signing became purely mechanical and somewhat dull to the onlookers. Some four hundred specially invited guests were present, including many dignities, Generals, and Admirals of the various powers. As the last signatures were appended, batteries of guns in Versailles Gardens fired salvoes and numbers of aeroplanes flitted around the palace. THE WAR CRIMINALS. PARIS, June 28. President Ebert, in a proclamation, practically advises the giving-up 'of the Germans demanded under the Peace Treaty as war criminals. STILL IN HOLLAND. THE HAGUE, June 27. The Dutch Government- officially denies the report that the ex-Cro.vn ' Prince has escaped. KAISER WILL NOT STAND TRIAL. LONDON, June 29. The “Daily Express” interviewed the ex-Crown Prince at Weringen. The Crown Prince stated :—Tlie Kaiser’s honour would not permit him to stand, a .trial. He would die first. The Crown Prince criticised the Great Powers, as jhe said they consulted minor nations instead of adjusting peace quickly. ALLIES ON TURKISH RULE. PARIS, June 28. The Council of Ten, replying to the Turkish Peace Delegates, said that there was no case in which the establishment of Turkish rule in any country bad not been followed by a diminution of prosperity. Wherever the Turk had conquered he had destroyed, and he . had shown an incapacity to govern. The Allies could not allow him to rule alien races.

INSULT TO GERMAN DELEGATES. PARIS, June 27. Regarding the recent hostile demonstration in Paris, which occurred on the departure of some of the German delegation, the French Premier, M. Clemenceau, has sent a letter to Count Rnntzau stating that lie had learned that'a crowd had assembled outside Count Rantzau’s residence in Versailles, and that disorder had followed. M. Clemenceau hastens to express his regret for these unjustifiable acts, which were quite contrary to the laws of hospitality, and he mentions that the Prefect of Seine has apologised to Herr von Hnnicl, while the Police Commissary concerned will be relieved of his post for not taking the prescribed measures for the maintenance of order. POLICE HEADS DISMISSED. PARIS, Juno 28. As the outcome of the episode" at Versailles, where the mob stoned departing German peace envoys, AT. Chalier, Prefect of #Seine, and M.'Oudaille, Special Commissioner at Versailles have been removed from office. The newspapers attribute some blame to. minor German officials, who made insulting remarks in reply to a little hissing by the spectators.

FURTHER PARTICULARS. (Received This Dav at 8 a.m.) PARIS, June 28 y The plenipotenaries began to arrive it 2.30. They ascended by the staircase of honour, passing through pie Saille ties Gardes, and Queen’s apartment. Hero they were marshalled before teriug the galleries. These apartments' which have closed <o the public for some years, presented, a. magnificent scene, with their sumptuous tapestries and furniture of Louis XlV.'s time.

In the galleries the preparations for the ceremony were simple and dignified. Tables covered with gold draperies ran along one sde of the hall, with a cross table at either end. The extreme ends of the gallery was reserved for the distiiiguislied visitors, and press, tho latter occupying the spot, where peace with the German Empire was proclaimed in 1871.

MB WILSON'S APPBBCIAnON. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) PARIS, June 28. Air Wilson, beforo leaving Trance Jf a message to the Freud, jeopl- » which he said, looking back over Ui eventful months, he'had a memory no nnlv of the conference’s hard work, but also of innumerable acts of S elleroSlt J and friendship which made him ee .*•' Sent ir o f Ime vZ mC V «ply ‘Zatt » to S» ko-, I- 'oft V ranee with genuine regre., hi ftought. aoteged ky the association with her pubhc > profoundly grateful for her «n,tintc hospitality. P ’ NEWS IN SYDNEY. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. ciative. announcements m hey there, was little in the way of demonstration for the signing of P««* At eight to-morrow morning the iNeu Zealand and other warships in harbour will fire 101 guns. Other ofhem 1 - and in other capitals have been told . to celebrate tlie occasion. UR MASSEY LEAVES f(Received This Day at 8 a.m ) PARS, June 28 • \ s soon as Mr Massey had signed he left with Air Rilev and motored to Paris and caught the train Havre, where lie embarks on a destrovci which _ " t"ptohim»bo.rdtl,eM«ro.»y r off Softhead. Such troops as took pait to Sa,, route outside the chat.... “ “tail field uniform. The oocasmu «, **« -.*■£ ters only seven regiments of cw > md four of infantry took part and ® v,ands The ° nl l r dasll of there were n h • len( j en t uni colour was given b> the iesi onus of tilie Republican Guaids. nuaUs with drawn swords and wearing Jlvcr and gold helmets with sweeping plumes lined the marble an case *.*&£ ii Se-polec. garden are in play, but to-day all were in op - ration Great crowds lined the 1 ■ ■pSiestotheOlr.teuu.ud^.me* lining the rente mode n .me £S?uith red and white P™"»' fluttering in the breeze. wheß The sun was shining bug . . at'23o. the delegates began to assem >le and take their place in the Air Hughes, Sir R. Cook and Air Ma^ 66V, accompa.med by Gar « , _ Latham, and Riley were —t -he rr 5L waited for M. Clomene.an to leclare the proceedings open. TWO ANNIVERSARIES. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) ' PARIS, June 28. In conjunction with the Peace signatures, it i. the anniversary o m dav of a pistol shot at Serajevo, which set the world ablaze, and brought peace again. an INTERESTING scene (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) PABIS, June 28. It wa9 an interesting scene The leading statesmen of the civilized g - £ered around the tables in the Sere des Palaces, while two almost nn known men signed the doenmen IS knowledging the defeat of one of the ▼ SSS£ empires. One involuntarily - recalled the great German name fln-uring throughout the wai, bu _ ' one came to acknowledge bis country s , guilt. Many treaties have been signed at Versailles, but none fraught w itli such consequence to the world s .ibei .' as this.