OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED

Hokitika Guardian, 30 June 1919, Page 3

OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED

THE KING’S MESSAGE. GOVERNOR-GENERAL’ S REPLY. !pisß PBKB9 ASSOCIATION. COPYRIGHT 1 WELLINGTON, TL'ii.s Day. Tlie following cables have been received and despatched in connection with the signing of the Peace Trea- * “From the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Governor General of New Zealand”, June 28th.—“ Peace Treaty with Germany signed bv representatives of Allied and associate powers and by representatives of Germany to-day at 4 o"clock. The concluding article of the Treaty provides that the first “proces verbal” of deposit of ratification will be drawn up as soon as tl ie Treaty has been ratified by Germany, on the one hand, and by three of the princinal Allied . and Associate Powers on the other hand. That the date of this first “procos verbal” tlie Treaty will come into force between the high contracting parties who have ratified it'that for the determination of all periods of time provided for in the treaty, this date will be the date of coming into force of the Treaty and that in all other respects the Treaty will enter into force for each power at the date of the deposit of ratification. The date of ratification, i.e., of the coming into force of the Peace Treaty cannot be stated yet.” From his Majesty the King to the ’Governor-General pf New Zealand “The signing of the Treaty i f Peace will lie received with deep tnnnkfulness throughout tlie British Empire. This formal act brings to its conchuling stage the terrible war which ha; devastated Europe and distracted till world. It manifests the victory of th< ideals of freedom and liberty for whW we have made untold sacrifices. I shore with my people the joy anc thanksgiving, and earnestly liray thn -vjtho coming years of peace may brim Rrto them ever increasing happiness am prosperity.” From the Governor-General to th King “I ddsire to associate mysel with the Government and people o New Zealand in respectfully express sincere appreciation of the messag your Majesty was gradually pleased t send through me on the occasion of tli signing of the Treaty of Peace. As ri presentative of the Sovereign in th Dominion, I respectfully beg to tond< vour Majesty on behalf of the inhnb touts of these islands, the assurance . their whole-hearted devotion to U Throne, and loyally to the F.inpir which made such immense sacrifices secure the freedom of the world, conclusion, wo earnestly trust the sig ing of this treaty, which marks : ■ onoch in history, will also be hearted humanity of a new era of univers pcaco and prosperity.”

! FURTHER DETAILS, (Received This Dav at qoon.) ! PARIS, June 28. ' There was only one really impressiv moment. As soon as M. Clemencea opened the sitting, Mueller and Bel • .aijeompanied (by tlmee others, Tver 1 seen approaching from an ante chain her. With a quiet dignity, the fiv Germans walked to their seats, pausin' ! and bowing right and left several times ! M. Clemenceau invited the German: to sign, and said he hoped that theii

signatures would he a guarantee of a solemn undertaking, which they would . faithfully and loyally carry out. A few j minutes still followed, which was brolclon by a hell when the Germans resuinjcd their seats. J Mr Wilson accompanied by Mr Lan- | sing, Col. House, and Mr Bliss signed. Then followed the British, Hon Lloyd George, Hon. Bonar Law, Mr A. J. Balfour, Lord Milner, and Mr Barnes. , When the British Ministers had signed, Doherty, Hnglies, Cook, Massey, Botha Smuts, and Bikaner formed the second

group to sign, immediately after the British Ministers. j When they retired, M. Clemenceau, M. Pichon, M. Clotz, M. Tardicu, and \M. Cambon signed for France. Then j Sonniuo and Crospi for Italy; Suionji, 1 Makino, Chinda, and Matsui for Japan. Delegates representing the small States signed in alphabetical order and within fifty minutes the ceremony was over. M. Clemenceau declared the treaty between the Allied and Associated Powers and Germany now signed. This closed the sitting. Although there was not much display of enthusiasm the people

assembled at various vantage points between * Paris and Versailles to watch the hundreds of motors, decorated with flags of the various nationalities, conveying the delegates and visitors to the chateau, but there are great preparations for to-night to welcome peace. Parisian thoroughfares are ;■ ailv decorated with flags and to-night with wonderful iffiumijnations she becomes La Valle Lumiere again. All public buildings are picked out with electric light. Willie, the great searchlight of Eiffel tower sweeps the city with nine torchlights. Processions consisting of infantry, cavalry, firemen parade, and bonfires are lighted in all the principal peaks of the Vosges.

j MR. WILSON'S MESSAGE. (Received this day at 8.15 a.m.) : WASHINGTON, June 28. President Wilson in an address to the American people, said that the Treaty, if ratified, would furnish a charter of a new order in world affairs. Its severity was due to the great wrongs Germany had done. It Tnposes nothing that Germany cannot do, and ends the domination of the selfish men who built'up the Umpire for gratification of their own ends. It does away with the right of conquest and nrovides for helpful co-operation between the Governments. It recognises the :n----alienable rights of nationality and furnishes guarantees of peace for the future, that hitherto were non-existent. It is a, deep ground~for satisfaction and confident hope. ITALIAN DELEGATION. (Received this day at 8.15 a.m.)' LONDON, June 24. The iiiew Italian Delegate to the Peace Conference comprises Timone (Foreign Minister and Chief Delegate), and Senators Scialoja, Feurdris, Marconi, and a deputy.

THE GREAT EVENT. | (Received This Dai at 8.4,3 a.m.) | PARIS, June 27. ■ Mr Murdoch writes that there were great preparations for the peace signature. Troops, including magnificently mounted cavalry bad a final rehearsal for what the French nation regards as the ngblest and most hopeful moment in all history. The city was beautifully decorated there being an outburst of flowers and fhtgs. All public places are en fete, and the roadway to v ersailles is like a rainbow with coloured rthbon. M. Clemenecau is everywhere overseeing the decorations. The signing is ~o be done at four tables. The first is for the main Treaty, the second [or the proposal, the third for the treaty, and the fourth where only the Great Powers will go for the Rhineland agreement. The selection of the German delegates had failed to please the French newspapers which ask who are these people, obscurities and nonentities chosen in order not to impress the people’ < imaginations. Wiser heads point out that Germany could not got anyone else to come to Versailles and anyhow the signatures are completely binding. Von Horn el plaintively announced ; e could not be a signatory because Ins wife had telegraphed that she and I cm' friends would never speak to him again. The rough cobbler Giesberts, hacked out of signing at the last moment, [ while Linert’s courage was unequal 'o bis notorious love of fame. Mueller, one of the signatories, came to Paris in July 1913, to tell the French Socialists til at the German Socialist Party | would never go to war. He was then a humble personage, and is now foreign minister. Bell, the other signator, is an obscure member of the Erzcberger party. Ho was Minister for Colonies in Scheidemann’s Cabinet and is now . Minister of Railways. \ ALLIED notables, j i PARIS, June 28. l Special trains to-night brought the greatest figures of the war to Versailles l to witness the signing, including, Haig, t Beatty, Henry Wilson ami others, who X steadfastly refused to meet the Gcr--1 mans until the Treaty was signed and counter-signed. The train bringing the e German delegates was four hours late, f The French War Office is prepared tor f demobilisation ns soon as ever the Troni- tv is signed, demobilising everyone over c thirty. The general ficclihig is that o though Germany signs the Treaty aoe kmnvlcdgiiig her crime of 1914, and ?- promising repentance and reparation is fcompllcte demobilisation Is still iin»r Kossibi'le. Foch declares though the i- Treaty is signed we must not relax for >f ; ,n instant our surveillance. The Amele ricans propose to send troops home rf, e. the rate of ten thousand daily, but the to watch on the Rhino will he maintained. Li Mr Wilson will leave immediately the n- Treaty is signed to catch a steamer it in Brest for America. Th o Dominion delete gates depart on Sunday. Some British ml delegates remain in order to conclude minor negotiations .

| DISTRUSTFUL HUNS. ! PARIS, June 28. j A typical instance of German men, 'tality ws given when Von Han|el ..o!day demanded a copy of the •Treaty, , which the delegates are going to sign in order to coippnre the text. M. Cle- : menceau replied that they were not supplying the text but were giving a formal assurance that the Treaty was the sarno in word and substance as the Germans had accepted,

GENERAL RUSSELL’S MESSAGE HASTINGS, This Day.

On receiving official news that peacewas signed, General Andrew Russell handed the following message to the Press Association :—“ Congratulations to all those who have served in the war, in that peace has put its seal of success on your work, and especially to those seriously wounded and to rela-i tives and friends of those who have laid down their lives, in that their sacrifice has not been in vain.”

AT WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, This Day. The A favor has invited citizens and schools to observe a half-holiday In honour of the signing of the Peace Treaty. A salute of 101 guns will bo fired from Mount Cook Barracks, Featherson and Trentham Camps, at 12.15. Addresses will bo delivered at the Town Hall by Mayor Luke, the Acting-Premier and Hon Air AfcDonald.

AT WAIAIATE. WAIAIATE, This Day. A half holiday was declared, the bells, arc ringing and the band is out.

HAMILTON CELEBRATES. HAMILTON, This Day

The news that peace was signed was received with great jubilation. Bells rang and syrens screeched, and a large crowd gathered. Hie band played patriotic airs and a procession was formed and speeches of thanksgiving given by representative men.

LLOYD GEORGE UNWELL. LONDON. June 29. Air Lloyd George has been ordered to take six weeks’ rest.