PEACE TREATY

Taranaki Daily News, 7 August 1919, Page 5

PEACE TREATY

SAFEGUARDED*} NATIVES. By Telepaph.—Press Assn,—CopyrleUt. London, Aug. 3. A epecial commission of the Peace Conference reported in favor of a new international convention to suppress slavery, to prevent the importation of inferior spirits into the colonies, also to suppress private traffic in warlike arms and rigorous supervision over other arras.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assoc. MR. MASSEY RACING HOME. THE LAST ACT Auckland, August 5. Mr. R. Riley, official journalist, supplies the following report i Mr. Massey attended the historical ceremony at Versailles on June 28, and in exercise of his full powers as New Zealand's plenipotentiary, signed the Treaty of Peace with Germany and the supplemcntory documents. The ceremony was less dramatic than the presentation of the Allies' terms to the truculent Prussian delegates at the Trianon Hotel, but it was infinitely more satisfactory. It ended a period of tense anxiety, and sealed the Allied victory over Germany. There had been so much doubt as to the Treaty being Bigned at all, that the prevailing sentiment of the great assembly in the famous Hall of Mirrors, as also that of the great concourse in the palace grounds and among the woods hard by, was more in the nature of relief than of satisfaction. i I

After the French delegates had signed, Mr. Massey proceeded to leave the hall in order to make a great race by special motor car from Versailles and thence by the destroyer Oriana from Havre to off Spithead, where the Mauretania was held up by the Admiralty to enable the New Zealand Prime Minister to get a passage across the Atlantic and connect with the Niagara, at .Vancouver. It was rather a difficult business to get out of the crowded assembly room. The guns were booming the tidings of Peace, and the famous fountains were playing magnificently before Mr. Massey wa3 able to leave the grounds of the chateau The ample heavens over Versailles seemed crowded with aeroplanes as the Minister's facing car sped through the woods about St. Germain on Layo and took the highway to Rouen. It was a pleasant journey through charming countryside to Havre,-*a distance of over 200 kilometres. It was made in less than five hours, in spite of two minor breakdowns. All the way along tho routs innumerable towns and villages of the free citizens of Prance wore rejoicing with prudence and commoa sense. Within a few minutes after the Prime Minister's arrival at Havr<., which was stirred with gaiety, the destroyer was under way and was presently making 27 knots un hour, 'i'li-j Mauretania was reached at 1.40 a.m., and the homeward journey was immediately begun. All arrangements for a fast trip were made by tho Peace Conference officials and tho Admiralty.