THE PEACE TREATY.

Lake County Press, Issue 2789, 12 June 1919, Page 5

THE PEACE TREATY.

Arrangements are practically completed as to the method to be adopted in signing the treaty. It was first contemplated to pass the document round the conference table for signature, but it has now been decided that the treaty shall be placed on a small table on a dias in the Salle des Glaoes. Each member will walk to the table and sign. The English and French translation of the counter-proposals was so indifferently prepared by the Germans that it necessitated it being done again causing a delay. The nature of the proposal shows that they are from anything but a vanquished nation. It is openly said that it may require something in the nature of a military demonstration to bring the Germans to their senses. Additional members of the German delegation have quitted Versailles, Count Rantzau, in farewelling them, thanked them for their patriotic collaboration and added; “ The hour is grave for our dear Germany, We have still to live through terrible hours. Assure those is Berlin that I (ball never sign the peace preliminaries unless they are seriously modified. Others may sign but not me.” Scheidemann interviewed stated : “ We offer the following counter-pro-posals to the peace treaty:—Germany to be immediately admitted to the League of Nations ; Germany agrees to restore destroyed French territory and pay fnll reparation for the ruined French coal mines, Germany also agrees in respect to Belgium’s claims ; she accepts the limitation of the army to 100,000, and is ready completely to disarm cn land and sea, provided the other nations agree to do likewise.