PEACE RATIFIED.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1846, 14 January 1920, Page 7

PEACE RATIFIED.

BRIEF, FORMAL AND PRIVATE. By CahU. — Press Association. — Copyright. (A. & N.Z.I PARIS, Jan. 10 ; Peace was ratified at Versailles in the Salon tie l'Horloge, the small room in which the League tions was horn. The ceremony took place punctufllly at 4 o'clock. The proceedings were brief, formal and private. The Protocol was read and then the seals of the Allied and the German delegates were atlixed. M. Clemenceau afterwards handed to the German delegates a* letter, confirming his verbal assurance in reference to the dock material to be surrendered in reparation for the sinking of the German Fleet at Scapa Flow. No outside witnesses attended the ceremony, and this was the first occasion of note when the American Ambassador was absent. No descriptive details of the signing are available, but it is understood that the Allied delegates, after signing, shook hands with the Germans. Arrangements for the renewal of diplomatic relations begin immediately. About a dozen Gommissions will be establised to supervise the carrying-out of the Treaty, which, by (he Protocol, Germany promises to execute in its entirety. Although America will not participate in the first meeting, it is President Wilson's duty to summon the League of Nations next week. AMERICAN OPINION. (A. & X.Z.I WASHINGTON. Jan. 12. In the Senate, Senators King and Ashurst expressed the opinion that the Peace Treatv would be ratified shortly. They thought that Mr \V. J. Bryan's intervention was likely to lead the Democrats to abandon their extreme opposition. Mr Bryan had previously expressed the opinion that the Senate would ratify the Treaty in time to allow the United States to enter the League of Nations at its inception. THE WAR CRIMINALS. (A. * X.Z.I PARIS, Jan. 10. It is pointed out that one of the first obligations of Germany is to hand over those persons accused of War crimes, the number of whom is uncertain. Some reports say 750, and othes 300. The revised British list contains the names of 100 and includes the ex-Kaiser, many commanders of submarines, the judges who sentenced Captain Fryatt to death and the commandants of several prison camps. The French list includes the exCrown Prince and the general who ordered the outrages at Louvain, Dinant and Aerschot in 1914.

THE EX-KAISER. (A. * N.Z.) PARIS, Jan. 10. The "Echo de Paris" understands that the British Cabinet favours M. Clemenceau's proposal that the exKaiser should be tried in contumaciam, thus avoiding any difficulty with Holland in connection with his extradition. EXTRADITION DEMAND. (A. * N.Z.) PARIS, Jan. 11. The instrument demanding tbe exKniser's exfivuFHon is readv for signature and will probablv be sent to the Hutch Cnhinct at The Hague during the next few davs. GERMAN HOPES. (Rctifpr) PAPTS, Jan. 11. Baron von Lersner, in an interview, said he honed the Entente Powers would hcln Gormanv to work cheerfully to fulfil her obligations, because their economic prosperity especiallv that of France, depended upon Germany's economic recovery. He m-cred that the Allies should not insist upon (he literal extradition of alleged War criminals, because such action woidd hove the gravest consequences, not merelv in Germany, but as afTccting the peace of Europe. PEACE CONDITIONS. (A- & N-Z.) PARTS, Jan. 11 . Britain. Frnnce and Italv are sending diplomatic representatives to Berlin, their credentials all bearing the same date. DEPRESSION IN GERMANY. (A. & N.Z.) RERUN, Jan. 11. The exchange of ratifications has produced marked depression in Germany. The "Berliner Tageblatt" says it is Germany's duty to use all peaceful means to secure an alteration in the terms of the Treaty. The Pan-German newspapers also make strong comment. LEAGUE OF NATIONS. (A i * >'- Z > _, PARIS, Jnn. 11. ,u M V Le ? n Bo "i"geois is to preside at the first meeting of the League of Nations on January IG. Sir Donald Wallace has informed President Wilson that the date has been fixed to enable the League to be formally summoned in any case with or without America. ' The League of Nations will £r & he ln work 'if? order. M. Uemenreau has inquired of the representatives of the chief neutral States whether the latter wish to become members of the Leaeuc