The Peace Treaty has been signed.

The German signatories were Herr Muller and Herr Bell. Herr Muller, the German Foreign Minister, is one of the leaders of the Social Democrats, and is aged 43. Herr Bell is a lawyer, at Essen. He entered political life in 1912, and belongs to the Catholic Party.

The Treaty was signed at Versailles at 12 minutes past three o'clock on Saturday.

The Germans signed first at the invitation of M. Clemenceau, the Prime Minister of France. M. Clemenceau made a formal speech. He asked the Germans whether they were willing to sign, and they replied in the affirmative.

The crowd madly cheered M.Clemenceau and Mr Lloyd George, the British Prime Minister, as they emerged from the chateau, soldiers joining in the demonstration. Aeroplanes swooped overhead.

Hermann Muller and Johannes Bell stated: "We are signing without mental reservation. The German people will use every means to meet the terms." Herr Muller added: "I believe that the Entente will not insist on the delivery of the ex-Kaiser and other high officials for trial. We believe that the Allies will eventually modify the terms of the Treaty."

The Chinese delegates were absent from the ceremony, and refused to sign the Treaty, because they were not allowed to make reservations concerning the disposition of Shantung.

General Smuts, for South Africa, signed under protest, objecting to certain territorial settlements.

The following message has been received from the King by Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson, the Governor-General: "The signing of the Treaty of Peace will be received throughout the Empire with deep thankfulness. This formal act brings to its concluding stage a terrible war, which has devastated Europe and distracted the world.

"It manifests the victory of the ideals of freedom and liberty for which we have made untold sacrifices. I share with my people their joy and thanksgiving, and earnestly pray that the coming years of peace may be years of ever-increasing happiness and prosperity."

An official message received by Mr Watt dated June 28th, states that representatives of the Allied and associated Powers, and representatives of Germany, signed the Peace Treaty that afternoon. The date of ratification of the Treaty will be fixed when it is ratified by Germany.

London, Monday.

King George made a notable 19-word speech from the balcony of Buckingham Palace: "Peace has now been signed, and thus ends the greatest war in history. I join you in thanking God."

The King, the Prince of Wales, Prince Albert, and a large party welcomed Mr Lloyd George and the other peace delegates, including Mr Hughes, the Prime Minister of Australia, at Victoria railway station. Five hundred Australians formed a guard of honour outside.

In response to an ovation, Mr Lloyd George appeared at one of the upper windows of his

residence in Downing Street, London. He said: "A just peace has been concluded by the labours and sacrifices of men of all classes and races. The peace is charged with hope. I trust the unity, spirit, concord and co-operation which won the great peace will help to establish a new world, won by the sacrifice of millions of valiant men. Hideous slaughter of brave men has ended in a righteous peace. Let us thank God, therefore, and rejoice in the great victory, not in the spirit of boastfulness, which brought Germany's downfall, but in a spirit of reverence worthy of the noble sacrifices."

The signature of the Peace Treaty caused little excitement in Berlin. The newspapers make the briefest reference to it.

Mr Hughes, in the course of an interview by the Australian Press Association, said: "All men are asking themselves: "Is the peace worthy of the great objects for which the Allies fought; worthy of the great sacrifices made?"

"Some critics, notably General Smuts, condemn the treaty as unjust to Germany. I believe it is unjust to the Allies, if to anyone. Does the treaty safeguard the world against future German aggression? The German Navy is destroyed, her mighty legions scattered, her generals in exile and disgrace, her great war lord a fugitive, but I do not believe that Prussian militarism is dead. The best assurance for the world's peace is not the Versailles Treaty, but the alliance between Britain, America, and France, whereby the two former are pledged to assist France if Germany attacks it. I believe that Germany, despite the change of Government, is still the same as in 1914."

The Australian Press Association interviewed Sir Joseph Cook, the Australian Minister for the Navy, who said: "The signing of the Treaty brings down the curtain on the world's greatest drama. It will rise on new scenes and new hopes.

"The Treaty, with its Labour Covenant, and the League of Nations, may prove a new Magna Charta. It attempts to solve the best elements of the old civilisation, and make them the basis for a new structure. The provisions for reparation, punishment and disarmament convey a stern warning to military aggressors. The treaty is not an ideal arrangement, but is based on a compromise of world views. If the plan is to succeed we must exercise common sense, mutual respect, and forbearance. The Treaty rids Australia of the German menace. The prohibition of armed forces and strategic stations in the territories under mandates is a great gain, and will enable us to develop in freedom and peace."

London, Wednesday.

Two hundred and fifty Australians tendered a farewell dinner at the Savoy Hotel to Mr Hughes, the Prime Minister of Australia, and Sir Joseph Cook, the Minister for the Navy. The company included leading financiers and business men and the Agents-General of the Australian States. Mr A. Fisher, the High Commissioner for the Commonwealth, presided. Lord Milner, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in proposing the toast of the fighting forces, spoke of Sir Joseph Cook's wise counsels at the War Cabinet. All the members recognised the value of the qualities which gained him prominence in Australia. Mr Walter Long, the First Lord of the Admiralty, in responding, recalled Australia's magnificent contribution of 1000 seamen.

Mr Hughes, who on rising had a great reception, detailed the results of the Paris Conference on the lines of his Australian Press Association's interview. He said that he must reserve a full review of the treaty for the Australian Parliament, to whom he owed an account of his stewardship. He must not talk on the chequered and sometimes exciting negotiations, whereby Australia secured her rights, yet he could say that Australia now had a mandate

whereby the laws of the Commonwealth will apply in exactly the same way in the islands as if they were an integral part of the Commonwealth. In conclusion, he said that neither the Dominions nor Great Britain would surrender a jot of their political independence. The idea of an Imperial Parliament was a vision that would never take substantial shape, for it was incompatible with the status of sovereignty which the Dominions jealously prize, but they must hope that means would be found whereby a confederation of nations could work, live, and develop.

London, Thursday.

It is expected that the German Assembly will ratify the Peace Treaty on July 12. President Wilson, before leaving Paris, signed the Treaty between America, France, and England, securing France against attack. The German Government has issued a strong appeal to the nation, with a view to securing the people against further sacrifice, torment, and famine. The first obligation, it states, is to execute the treaty, the second to work, and the third to faithfully fulfil their duties. If order is not restored, labour becomes impossible. Without it none of the obligations can be carried out. The non-execution of the latter will revive the conflagration. The appeal concludes:- "Time now lost means additional years of servitude for our children. The only means of escaping the groove in which the terms of peace have plunged us is to remain united and to work."

At Weimar, Herr Bauer, the German Premier, speaking in the Assembly, said that a refusal to sign would only put off the evil for a day. The only consolation was the promise of the Entente that the Treaty might be reviewed at any time to bring it into harmony with circumstances which might arise, and that they would endeavour to execute the Treaty in order to dissipate distrust and hatred among the workers of all countries.

Melbourne, Thursday. Mr Watt, the Acting Prime Minister, stated today that he had been in communication by telephone with Mr Orchard, the chairman of the Peace Committee, regarding the questions raised by the King's proclamation. The Government had determined to synchronise with the arrangements in the United Kingdom.

The Government trusted that the heads of religious denominations would take the steps which the King desired in regard to next Sunday. It was intended that July 19 should be the Celebrations Day, and he had communicated with the State Premiers, asking them to join with them in State celebrations on that day. It was intended, he added, that July 19 should be observed as a public holiday throughout the Commonwealth.

In accordance with the wish of the King special services of thanksgiving for the blessings of peace will be held throughout the various churches on Sunday. A programme has been drawn up which provides for a form of civic and other united services, and, in order to secure uniformity, a proclamation of peace will be read, and the National Anthem sung at precisely 3.30 in the afternoon.

Owing to the position arising out of the Influenza epidemic, the New South Wales authorities favour the holding of the peace celebrations on the dates originally suggested, August 3, 4, and 5 next. Sir George Fuller, the Acting Premier, stated tonight that Dr Paton, the Director-General of Public Health, had advised Ministers strongly against the holding of assemblages at the present time, in view of the Influenza epidemic. "A telegram was sent this morning to Mr Holman (Premier)", he said, "informing him that in the circumstances, and having the report of the Director-General of Public Health before them, Ministers thought it better to adhere to the original dates. Mr Holman was requested to see Mr Watt in the matter. So far we have received no reply. In any case, there is not sufficient time to arrange for a thanksgiving demonstration in the Domain on next Sunday afternoon. Special services, however, will be held in the different churches."

Mr James, the Minister for Education, in accordance with a promise given at the time of the armistice, stated that an extra week's holidays would be given to all school children attending public schools, in honour of the signing of peace.

Private Jock ("Wacker") Buman, son of Mr J. Buman, of High Street, West Maitland, returned home by the Brisbane mail train on Saturday night after three and a half years' service at the front. Private Buman left Australia with the 15th reinforcements to the 2nd Battalion on March 8, 1916. They went straight to Egypt, where they remained for three months, and thence across to France. In February, 1917, he contracted trench feet, but returned to the firing line in August. He was wounded in the left arm at Polygon Wood in September, 1917, and returned to the lines when he recovered, and was there when the armistice was signed.

The latest returns prepared by the Defence Department show the casualties of the Australian forces to have been 313,878, of whom 58,923 are dead, 166,808 were wounded, and 87,798 are sick.