ABSTRACT
The reference to the second Peace of Versailles was no doubt prompted by Clemenceau's recollection that he had been present at the first Treaty of Versailles, when the positions of France and Germany were reversed. After that introduction Clemenceau proceeded to a brief description of the contents of the Treaty and of the subsequent procedure of the Conference in writing, with a maximum of fifteen days for the German reply and questions. After Clemenceau's speech, Dutasta slipped through an opening that had been left in the top table for the purpose, received from Clemenceau the bulky Treaty and carried it across the room to Brockdorff-Rantzau. When the interpreters had finished, Clemenceau then asked if anyone else wished to speak and Brockdorff-Rantzau held up his hand, and, after being called on to speak, without standing up as Clemenceau had done, proceeded to read his speech seated, in provocative tones, from a manuscript.
