Page 88 - All About History - Issue 72-18

THROUGHHISTORY NEGOTIATION AT

VERSAILLES

The inaugural sessions of the
Paris Peace Conference began 18
January 1919 in the Quai d’Orsay
clock room at the French Ministry
of Foreign Affairs. Though 32
countries dispatched diplomats,
decisions were made by the ‘Big
Four’ – the US, UK, France and
Italy. The treaties which emerged
rebuilt Europe for what they hoped
would be a new era of lasting
peace, carving out new nations,
dividing the Middle East between
the victorious allies, and holding
Germany accountable for the war
in the Treaty of Versailles.

THE CLARION CALL

This bugle was used by the French corporal-bugler Pierre
Sellier of the 171st Infantry Regiment on 7 November 1918
at La Capelle to signal the end of hostilities. At around
8.20pm a group of four German generals and politicians
crossed the frontline to negotiate the armistice of 11
November. Riding on the duckboards of their staff car
was a German bugler who sounded the ceasefire as they
drove by, but as they crossed into French lines Sellier
took up his post to continue the message of peace.
88