Nous ne pouvons nous en sauver que par le bon sens et la ferme volonté d'en finir avec les faiblesses et les chimères. Après avoir follement abdiqué au profit d'un pouvoir infatué de lui-même, la France a reconnu trop tard qu'elle était menée à l'abîme; maintenant qu'elle y est tombée; c'est en elle seule qu'elle doit chercher la force qui l'en tirera […]". The signatories were Jules Favre, foreign minister in the provisional Government of National Defence, for the French, and Otto von Bismarck, chancellor of the newly established German Empire, for Prussia and her allies. The suspension of hostilities initially lasted until 19 February, when it was extended through 26 February, when a preliminary peace treaty was signed, also at Versailles. The definitive Treaty of Frankfurt was signed on 10 May. Although technically an armistice, the military position of France at the time and the terms were such that it was de facto a conditional surrender by the vanquished to the victors. - With some notes and corrections; traces of a seal, some browning..