The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1918-03-19
Italy and other Ministers, with their
military and expert advisers.
COUNCILS STATEMENT TELLS
OF oERMANv,s cRlMEs.

military and expert advisers.
COUNCILS STATEMENT TELLS
OF oERMANY's CRIMES.
The Councils statement, which Is
issued through the Foreign Office,
says;
The Prime Ministers and Foreign
Ministers OF the Entente assembled
In London feel II TO be their bounden
duty 20 take note OF tho political
crimes which under the name Of
German peace have been committed
against the Russian people. Russia
was unarmed. Forgetting that for
four years Germany had been lighting
against the independence OF nations
and the rights Of mankind, the Rus
sian Government, In n mood OF slngu.
lar credulity, expected to obtain by
persuasion that democratic peace
which IL had failed to obtain by war.
The results were that the inter-
mediate armlstice had not expired be-
fore the German command though
pledged not 10 alter the disposition 81
lie troops, transferred them on lnasse
TO the western front, and so weak did
Russia md herself that she dargd 10
raiSA no protest against this daErant
violation Of oermany's pliEhted word
What followed was OF like charac.
ter when the German peace was
translated into action. Il was found
10 involve the invasion OF Russian
territory. the destruction or capture
OF all Russia's means OF defense. and
the Organization OF Russian lands for
Germauy's profit--s proceeding which
did not differ from annexation be-
cause the word itself was carefully
AVOIDED.
IF Meanwhile those very Russians
who had made military operations
impossible found diplomacy impotent.
Their representatives were compelled
10 proclaim that. while lacy refused
70 read the treaty presented to them.
they had no choice but TO sign Il; 90
they signed II, not knowing whether
ip Its true significance II meant peace
or war. nor measuring the degree 10
which Russian national life was re-
duced by II TO a shadow.
For US OF the Entente Govern
ments the Judgment which tho free
peoples OF the world will pass on
these transactions would never in
doubt Why waste time over Ger
man pledges when we see that at no
period In her history OF conquest
not when she overran Silosla nor
when she partitioned Poland--has she
exhibited herself SO cynically as a
destroyer OF national Independence.
the implacable enemy OF the rights Of
man and the dignity Of civilized ma
tions7
POLAND. whose heroic spirit has
survived the most cruel OF national
tragedies, is threatened with fourth
partition, and to aggravate her wrongs,
devices by which the last trace OF her
Independence Is to be crushed are
based on fraudulent promises OF free
dom.
what is true OF Russia and Poland
10 no less true OF Roumanla, over
whelmed like them In flood OF NOR
oiless passion for domination.
Peace Is loudly advertised. but
under tho dLSguise OF verbal profes-
slons lurk the brutal realities OF war
and the untempered rule Of a lawless
force.
Peace treaties such as these we
do not and cannot acknowledge. Our
own ends are Very different.
As incidents OF this long war un-
roll themselves before our eyes. more
and more clearly do we perceive that
tho battles for freedom nre every
where lnterdependent. that no sepAr-
ate enumeration Of them Is needed
ard that IN every case the single. but
aIi-sufficient. appeal Is to Justice and
right.
Are justice and right going to win
In so far as the issue depends on bat
ties yet TO come. the nations whos'
fate Is In the balance may surely pu
their trust In the armies. which. ever
under conditions more difficult thar
the present. have shown themselves
more than equal TO the great caus'
entrusted TO their valor."