The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-12-22
Denmark to Ask
Peace Confab For
North SchleSWig

Washington, Dec. 21-The Danish
government has decided to ask the
peace congress to return North
1864, to Denmark.
This fact was given the Newspaper
Enterprise Associations Washington
Bureau exclusively today by the Dan
ish legation.
There has been much discussion
of the Schleswig- Holstein question
in this country and in Denmark be-
fore and since the arnistice with
Germany was signed, but Denmark,
being a neutral country, felt that it
was not in a position to make de-
mands of Germany at the peace table.
Now, however, the Danish govern
| ment has been actuated to its de-
cision by request Of the voters Of
North Schleswig-or Slesvig as the
Danes spell it-that their right and
desires be recognized by the peace
conference.
On receipt Of official advices to this
effect the Danish legation gave me
this statement.
Danish Position Officially Defined
"The Danish government has in
formed the North Slesvigers that it
has received their petition with heart
felt satisfaction, and has stated that
Denmark felt 1t could not take up this
question before the North Slesvtgers
themselves claimed their right to de-
termine their own futre Now that
the political organization of Danish
North Slesvigers has spoken and ad-
vocates a solution Of the question
which conforms with the wishes of
the Danish nation. and which is in ac-
cord with the principle of national
self the Danish gov
eminent will ask the associated pow
ers to recognize the rights of the
North Elesvigers In the coming peace
conference"
The petition referred to was sent
to Copenhagen by the Nerth Slesvig
Association of Danish voters, and was
signed by Deputy Hansen Norre-
MOLE. their representative in the Ger
man reichstag.
The government will not, 1t was
said at the legation, make any re-
question for the annexation of South
ern Schleswig or OF HoIstein. The
Keil canal, which divides Southern
Schleswig from Holstein, will there
fore remain German property-unless
the peace conference orders that it
be neutralized. Both Southern Schles-
wig and Holstein are populated by
more Germans than Danes, and Dem
mark feels that their annexation
would only create racial difficulties.
Northern Schleswfg, however, is in
habited almost entirely by Danes
north of a so-called Language line"
which runs from the bay of Flens-
borg, but not including the city of
Flensborg, across the peninsula to a
point just south of Tondern.
In this territory the Danish govern
ment proposes that vote be taken
to solve the question. All men and
women over the age of 20 who were
born and live in North Schleswig, or
who have lived there for ten years or
who were born there but expelled by
the Germans, will have the right to
vote.
If adjacent districts OF South
Schleswig should claim the right to
vote on the question. they will be al
lowed to give expression to their de-
sires through a separate vote.
The Danish legation recalls the fact |
that after Germany annexed Schles |
wig Holstein in 1864, Bismarck prom
sed that the people of North Schles- j
wig should have a vote on the ques- /
ion. but he took care that his prom
Sc was never carried out.