Norwich bulletin., 1919-02-19
's,Fityof Arnnistice
 Astounds Germans
National Assembly Listened in Agonized Silence as the Terms Were Read.

Weimar, Monday, Feb. l. (By the A. P}.-The party speeches in the na-
 tional assembly which had been set. down for this afternoon suffered a rude
 interruption by the outcome of the new
 afmiStice negotiations. The general outlines Of the new terms were known early today, and it was no surprise when President Fehrcnbach announced that the speeches and arguments would be deferred, so that Matthias Erzberger, head of the German armis- tlce delegation, might give a personal explanation Of what happened be- tween his departure for Treves last week and his unexpectedly quick re- [ turn today.
 Herr Erzberger, noticeably wrought l up and laboring under a strain, read 1 the terms, and the house listened in ! almost asonized silence. The slightest
 stir or noise brought angry hisses; the assembly never had been one tithe so still.
 l The minister in heavy voice. read | house stirred uneasily as he finished
 and stopped for breath. Before con-
 tinuing his explanation Herr Erzberger | interjeCted:
 1 Tt is my wish that you may never ] have the fateful hours l have had. We i on the armistice commission have had | to bear untold responsibility" ! He then referred to the unfortunate,
 well nigh fatal delay in the arrival of ! the terms at Weimar and went into details on Marshal Foch's ultimatum, which, he sad, he was assured was 1 framed with the unqualified approval
 of President Wilson.
 Herr Erzbcrger told of his efforts to secure modification but Marshal Foch had been sternly insistent on the acceptance of the terms. He touched only briefly but clearly on his success ful protests against Polish incorpora- ton of Silesia and his unsuccessful
 efforts to save Birnbaum, Bantscaen and other German towns. He empha-
 sized that the allies would take oyer the responsibility Of keeping the Poles in check and give guarantee for the
 safety of the Germans on the Polish 1 side.
 To Herr Erzberger's protests. Mar
 shal Foch replied that all were purely
 military measures and in accordance with President Wilson's fourteen } points.
 . Herr Erzberger protested likewise against the indeterminate extension of the armistiCe, but Marshal Toch , brusQuely declined to make any altera- 1 ton and insisted upon the inclusion of l a clause which gives him power tC : promulgate any order to Germany al
 will.
 : Herr Erzberger then demanded . whether the short indeterminate con l tinuation of the arrnistice might leaG [ to any early peace, 10 which Marsha
 Ioch replied:
 g T think so, I assume so.'' | Tine minister said the difficulties . had been greater because the negotia I ticns had become sharper and nor,
 acute recently and a long discussion ? demonstrated that nothing more would . be changed. The minister assured tn. Il assembly,:
 T have confidence that Marsha T Foch's given word will be kept" Her 3 ErZberger said he achieved almost nr
 results in his efforts to have German s prisoners released, beyond promis ;, by France and England to send bacl a 2,000 badly wounded men each. H 0 then read the German note which h. g presented to Marshal Foch as tn
 armistice terms were signed He hat s had a sad mission with few happ, : resnlts.
 q "The world knows" he concluded
 that we do not want a new war an, T. cannot conduct one. The world vii . condemn the entente for it's severity.