The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-26
jCLEMENCEAU'S
ANSWER SHOWS /
US. PROMPTING
Aims at German Threats
and Pleas on Boundary
and Saar Valley.
WILSON'S WORDS QUOTED
Rantzau Picked Out "Chattels
and Pawns" Expression to
~Clinch Amendment.
WILSON'S WORDS QUOTED

Special DsssstcA TO TIE Sur.
wAsHrNoroS, May 2S.--By direction
OF Presldent Wilson the STATE Depart
ment made public to-day an exchange
Of notes between Count Won Brocltdorff-
Rsntsau. head Of the German peace
dsiesation. and Premier Clemenceau.
president Of the Peace Congress, dealing
with proposed new boundaries Of Ger
many and with the Saar basin taken
over BY France. This correspondence.
made voluminous by German argu-
ments. implied threats and pleas. was
forcefully Terminated BY. Premier Glenn
enceau's note OF May ~.
The reply by the French Premier 10
made In his capacity ~ representative
Of the allied and associated governments
and embodiss susgestions made by the
American and other delegations. Sev-
eral incidental references to the part
the League OF Nations will play In the
settlement are assumed to be from Presi-
dent Wilson and . slight change In
method Of payment by Germany repre-
SCENTS suggestions from the allied and
American financial experts. but the nat
rejection Of Germanys attempt to pre-
vent France from taking over the enar
basin is the feature Of Clemenceau's
note.
Answer BY Premier Clemencesu.
"As a large part Of your two COM
munications 10 devoted to observations
on the scheme concerning the Saar Ba-
sin." Clemenceau says. II must explain
that the allied and associated Govern
ments have chosen this particular form
Of reparation because Il was felt that
|, the destruction Of the mines in the north
IT, NJ -
that definite and exemplary retribution
> should be exacted. This object would
not be attained by the mere supply Of
; a specified or unspecihed amount OF coal.
This scheme, therefore, In Its general
provisions must be maintained, and to
this the allied and associated Powers
are not prepared. to agree to any alter
For this reason the suggestion you
make In your first letter for some other
means Of making good tho deficiency Of
coal-a suggestion which Is developed
with more precision In the annex to your
second letter-cannot be accepted. In
particular would point out that no ar
rangement OF the kind put forward
could give to France the security and
certainty which she would receive from
the full exploitation and free ownership
Of the mines Of the Saar."
The German notes are dated May 10
and 16. the former beginning with COM
plants about the boundary terms and
the latter referring exclusively to the
Saar Basin.
Count Won Brockdorfr- Rantzau con-
ducts the discussion with the typical
Teuton combination of argument and
propaganda and shows clearly how ht
ss,hs to q, win In the support Of President
direct charge that the Presidents prin
ciple Of self determination has been VIC
} lated through the taking of German ter
ritory. the German leader deems II in.
admissible that BY the treaty Of peact
German population and territor RE.
should be bartersd about from sover
eighty to sovereignty as II thsy wsrs
mere chattels and pawns In o game TO-
thu purpose Of giving guarantees fol
financial or economic claims OF the ad
vsrsariss of Germany"
Tho words thus used are taken frou
President Wilson's own address 20 Con
sress on February II. 1918. wherein h
said in the announcement Of his fouI
principles OF lasting peace:
"Second-That peoples and provinces
are not to DO bartersd about from SOW
: ersignty TO sovereignty as II they wer
mere chattels and pawns in a game"
The German leader says he inferred
that the allied and associated Govern
ments had formed the terms with con
slant thought OF the principles upol
which at the time the armistice and tn
negotiations for peace were proposed
He proceeds then 20 admit that thes,
principles may be construed to NEAR
the restitution Of Aisace-Lorraine I,
France. but reserves the right to trea
this subject later on. He complain
specifically. though. against the TEN
porary or permanent surrender Of tn,
Saar Basin. the districts of Eupen an
Malmedy. as well rs Prussian Moresnet
Upper Silesia. German districts Of Mid
die Silesia, Posnania, West Prussia an,
East Prussia. He asserts also that tn
echleswig question means q cession o
parts Of German territory.
Rantkau Makes Admissions,
The German delegation fully real
lees" he says, that for a number c
provisions on changes In territory cor
fained in the draft OF the treaty c
peace the principle of national sci
discrimination may indeed be assured, q
certain groups OF the population up I
now under German dominion, e. g., Pole
AVoh upOH themselves hb uOu-ScTInAIl
In the Schieswig problem. too. reason
Of nationality may be alleged albeit Il
German delegation cannot SEQ whent
the allied and associated Government
derive the authority for making Il
question of the boundary TO be settle
between Germany and Denmark an oil
Ject OF the peace negotiations.
"The neutral Danish Governmsr
knows the present German Govsrnmer
always to have been ready TO come I
an understanding with 1t about the ne
frontier corresponding to the princip
OF nationality. In case the Danish Cos
eminent should nevertheless prefer url
ing It's claims by taking the eircuito,
way OF the peace negotiations the Ge
man Government 10 not OF q mind 70 oi
jeet to this.
but this willingness OF the Gsrma
Government does not extend to thos
trritories of the empire which are VI
doubtedly inhabited by a population q
foreign extraction. Above all 1t deem
1t TO be inadmissible that by the treat
OF peace German populations and terri
tories should be bartered about frof
sovereignty to sovereignty as II the
were mere chattels and pawns in
game for the purpose OF giving guaraT
tee for financial or economic claims {
tina adyeraarIea Of Geruanvu