The sun., 1919-06-16

~ - ~ 49,
Empire, but Germany is ready to make
Memel, koenigsberg and DanZig free
ports in order to secure to Poland tho
promised access to the sea, and to grant
special transit facilities under specified
condition, reciprocally applied.
Want People to Decide.
In the southern parts Of East Prussia
q plebiscite IN demanded. but these dis
tricts are not .ndlsputably Polish, and
the fact that q r,on-German language is
spokeu'in certain districts Ia in itself Of
With regard to Meterei and the ad-
Joining Districts even the Lithuanian
speaking inhabitants have never shown
any desire to separate from Germany,
and the delegates state that In the whole
territory there are about $1,000 Ger
mans. as against about $4,000 Lithu-
anian speaking inbabitants. who gems
orally also speak German. Mcneil in
particular IL claimed as purely Ger
man town. and Germany therefore de-
clines TO cede this territory.
II any German territory Is ultimately
coded TO Poland, Germany must protect
It's former nationals. This is all the
more necessary because the Poles have
not so far shown themselves trustworthy
protectors of the national and religious
rights Of minorities.
The Germans further protest against
the regulations as to change of nation
allty, and against the lack of security
for German interests In the districts af-
fected and they derpand a commission
to assess damages caused by recent Po-
lish disturbances
In the eighth section the German dele
gates agree to the holding of a plebiscite
In Schleswig. although this point was not
mentioned by President Wilson. They
protest, however against the deiimitation
Of the voting districts, and propose an
other boundary and a different system of
voting and control for the plebiscite.
A short ninth section accepts the dis
nisntling of HeligolandI but insists on
any measure. necessary for the protsc-
tiep Of the coast and port in the an
terest Of the population ~. @:rs'
The tenth section deals with colonies
The delegates ma intain that the demand
that Germany should relinqyish all heI
rights and, claims is. an irreconcilable
contradiction Of Point. 8 OF President
Wilson's address to Congress OF January
8, 1918, which promised free, sincere
and = impartial settlement OF colonial
claims. 20 t-.s ..
.. Wants Her Colonies. ...s
Germany's claim is based on the fac,
that she has acquired them lawfully and
developed them faboriously The pos
session Of them will be even more neces-
sary to her IN the future than In the
past, as, 6wi1C to the low rate Of ex.
~ 10
from her own colonies. She further re-
quires her colonies as a market and a.
settlements for a part Of her surplus
population. AS a great civilized nation
the German people have the right to CO.
operate In the joint task OF mankind
in which they have already achieved
great things The interests OF the coloret
population of the colonies speak for Ger.
many remaining in possession of them
for the German administration hal
abolished abuses and introduced peace
order. Justice. health education. and
Christianity.
Germany has clearly looked after tn,
interests of the natives. She has re-
Trained from mfiitarizing them, ana ha,
adhered to the principle Of the open door
The demand that the colonies should b,
renowned Is therefore considered IN
justified. Without modifying this posi-
| ton the delegates further point out thai
the conditions under which the cessioI
10 demanded are unacceptable in detail
particularly as to state and privat,
property and compensation and the,
, claim that any mandatory power shoult
pay all expenses incurred by the Ger
man Empire. and that the territor!
should still be responsible for liabilities
incurred. d..
At -
sal that an impartial hearing OF tn,
colonial question should take place be
fore O special committee. German!
claims that though Justified in demand
{ ing the restoration Of her colonies, sh,
is ready to administer them according
to the principles OF the League Of Ma
tions II a league 10 formed which sh,
can enter at once a. member witt
equal privileges.
The eleventh section agrees to tn
remuneration OF German rights and priv
ileses regarding. Kiao-Chau and Shan
tung, with certain stipulations as I
compensation. >,
Section twelve deals with Russia an,
the Russian states. Germany does no
claim or purpose to interfere with an,
Territory which belonged to the forme
Russian empire. The peace of Brest
IuONbh mas bueauy Deeu TenJunCeu u
the armistioe, but Germany cannot fecog
enize any right on the part of Russia t
demand restitution and reparation. an
II is only able to recognise the relevan
treaties and agreements IL their content
are known and II they do not prove I
be unacceptable.
Germans' Rights Outside Europe
~ AL
according to the draft treaty, German
Is to have no rights whatever In Euror
outside her own frontiers. II German
is to continue to exist the realization {
these terms Is Impossible. German
must have the use of shipping. but she
called upon to deliver up her entir
overseas fleet with all tonnage, whic
happened to be in enemy harbors at tn
beginning Of the war. Further. the Alli'
refuse to recognise the. decisions OF GEL
man prize courts or TO consider Germa
claims for damages. while German SCI
ports are deliberately weakened by
number OF claims SO that a reconstruct
German mercantile feet win encount,
totally unfair conditions in traffic. o..
The German submarine cables are
be taken away. Germany's foreign trad
Is to be excluded from all kinds
activity. Germany 10 called unon
violate the Egyptian right to selfdete
mination by recognising the Britit
protectorate. All concessions and priv
, leses acquired in Russia since Angus
1914, are annulled. and many other To-
eign rights are left in jeopardy. IT
Allies have proposed economic ar
Ana ncial provisions which put German
under q continued disadvantage. AT
, the reserve to themselves the right
} take exceptional war measures IN regal