The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-05-12


Noted With Satisfaction"
Ihe German foreign minister states
the German peace delegation has
noted with satisfaction" that the
draft of the treaty recognizes in prin-
clple the repatriation of German war
and civilian prisoners with great ex-
pedit1on and says that special COM
EMISSIONS might carry on direct oral
discussions which would include all
beIligerent states, it being pointed
out that even during hostilities this
has proved most effective way Of
solving difficulties.
The note says this work should be
much easier, now that the war is
over, and would remove differences
a. conception or lack of clearness on
particular points, such as legal con-
& ceptions in individual countries. The
German delegation, it is said, con-
slders 1T indispensable that those war
Rud civilian prisoners detained or
<1mdergoing punishment for other
than disciplinary offenses should in
principle be included among those to
be Internationally repatriated.
Regarding war and civilian pris-
soners Of allied and associated powers
lin its hands" the note says, Ger
many has recognized the same prin-
ciple. 1t appears, therefore, evident
to the German delegation that on
grounds of fairness certain allevia-
lions in the treatment of prisoners
sshould be agreed upon pending their
return."
The note then proceeds:
Ina one sided manner, some feel
the stipulations have been made in
favor of the allied and associated
governments. For instance, those re-
garding the surrender of personal
property, the search for missing OBJ
iects and the care of graves might
be cited. It Is assumed in these
questions a demand for complete
reciprocity is founded on general hu-
man rights"
Details as to Home. Coming.
The note then refers to number of
minor points and proposes that deib-
erations by commissions should be be-
gun speedily to clear up prelimnaries
and similar difficulties may be solved
and the removal of prisoners may be
possible. 1t alludes to the Importance
to Germany that the prisoners return
home under orderly conditions, insuring
their reinstatement into economic life
with the greatest possible dispatch and
says this seems only possible if every
thing is done to raise the moral and
physical state of those returning"
Since Germany's economic position pre-
vents her by her own strength from
providing the requisite guarantees, the
delegation suggests the deliberations of
the commissions might extend to the
question of how far it will be possible
for the allied and associated govern
NETS to help Germany in the matter
and for example in return for the re-
payment of the cost TO provide the
prisoners with new outfits undercloth-
ing civilian suits and boots before their
return.
n Conclusion Of Note.
f The note concludes:
Accept, Herr President, the express
sion of my most particular esteem"
In his note dealing with labor ques
tions Count Won Brockdorff -Rantzau
says the German government agrees
with the allied and associated govern
ments that the greatest "ttention must
be paid to these problems.
international peace and human
progress depend on how these questions
are handled" the note says. The de-
mands for social justice repeatedly
drawn up in this connection by work.
ers of all lands only partly find indorse-
ment in principle in this section of the
allied governments draft of the peace
terms. These high demands have for
the most part already been carried out
In an admittedly exemplary fashion in
the German empire"
Referring to the draft of an agree
rnent on international labor compiled
by the German government and pro-
posed by the German league of nations.
the note says:
IN order in the interest of all of
humanity to put these principles every
where into practice the acceptance of
the German delegation's proposal is
certainly requisite. We consider it
necessary that all states should join in
this agreement, even If they do not
belong 20 the league of nations.
Accepted by Trades Unions.
I'm order to assure the workers for
whom these proposed improvements are
destined cooperation in shaping these
principles the German delegation con-
sider it necessary to convoke rep
resentatives of the national organiza-
tions of the labor unions of all the
Versailles even during peace negotia-
tions, to deliberate and make decisions
on International labor laws. 1t consid-
ers it would be advantageous that the
proceedings of this conference be based
on decisions reached at the interna-
tional trades union conference held at
Berne from Feb. 5 to Feb. 8, 1919, We
append a copy of these decisions which
have been accepted by the representa-
tives of trades union organizations in
Bohemia. Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany,
Great Britain, France, Greece, Holland.
Italy, Canada, Norway, Austria, Swe-
den Switzerland, Spain and Hungary.
We have been charged to do this by the
union of Germany"