The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-06-18
Hun Cabinet Is Unanimous
Against Accepting Terms.
Germany, However, Fears Con-
sequences of Rejection.
PUT ALL BLAME ON AMERICA
Probable Rantzau Will Not
Even Return to Versailles.
If Foe Refuses, New Cabinet
Will Speedily Sign.

weimar. Tuesday. June 17.-Nol
statement has been issued by the Ger
man cabinet on the allied reply to the
German counter proposals but The
Associated Press learns that sentiment
| in the cabinet is almost unanimously
against signing the treaty, the only OBJ
! lection being the possibility of Bolshe-
vism and chaos in Germany.
| Weimar. June 17.-(Night. )-The
German cabinet discussed the allies
! reply to the counter proposals in
| conference this afternoon lasting for
several hours.
| official spokesman made the following
| statement:
The inclination certainly is all
| against signing the treaty. Absolutely
! the only deterrent to such course is
consideration of whether the fate of
| Germany would be worse thru refus-
| ing to sign than thru signing"
| Foreign Minister Brockdorff- Rant
| Eau arrived here from Versailles early
| today. He refused to make any COM
ment on the allies reply to the Ger
| man counter proposals.
! Government troops. reached the city
| during the night, apparently to guard
| against possible coup d'etat.
| Opposition to the pact has not abat-
| ed one whit following receipt of Off
l
| terms from Versailles by telephone
and telegraph. The prospect of allied
| invasion, an economic blockade. Boil
shevism and food shortage, however,
was obviously the dominating influ-
ence here.
! Huns Blame America.
Astonishment and anger at what is
regarded as utter disregard of the
German counter proposals were
| voiced on all sides. No government
official could be found who looked
| upon the concessions sufficient. The
| tendency now is to criticize America
for the situation Germany now finds
| herself now in, rather than Great
Britain or France.
The general sentiment was express
ed, however. that signing by the pres
ent government is impossible One
authority declared IL was doubtful
even IL Foreign Minister Brockdorff-
Rantzau will return to Versailles, es-
| pecially in view OF the demonstration
by French civilians there as the Ger
/ man delegation was about to entrain
for Weimar. The stoning of the dele
/ gates, with the consequent injury to
Frau Dornbusch and Herr Myers.
is regarded as breach of all diplo-
/ that if Germany's decision is averse,
1 Secretary Won Haniel in Versailles
would be merely instructed to report
this fact.
New Regime Would Sign.
But if the present government can
not see its way clear to sign there ap-
pears to be no question that an
"ersatz" Substitute governmenD win
be quickly organized, with the Inde-
pendent Socialists dominating. Such
a government would unquestionably
accept the terms, with the support OF
the bulk of the German commoners.
The cabinet met informally at noon
I m er-;,xe
ton. Brockdorff- -Rantzau and his
retinue were expected to reach here
at midnight and Rantzau was sched-
uled to go before the cabinet tomor-
row morning. 1t is doubtful if the
national assembly will discuss the
terms formally before Friday.
Germany has until o'clock Mon
day evening to consider her answer,
and it was apparent today that she
would make full use of this period.
Await Renewal of War.
Copenhagen, June 1S.-T The amend
ed peace terms have aroused a senti-
ment of growing implacability in Ger
many and armed intervention by the
allies is regarded as inevita BILE. ac-
cording to the Berlin correspondent OF
the Politiken. 1t is reported that
Count Won Brockdorff- -Rantzau the
head of the peace delegation and Ma
thias Erzberger. chairman of the ar
mistice commission, have reconciled
their differences. The correspondent
says If the report is true. the recon
ciliation will have an important bear
ing on the acceptance or non-aceept-
ance of the terms.
The Socialist Vorwaerts of Berlin
, says it expects a re-opening of hostili-
i ties as soon as the seven days given
Germany to make reply have expired
The Fremdenblatt of Hamburg. says
1t learns that the allied terms have
caused great excitement in eastern
Germany where the population is
ready to reopen the fight
Escape of several prisoners resulted
in some machine gun firing last night
which caused considerable alarm until
. the cause was learned. The firing oc
CURED near the castle where the Ger
man government officials are quar-.
tered. Some of the prisoners were
wounded
tBy the Associated PressJ
Wait, Says ScheideInann.
Weimar, June 17.-Philipp Scheide
mann, the head of the German cabi
$ net. in speaking to the peace commits
' sion of the national assembly here to-
/ :, day declared the allied reply to tht
, German counter proposals withou
: the complete text did not yet permit
of final judgment and that premature
I judgment would be a mistake.
: HOLD A COFFIN is JEWEI1RY.
AS Such 1t Is Subject TO Per Cen