The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-05-08
DOCHE SPOKESMAN
DEFIANT IN REPLY
TO FRENCH Chief
Count Won BroCkdorff- Rant
Eau Answers Charges Of
Hun Crimes With Bold
Claim Allies Guilty Also.
ALLIED LEADERS ANGRY
AT ATTITUDE ADOPTED
interpreters Translation Of
Speech Delivered While
German Remains Seated
Causes Tense Moments.

y VERSAILLES, May Sin his speech
before the peace conference yesterday
Count Won Brockdorff- Rantzau. head Of
the German delegation, said In part.
Public opinion in all the countries
OF our adversaries is resounding with
the crimes which Germany is said to
have committed In the war.
I'VE are ready to confess wrong that
may have been done.
I'VE have not come here to belittie
the responsibility of the men who have
waged the war politically and econom-
ically or to deny any crime which may
have been committed against the rights
of peoples. We repeat the declaration
which has been made In the German
reichstag at the beginning, Of the war,
that Ia to say, wrong has been done 70
Belgium and we are willing to re-
pair It, But In the matter OF making
war also Germany is not the only
guilty one, Every nation knows oI
deeds and Of people, which the best
nationals only remember with regret.
II do not want to answer by re-
proaches to reproaches. but ] ask them
to remember, when reparation is de-
rnandsd to not forget the armistice. ~
took us SIX weeks until we got u al
last. and six months until we camo TO
know your conditions OF peace.
"Crimes In war may not be mex
cusablc. but they are committed In the
struggle for victory and In the defense
OF national existence and passions are
aroused which make the conscience OF
people blunt,
"The hundreds Of thousands Of nom
combatants who have pertshed since
4 Axr N hlnnHA00.
lsaVfA fANaiiisdAwith cold deRberation after
| o, Y adversaries had conqueed and VIC
| tory has been assured to them, Think
Of that when you speak Of guilt ana of
punlshmeht IN,
| who have taken part can only be stated
| by an impartial inquest before a neutral
| commission before which all the princi-
| nal persons OF the tragedy are allowed
| to speak and to which all the archives
are open We have demanded such an
inquest and we repeat this demand.
Rests on Wilson.
In this conference also where we
stand toward our adversaries alone ana
without any allies, we are not quite
without protection You yourselves
have brought us an ally, namely, the
and by the principles OF peace.
'"rhe allies and associated govern
| ments have foresworn In the time be.
| tween the 5th OF October and the 9th OF
| November, 1918, n peace Of violence
and have written peace Of justice on
| their banner. On the 9Th OF october.
| 1918, the German government proposed
| tho principles OF the president OF the
| United States OF North America, as the
basis of peace, and on the 5th OF No
yember their secretary OF state. Mr.:
| Lansing, declared that the allied ana
| associated powers agreed to this basis
| with two definite deviations,
"The principles Of President Wilson
have thus become binding to both par
| ties TO the WARRIOR you, rs well az Tor
| us and also for our former allies. The
| various principles demand from US
heavy national and economic sacrifices,
but the holy fundamental rights OF all
peoples are protected by this treaty:
| The conscience OF the world Is behind
| It. There Is no nation which might vio-
| late Il without punishment.
"You will find us ready to examine
upon this basis the preliminary peace
| which you have proposed to us with
firm intention Of rebuilding In common
CONTINUED on page 10, Column 81