The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-06-03
PEACE TERMS TOO
= HARD FOR HUNS
Rantzau Says Terms Are Impossible
of Fulhllmept, But Does Not Say (
Treaty Will Not Be Signed
Would Mean Slavery TO Ger },
! man People, He Says.

hoh = ~OfH~b
rHt ;fJ,.--',,li i'atr -.!r,
Washington, June 1.-Germany'
although :, realizing that she must
make sacrifices to obtain peace, is
convinced that the executions of the
peace treaty as drawn "are more
than the German people can bear.
+ Count Won Brockdorff-Rantzau,
head of the German peace delegation
thus Sums up the attitude of the Ger
han nation towards the proposed
treaty Of peace in a note to the Al
lied and associated powers, outlining
various German counter proposals:
The German note, delivered to Pre-
mier Clemenceau, president of the
peacei conference, last Thursday, was
made public tonight by the State De-
partment.
! Says Terms Impossible. ~"
The German delegation nowhere in
It's note asserts that it will refuse to
sign the present treaty, but declares
On behalf Of the German nation that
fever. IN her need, justice for her is
too sacred a. thing to allow her to
stoop to achieve conditions which
she can. not undertake to carry out"
Exclusion, Of Germany from the
league of nations, the note asserts,
means that in signing the peace
treaty Germany would be executing
"decree for it's own prescription,
hay, its own death sentence"
The German, people, the note says,
have been disappointed in their oh, e
For peace of justice which had bsen
promised" and stands "aghast" at the
demands made upon them by the
fsyictorious violence of our eneT;es." ="
What Germany Agrees To
Outlining it's counter proposals the
German delegation agrees to reduc-
tion Of Germany's;, army and navy, on on
condition that Germany be admitted
Immediately to the league of nations;
TO renou unSe Germany's E'.'sefen
Fights in Alsace Lorraine and Posen,
but as to all other territories which
Germany is called Ito( give up the
principle of self determination effec-
live at once, lis asked; she alsa agrees
10 subject all German colonies to ad-
ministration under the league of ma
lions, but under German mandatory
and to make the indemnity payments
as required, but IN amounts that will
burden the German y taxpayers no
more heavily thall-rthe taxpayer of
the most heavily burdened State a.
fnong those represented on the re-
paration commission.
The note declares Germany is will
ing to pool her entire merchant ma
tine with that of the associated pow
ers, neutral participation in the in
puiry as to the responsibility for the
war is asked. n
i Would Mean: Slavery.
Although the exacMon of the cost
of the war has been expressly re-
hounced, as yet Germany, thus cut in
pieces and weakened must declare
herself ready in principle to bear all
the war expenses Of her, enemies
which would exceed many times over
the total amount of German State
and real assets. Meanwhile her enc.
mics demand in the excess of the a.
greed conditions reparation for dam.
age suffered by their civil population
and in this connection Germany must
also 90 bail for her allies. The sum
to be- paid is to be fixed by our enc.
mics unilaterally and to admit of sub
sequent modification and increase. Nc
limit is fixed save the capacity Of the
German people for payment, deter
mined not by their standard of life
but solely by their capacity to meet
the demands of their enemies by theil
labor. The German people woulc
thus be condemned to perpetual slave
labor.