The sun., 1919-02-22
ERZBERGER BEATS
HIS CRITICS DOWN
Truce Signer Quells Cutlery
by Turning Accuser in
Assembly.
MEMBERS SUPPORT HIM
Industrial Leader Who Ruined
Belgium Fails to Start
Revolt.
MEMBERS SUPPORT HIM
ny CHARLES TOWER.
Special Cable Despatch TO TIE srs from ths
London Tirses Service


Special Cable Despatch to TIE Sun from the
London Tirpes Service
Copyright. 1919; all rights reserved.
WErAtAR, Feb. 2I.--Herr Erzberger's
defence OF the Armistice Commission in
the German National Assembly was won
before he rose to speak. His opening
antagonist, the National Liberal vogler.
at first attracted the House by the as
sertion that In the economic agreements
no experts had been called, but then pro-
ceeded to abuse Erzberger personally.
The Assembly would not stand for
this. The members jumped to their feet
and stamped and yelled and howled !:
Shame Scandslousl Sit down." The
Centrists naturally did the best to as
sist in the tumult. There was great
excitement for some minutes until Presi-
dent Fehrenbach resorted to his big
bell to still the uproar. Vogler left tho
desk amid loud kissing.
Erzberger followed Immediately, and
the House was prepared in advance to
support him. Point by point he cnat-
lenged VogleTs charges. but the House
only waxed enthusies site when he thun-
dered his denunciation OF Hugo SHINES.
the great Industrial leader. Erzberger
explained how be had himself got this
man recalled from the sphere of the ar
mistice commission because II was he
who was mainly responsible for the rob-
berry OF Belgium and whose, influence ~
headquarters had induced the military
authorities to carry out the policy OF
deportation OF Belgian workers and he
was necessarily impossible In the eyes
of the Entente Commissioners. This
the House cheered to the echo.
Equally effective was ErZberger' e
Challenge to the National Liberals and
Conservatives to explain how they ''at-
tack on Keuhmann in June. 1918" 1t
was clear that this hard hitting COM
pletely turned the tables. Later, drop
ping the personal question. Erzberger
turned to the immediate future and told
the House that within a fortnight there
must be devised methods acceptable to
the Allies of financing the purchase OF
foods.
He uttered the warning that II ths
German workmen rendered II impos-
sible to export the things Germany can
give in exchange for food they would
ind themselves in May. June and July
faced by an appalling famine. for which
they would only have themselves Ia
thank This was addressed largely to
the Independent Socialists as n me-.>age
to the Spartacans Then turning again
to the National Liberals he warned them
all as holders of foreign securities that
unless these are voluntarily given to
the Government as q means of payment
for food rigorous steps would be taken
to conflscate them.
Count Won Brockdorff Rantzau, the
Foreign Minister. did not withdraw his
resignation until late hour yesterday
evening, and then only under the main
tenance OF his protest against the sigma
ture of the armistice conditions.
The Letpsic Neuesto Ndchrtohter
elucidates his principal argument against
signing as follows:
Opponents OF the acceptance OF tht
terms adduced the argument that ac-
cording to various reports allied troops
were no longer TO be regarded as abso-
lutely reliable and therefore the refusal
to sign would be entirely without danger
.ince the enemy armies would In any
case refuse to advance. Two main
arguments on the other side were. first
the probability that the troops OF occu-
patton would dismount and remove the
engines and machinery OF factories In
the Industrial districts and, second, that
actual famine does threaten the country
at the latest within two months unless
food arrives. At present II appears to
be believed that the first transport and
provisions will arrive at Hamburg al
the end OF March.
1T seems nowise impossible Scheide'
mann's Cabinet should again be solid fol-
non-signature OF the preliminary peace
terms There are rumors the Cabinet
will not outlast spring. 81 would prob
ably not last a mon;n IL there was ir
sight any possible alternative and this
factor of apparent indispensability is II,
strength OF the National Assembly II.
self 1t is impossible TO speak with mucf
respect Its procedure in debate Is al
futile as the old Reichstag. consisting o.
copybooks. speeches by long winded
party hacks from the prereyolutionary
epoch.
zone immediate result is that German,
rs we'll as foreigners are looking around
for the people who pull the strings.
1t is unsafe to assume Scheidemann Il
merely a puppet, though one is led still
to the conclusion that behind his Cabinet
moves Count Won Bernstorff's master
hand
an the meantime internal dlfficultie;
do not appear to decrease. SpartacaT
troubles are now disseminated through
out industrial districts"