The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-06-26
Sinking Of German Fleet Called
Deliberate Breach in Ad-
vance of Conditions
Of Peace.
DEMAND PREPARATION
Burning of French Flags Regarded aa
Having Unfortunate Effect on
Future Operation of
Treaty.

limited Press Leased Wire Service ]
PARIS, June 26.-"Sinking OF the
German fleet in Scapa Flow 1s not
only a violation of the armistice. but
can be regarded deliberate breach
in advance Of the conditions of the
peace" the allied powers declared in
the note forwarded to Germany yes
terday. The same was also said 10
be true of the burning OF brench
battle flags in Germany.
1T is evident that any repetition
of acts like those must have very
unfortunate effect upon the future
! operation Of the treaty which the
Germans are about to sign" the note
said. Notice was given that the al
lies would demand reparation for the
sinking. and trial of those respon-
sible.
The note follows:
"The terms of the armistice signed
by Germany on November IL, 1918,
provided as follows:
".Article XXIH.-The German sur
face warships which shall be speci.
fled by the allies and the United
States shall forthwith be disarmed
and thereafter interned in neutral
ports, or, failing them. in the allied
ports designated by the allies and
the United States, only care and
maintenance parties being LETT on
board
"On June 21 the German warships
which had been handed over to the
allies and associated powers and
were at anchor in the roadstead at
Scapa Flow, with the German Off
GERS and maintenance parties ON
board, were sunk by these parties
under the orders of the German ad-
miral in command. According to in
formation which has been collected
and transmitted by the British ad-
miralty, the German admiral has
alleged that he acted in the belief
the armistice expired on June 81, at
midday, and consequently, in his
opinion, the destruction in question
was no violation of its terms.
'In law, Germany, by signing the
terms of the armistice set out above,
entered into an understanding that
the ships should remain In the ports
indicated under such orders as would
insure that the armistice should be
observed.
"The sinking of these ships con-
stituted at once a violation OF the
armistioe and an act of gross bad
faith toward the allied and asso-
ciated powers.
1.-THE admiral in command, while
recognizing that the act was breach
of the armistice, attempted to justify
it by alleging his belief the armistice
had come to an end. This alleged
Justification is not we'll founded, as,
under the communication addressed
to the German delegation On June
16, 1919, the armistice would only
terminate on refusal to sign the
peace, or, If no answer were re-
turned, June 23, at o'clock.
According to International law,
every serious violation of the arm
istice by one of the parties gives
the other the right to denounce 1t,
and even in case Of urgency to re-
commence hostilities at once. A vio-
lation Of the terms by individuals,
acting on their own initiative, only
confers the right Of demanding pun
ishnent Of these offenders and, II
necessary, indemnity for the losses
sustained.
"It will, therefore, be open to the
allied and associated powers to bring
before military tribunals the persons
responsible for these acts Of destruc-
ton. SO that appropriate penalties
may be imposed. Furthermore, the
incident gives the allied and asso-
ciated powers right to reparation
for the loss caused.
Lastly, the sinking of the German
fleet is not only a violation Of the
armistice, but can only be regarded
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