Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-06-26
Clemenceau Sends Sharp
Note Regarding Breech
of Faith.
PUNISHMENT FOR
MEN RESPONSIBLE
Naval Officials Who Caused Seuttling
Of Fleet and Burning Of French Flag
Must Be- Made to Suffer and Gov
ernment Must Pay For Ships Thus
Oestroyed-Armistiee Pledge Hold
to Have Been Openly Violated.

Paris, June 26.-Germany has been
notified in a note sent today by the
allies that they the allies) possess the
right to punish the persons respons-
ilbe for the destruction Of the German
ships and 10 recollect reparation for
the losses. The sinking of the fleet is
denounced as d violation of the arm
istice and a deliberate breech in ad-
vance of the conditions of peace.
When the investigations have been
completed, the note states, the allies
will exact the necessary reparation.'
Preparations also will be asked for
the burning of the French battleflags
which, under the treaty, Germany was
to have returned to France.
Germany's protests against the long
period of allied occupation provided in
the treaty and her complaint that her
admission to the league of nations
might be too long delayed are con-
trasted with the violations of her en-
gagements set forth. Germany, the
note adds, can not complain should
the allies use full powers conferred
on them by the treaty, particularly ar
ticle 429. which provides that terri
torial occupation might be continued
indefinitely If she, on her side, delib-
erately violates its provisions"
,..... Sharp Note Sent.
The text Of the note sent follows:
June 25, 1919. Mr.. President: The
terms Of the armistice signed by Ger
many on the 11th of November, 1918,
provided as follows: 4
"'Article 23. The German surface
warships which shall be specified by
the allies and the United States shall
forthwith be disarmed and thereafter
interned in neutral ports or failing
them the allied ports designated by
the allies and the United States. They
shall there remain under supervision
by the allies and the United States on
iy care and maintenance parties being
eft aboard -.r. -
"On June 21 the German warships
which had been handed over to the
allied and associated powers were at
anchor in the roadstead at Scapa
Flow. with the German care and main
tenance parties on board as provided
in~~the armistice, were sunk by these
parties under orders of the German
admiral in command. According to
the information which has been COL
lected and transmitted by the British
admiralty, the German admiral IN
command of these parties of the Ger
man naval forces has alleged that he
q cf Cd in, ho iaf hof oicti
expired on June q at midday and
Consequently in his opinion the 1 de-
struction in question was no violation
of it's terms.
In law Germany, by signing the
terms Of article %, set out above, en-
tered into an undertaking that the
ships handed over by her should re-
main in the ports indicated by the al
lied and associated powers and that
care and maintenance parties should
be left on board with such instructions
and under such orders as would insure
that the armisticc was observed. r.
Pledge Openly Violated.
1.-THE sinking Of these ships instead
Of their preservation, as had been pro-
vided for. and in breech Of the under.
armistice agreement against all acts
OF destruction, constituted at once a
violation Of the armistice, the destruc-
t4on Of the pledge handed over, and an
act Of gross bad faith toward the al
lied and associated powers.
"The admiral in command Of the
care and maintenance parties belong.
Ing to the German naval forces has
while recognizing that the act was a
brcech Of the armistice, attempted to
Justify 1t by alleging his belief that the
armistice had come to an end.
This alleged Justification is not we'll
founded, as under the communication
addressed to the German delegation by
the allied and associated powers on the
18th Of June, 1919. the armlstice would
only terminate In refusal to sign the
peace or II no answer was returned On
the 23rd OF June at o'clock.
According to International. law, as
embodied particularly in articles 40
and Al Of the regulations annexed to
the fourth Hague convention Of 1907,
every serious violation Of tho armistice
by one OF the parties gives the other
party the right to denounce and even
in case Of urgency to recommence hos
tilities at once.
Must Punish Officers.
"The violation Of the terms Of the
arKnistice by individuals acting on theil
Qesn initiative only confers the right OF
demanding the punishment OF these
offenders and, IL necessary. indemnity
for the LOSSES sustained. 1t Will, there
fore, be open TO the allied and asso-
ciated powers to bring before a mill
I'd 4 at3a4s sal.tr