Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-05-08
DISCUSSION OF
PEACE TERMS IS
PUT UNDER BAN
Premier cIemenceau Tells
German Delegates Rule Laid
Down for Them; Hun
Leader Replies.
CONTINUED From Page one.)

Continued From Page one.)
at once proceed in the way indi-
Gated by this document"
M. Clemenceau spoke in French
Power of German Arms Broken.
Count Won Brockdorf- Rantzau
head of the German delegation,
speaking in German. said:
Gentlemen: We are deeply impressed
with the sublime task which has brought
us hlther to give durable peace to the
world. We are under no Illusion as to
the extent OF our defeat and the degree
OF our want of power. We know that
the power Of the German arms is broken.
We know the power OF the hatred which
we encounter here, and we have heard
the passionate demand that the van
auishers may make us pay as the van
Guished. and shall punish those who are
worthy Of being punished.
ut is demanded from us that we shall
confess ourselves to be the only ones
guilty OF the war. Such confession in
my mouth would be a lie We are far
from declining any responsibility that this
great war of the world has come to pass
ana that It was made In the way in
which II was made The attitude of the
former German government at The Hague
peace conference its actions and omissions
tainly contributed to the disaster. But
u we theoretically deny that Germany and
its people. who were convinced that they
were making war or defense. were alone
guilty
Blames All states. t,F
Nobody will want to contend that the
disaster took It's course only In the dis
astrous moment when the successor to the
throne OF Austria Hungary fell the victim
of murderous hands In the last SO years
The imperialism OF all the European states
has chronicaily poisoned the international
situation. The policy of retaliation and the
policy; of expansion and the disregard Of
the rights of peoples to determine their
own destiny have contributed to the III
ness of Europe. which saw its crisis in
the world war. t
Russian mobilization took from the
statesmen the possibility Of healing and
gave the decision into the hands Of the
military powers. Public opinion In all
the countries of our aGversaries is re-
sounding with the crimes which Germany
Is said to have committed In the war.
Here also we are ready to confess wrong
that may have been done. 4
I'VE have not come here to belittIe the
responsibility Of the men who have waged
the war politically and economically or
to deny any crimes 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 is to say wrong
willing to repair it.
but in the manner Of making war also
Germany is not the only guilty one. l do
not want to answer by reproaches to re-
proaches. but l ask them to remember,
when PREPARATION Is demanded, not to for
get the armstice. 1t took us six weeks
until we got 1t at last, and six more until
we came to know your conditions of peace.
Grimes in war may not be excusab1e,
but they committed in the struggle for
victory and in the defense Of national
existence and passions are aroused which
make the conscience OF people blunt.
Holds Blockade Criminal.
"The hundreds Of thousands of non
vember IL, by reason of the blockade, were
killed with cold deliberation after our
adversaries had conquered and victory had
been assured to them Think of that when
you speak OF guilt and Of punishment.
1.-THE measure of the guilt of all those
who have taken part can only be stated
by an impartial inquest before neutra,
persons OF the tragedy are allowed to
speak and to which all the archives are
open; we w nave ens am sbs dem Su9 an
I'm this conference also where we
stand toward adversaries alone and
out protection. You yourselves have
!. brought US an ally. namely, the right
which Is guaranteed by the treaty and by
the principles of peace.
s.The allies and associated governments
have foresworn in the time between the
5th of October and the 9th OF November'
1918, peace OF violence and have writ
ten a peace of Justice on their banner.
On the 5th of October, 1918, the German
government proposed the principles Of the
president of the United States, as the
basis of peace, and on the 5th of Novem-
Der their secretary OF state. Mr.. Lansing,
declared that the allied and associated
powers agreed to this basis with two def
mite devations.
Wilson's Principles Binding.
"The principles of President Wilson have
thus become binding to both parties of
the WARRIOR you as well as for us and
also for our former allies, The various
and economic sacrifices. but the holy fun
damental rights of all peoples are pro-
tected by this treaty. The conscience of
which might violate 1t without punish
nIent.
You will find us ready to examine upon
this basis the preliminary peace which you
a have proposed to us with a firm intention
OF rebuilding in common work with You
that which has been destroyed and re-
pairing any wrong that may have been
committed, principally the wrong to Bel
GUM, and TO show to mankind new aims
X Of political and social progress.
considering the tremendous quantity
OF problems which arise we ought as soon
as possible to make an examination of
the principal tasks by special commits
< sions of experts on the basis of the treaty
II will be our chief task to re-establish
the devastated vigor Of mankind and of
all the. people who have taken part by
international protection of the life, health
and liberty of the working classes.
Agree to Reconstruction.
"As our next aim,y / consider the re-
construction Of the territories Of Belgium
and of northern France (which have been
occupied by us and which have been de-
.sro do so we have taken upon ourselves
the solemn obligation and we are resolved
to execute 1t to the extent which shall
have been agreed upon between us. This
task We cannot do without the co-opera-
tor of our former adversaries. We cam
not accomplish the work without the tech
meal and financial participation of the
victorious peoples and you cannot execute
that without us.
Impoverished Europe must desire that
the reconstruction shall be fulfilled with
the greatest success and with as little
expense az ID in any way possible. This
Outstanding about the best methods to be
employed It would be the worst method
to go on and have the work done by Ger
work is cheap. but it would cost the world
dear II hatred and despair shall seize the
German people when they consider that
their brothers, sons and fathers who are
prisoners are kept prisoners beyond the
preliminary peace on the former penal
work.
Economical System Menaced.
without Immediate solution of this
question, which has been drawn out too
\, long, we cannot come to durable peace.
Experts Of both sides will have to examine
how the German people may come up to
their financial obligations to repair, with
out succumbing under theis heavy burden
crash would bereave those wEo have
right to repair, to the advantages to
which they have claim and would draw
after it irretrievable disorder of the
whole European economical system.
THE vanquishers, as well the van
.xtxfr l.Ay a. n
nenacng danger with its incalculable
consequences. There is only one means
of banishing it--unlimited confessions of
the economic and social solidarity of all
the peoples In free and rising league of
nations.
"Gentlemen: The sublime thought to be
derived from the most terrible disaster in
the history of mankind is the league of
nations. The greatest progress in the de-