The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-16
WE WON'T SIGN',IS
THE GERMANS CRY



terms "as drafted" will not be &C
cepted by the present coalition Social
ist-Democratic-Centris Cabinet. Be
hind this determination, as 1t de-
veloped, the National Assembly stood
almost unanimous. At the same
time Herr Scheidemann announced
that the Government had endeavored
to achieve the goal Of peace through
negotiations.
His declaration that the results Of
these negotiations were "unaccept-
able" was the climax Of a carefully
prepared speech. 1t was the signal
for an outburst of cheers and a de-
monstration of something like real
enthusiasm, which for few moments
recalled the scene I witnessed in the
Reichstsg on August 4, 1914, when
the then Imperial Chancellor Won
Bethmann-H ollweg made his first war
address.
Slowly oil in the assembly rose to
their feet. Spectators and auditors In
the three galleries followed, while
shouts of "Bravol" and demonstra.
lions of handclapping swept the
house. Scheidemann succeeded In
evoking one genuine outburst Of emo.
ton during the long five hour session
when he characterized the terms OF
the peace treaty as unavailable, un.
endurable and unacceptable"
This was the dominant triple note
Of criticism sounded by the Assembly
but was always qualified by a refer
ence to conditions as now drafted. y
The leaders of the six parties in theil
speeches upheld the keynote sounded
by Scheidemann.
Socialists stand q Surprise.
The surprise Of the session was the
attitude Of Herr Haase, leader Of the
Independent Socialists. 1t was an
nounced by Freiheit. the offlcia
organ Of the party, that at a meet
ing Of the party leaders Sunday
night 1t had been resolved to protes
against the "enslaving terms" The
publication nevertheless called for the
signing Of the treaty in the hope tina
an uprising of the proletariat In othel
countries might help bring about ,
revision.
1t was expected that Herr Haast
would voice this resolution. Instead
he cleverly sidestepped the vital issue
agreed that the terms were impossi
BILE, uncomfortable aud unacceptable
but argued that as his was the onl!
party that had protested against tn,
war ut the start, against its coDduc
and prolongation, which other partie
did not, the Independent Socialist
therefore declined to accept the re
sponsibillty of making peace. His or
gument was:
you helped start, conduct and pro
long the war. Now accept the respon
sibility also for making peace"
This challenge he hurled repeate1l,
at the three parties forming the Gov
eminent. Herr Haase could not fore
60 interfering party politics into tn
issue and called the attention of tn
majority Government repeatedly +
the fact that it had declared stat
Of siege in Leipsic and occupied tn
city with troops. Wherefore he wa
called to order and brought back t
} the subject under discussion.
A study Of the elaboration of tn
! Assembly gave the impression of
determination not to accept tn
peace terms in their present form
: supported by the country in anythin
like the same degree of unanimity
} Therefore test between the advo
: Gates of peace based on partial re
! vision of the existing terms or. n
, immediate peace Mt all seems to b
inevitable.
; The sudden switch in the IndepenC
, ent Socialist ranks and the failure @
the Radicals to go on record In tn
Assembly for a peace at any price
las was expected, are attributed I