The sun., 1919-02-17
EBERT SAYS ARMY
DEPENDS ON PEACE
,lso Will BE Determined by
Form Which League Of
Nations Takes.
Is FOR GERMANY FIRST
Restoration in Belgium Must
Wait Until Homeland Is
Again Normal.
n, CHARLES TOWER.
,,,,s, cobi. Despatch to TIE scs from the
London Times Service.

~ CHARLES TOWER.
,,,,a, Gable Dsspatch 10 TIE sus from the
London times Service.
yo,yr,oht. 1919: all rights reserved
vrtNAs, Feb. 15.--Iu a supplement
,,-v reply TO a question regarding Ger
,.nys military forces President Ebert
Srtes me:
~, course the future organization OF
c,rmsny's armed forces depends en-
rrely upon the issues of the peace ne
,,,,s,ions and the form the League Of
,.,,ons will take after the conclusion
Of peace"
In connection with the peace dele
,a,ss the President informs me that
The new Premier, Philip Scheidemann,
,,ll probably go to Versailles. I also
mt question to the extent to which
cermanys industries already had been
converted from a war to a peace foot
Ins and received the following reply:
The conversion Of war industries Is
already in full progress and is proving
easier than many people expected. Nu-
nerous factories especially the textile
plants, are In a position to begin work
a, once as soon as the necessary raw
materials arrive. l may add that In the
opinion Of Industrial experts a compare
lively small amount OF cotton Is sum-
Gent to restore this industry to such an
extent as to enable 1t to supply the
domestic demands.
Raw Material the Key.
In any case a supply of raw mate
rial is the key to the whole problem of
l.l -
reasons for growing unemployment
partly misleading representations are
being circulated. 1t is true in some OF
the large cities a sort OF unwillngness
10 work has asserted itself. a condition
which il not to be wondered at after
four years OF war; but which Is being
combated by the Government with every
means in its power.
AT this moment a fresh inquiry il
being made into the question whether
The withdrawal of monthly support to
he unemployed (S1.75 a day to the un-
= married) is one means of checking this
disease. l must, however, emphasize
the fact that unemployment Is largely
caused by the sharpened blockade and
the compulsory surrender Of rolling
stock. Late to-day We received a re-
port from the miners leader that pro-
duction of coal has been diminished
Kaiser stiII . Citizen.
also asked President Ebert what
altitude the Government as now for
raly constituted will take on the ques-
ton Of the Kaiser's responsibility for
the war and his possible extradition
from Holland. Some time ago Presi-
dent Ebert had said this would be
question for the National Assembly.
He now writes:
Should investigation show the Kaisers
guilt the German Government would Of
- own accord take steps TO cali him TO
account. as It would any other German
responsible for the outbreak OF war. In
10Th cases II suppose this means
whether guilty or not guilty--it is not
explained in the text the Government
, steadtastly maintains that the Kaiser,
even IL he has fed from the country.
must be considered a citizen of the Ger
man republic and entitled to the enjoy
rsnt of all the benefits Of law and jus
uCe TO which any citizen OF the new
Germany has a claim"
Home Restoration First.
next asked what measures Germany
has in view and TO what extent she con-
sders she can be called upon to provide
money and labor for the restoration of
Belgium and northern France. His re-
ply follows:
'The seventh point of President Will
sons programme reads: Belgium must
" evacuated and restored. without this
rmedial action the whole structure of
ne validity Of International law Is de-
stroyed forever.
We accepted Mr.. Wilson's pro-
granme without reservation, hence We
also accepted restoration, but We can
not at present say by what means or
At what period that is to be done,
since our completely exhausted country
not even In a position to effect its
own restoration to any great extent
We are bankrupt OF raw materials and
cur finances are wrecked. It is only
with the utmost difficulty that a hungry
people keeps the peace. As things are
We shall best and soonest serve the
restoration OF Belgium IL we begin
putting our whole working force into
refnming the tide OF Germany's COM
plete ruin"
No Return to Prussia nism.
Much attention having been drawn by
me- German press of late TO the action
against Bolshevism OF the old Prussian
permanent officialdom, and 1t having
oeen widely suggested in the Hobbies OF
me National Assembly that ultimately
any Government will have to fall back
On This trained and once incorruptible
"ganzation TO save the country from
anarchy and carry on the public affairs
grew these suggestions to the Presi-
vents notice, He replied as follows:
me German Government has repeat
/ 'aIy acknowledged with warmth the
great services OF the old ofYicialdom.
nut the fact that the German revolution.
considered as a whole took such a pat
p'n course in the first place is due to
ne sef-dl scipline German labor has ac-
-uFed during years OF organiza ton. In
'ne places the old officials have re-
I''ed IN strikes to undo local ektrag-
"sdnces Of the Workmen's and Soldiers
'nnrils That is theft right. But II
quite mistaken to see in thes, strikes
n'A'er evolutionary manifestations.
ne great army Of Germany's lesser Of
democracy"
III Conclusion President Ebert said
.d' oven II those parts OF Germany
".' are not yet pacified the local cleo
'h- SHOW confidence in the new Gov
'a'h' on the part Of the great mass OF
u" population. This confidence will be
C r"te ''n'pletely in proportion as the new
o'trnneut succeeds In providing the
'e''' with food and employment