Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-05-09
GERMAN CABINET
TO FALL UNLESS
PACT IS SIGNED
Peace Delegates Divided in
Views on Terms Sub
mitted by Allies
By ASsocictcd Press.


Paris, May 9.-It is generally be-
leNed the Germans will answer the
delivery of the treaty of%peace by
proposals relative to certain phases
of the document. a competent COM
mission will examine the German
answer and if notifications are nee
essary, the Germans will he notified.
1t is expected that in this rejoin-
der the enemy will be allowed four
or five days 10 agree definitely to the
whole treaty. 1t is, therefore. prob
able that from 20 to 80 days will
elapse before the pact is finally
signed
Delegates Are Divided
The German delegates to the Peace
Congress are considerably divided
amnog Themselves in their views
on the peace terms submitted by the
allied and associated powers, it was
ihllmated to-day by high British
"uI hoflty, Il Reuter- statement says.
Due consideration is naturally
given the fact that the declaration
mat Germany would refuse to sign
the peace unless the conditions were
greatly modified in her favor may
possibly have been put out just now
with the object of influencing the
negotiations, and that it is not neces-
sarily conclusive.
Government May Fail
Experts attached to the interal-
hed conference who have just re-
turned from Germany where they
ondeavored to obtain material for a
definite verdict on this subject be-
lleNe, however, that refusal bv the
present government to sign is not
impossible. They expect that in this
case the existing government would
iall Immediately and be succeeded
by an independent Socialist govern
ment which would sign any treaty.
presented without. however. any in
tcntion of binding itself by its sig
nature or of observing the conditions
II the opportunity arose to disre-
gard them.
To Discuss Phases
Despite the decision that no Oral
negotiations should be permitted. il
is expected here that discussions OF
some phases of the treaty may take
place, and rooms at the Trianon
Palace Hotel are being held in readi-
ness for Il possible session of inter-
allied and German commissions.
Information coming from German
sources indicates that the Ebert
Scheidemann government is consid-
erinG its fate if it should accept such
drastic treaty. 1t may choose tc
refuse 10 sign the treaty and &c
down in blalZc of patriotic glory.
Germans Shocked
According to this information the
greatest shock to the Germans was
given by the formula establishing
tie frontier of Poland. giving. as il
does great part of West Prussia
ana considerable seaCoast to Po-
land, in addition to large coal fields
IN upper SiloSie. When the German
delegates left home they expected
10 hear rather more moderate pro-
posalS regarding the Polish frontier
and Danzg.
The delegates also question the
possibility of Germany paying rcpa-
ration to tn ceXtent laid down by the
treaty, an dthey doubt whether they
should sign clauses which they are
said ostensibly to regard as impos-
sible of fulfillment They object also
to the surrender of their entire mer-
camille fleet, arguing that this would
force them to pay an additional in
dcmnity to England i'm freight for
every ton Of raw material imported
manufactured and exported under
the virtual British MONOPOLY OF
ocean tonnage which they assume
would soon follow the elimination
of the German mercantile fleet.
Berlin. May 9-"There is only one
immediate solution-peace with
Russia and the use of Rolshevill
troops for Germany" Herr Geisbcrt.
one of the German delegates at Yer
sailles. is quoted by the Nouc Zci-
tung. as declaring with reference to
the peace terms submitted.
Versailles, MAY 9-Eight new
members Of the German delegation
have arrived here but they have not
vet communicated with their COL
leagues who arrived prior to the
presentation of the peace treaty,
Colonel Henry. who was the only
link between the Germans and the
Allies up TO the time of the nresanta-
tion of the treaty, has ended his ac-
tivitics.
Am ong the arrivals was Count AL
fred. Won Oberndorf. n member of
the German Armistice Commission.
He brought credentials as a min
istcr plenipotcntiarv at the congress
and is expected to take an important