Republican farmer., 1919-06-06
RANTzAU TELLS HOW HUN WILL
 ACT IN FUTURE

| door. The task of bringing about | peace is in line with my attempts | to reform our foreign service. We | need machinery as complete as pos | sible in order to attain, from the ! most difficult position in which Ger 1 many now is placed, to a tolerable | peace. We must not be too hopeful ! but we need not despair. Our op- l ponents have during the winter at tempted to strike terror into us by the unm meaSured demands of their press, and to accuStoIn us to expect the worst. Now they speak less arrogant l ly. Now we are told that Germany | will be astonished to see how mod crate are the demands which they intend to make. We must not allow these pictures of the future, whether painted dark or bright, to alter the attitude which we must take up at the Council table. We confront hardy and cool-headed enemies. and we have only one weapon against them the appeal to the general condi- tions of peace to which we agreed at | the beginning of November before we gave up our weapons and our position. We cannot sign a peace treaty which deviates from these con ditions in a single essential point The territorial demands of the
  tions.
 Once more I must press the Ger man claim that the right of free and | unconditional self determination shall be recognized in the case of Alsace- Lorraine.
 Our enemies ought to see that the | manner in which AIsace-Lorraine ,7 now treated will decide the future peace of Europe ana Of the world. From an apple of discord it should become a link between the two great nations which in the future will be even more dependent than before upon friendship with each other. In the East we have come through | seems over. since the Entente has al- lowed itself to be dissuaded from thE project of landing at Danzig. But it has categorically asserted iss claim thereto, and the utmost care is need ed to prevent the repetition of a de- mand which we should be forced, for l practical and rightful reasons, un- conditionally to refuse.
 In the matter of Northern Schleswig | matters have come to a head. Various l unofficial negotiators In Denmark are laying more and more exorbitant de- | mands before the Entente at the ex- | pense of an enfeesled Germany. An interruptions agitation might turn to account the hunger of even German Middle-Schleswig by forcing a dec laration of self-determination in the Danish sense. It is impossible to ex- aggerate the urgency of the measures which will be needed to guard against these contingencies. Far sighted Danish politicians realize how sorely their land would suffer under
 
 tive would be the spoils which Den mark might carry off as a gift from the Entente. If the late German gov ernment declared last August that il had resolved to apply the Wilson ian principles to the debatable North Schleswig districts, 1t meant to sig nifty only these territories of indis- putable Danish population.
 The preparations for the incorpor ation of German Austria have mean while made progress.
 Undercurrents which work against the final goal, do not disturb me. We stand before 8 historic development which pursues it's course with iron flexibility Therefore, I might utter the warning not to precipi:ate this Development; it is unnecessary, nay, dangerous, to do so. It is enough to work on quietly and practically in our task.
 Financial demands cause our op- ponents a least as much difficulty as territorial claims, and no wonder. It is absolutely out of the question to solve the problem of financial claims on Germany without first discussing the matter without experts. We are ready to meet our opponents frank 1y at the Council table on the ques- tons of indemnity for damages and co tn 1al I more quickly to the goal if deoi:ed witt: us by them, instead of trying week by week, and north by m 1I.th u agree among themselves over principles which w,Eid not stand :he test of our actual reality.
 Our opponents should dispassion- ately take into account the political and economic position of Germany in their calculations. They cannot break her up and naim her and at the same time draw from her the inn mense sums on which they are counting.
 Only a Germany becoming econom- ically stronger can help her former enemies to make good the economic l havoc wrought by the war. To this 1 end we require the free restoration | of the West which is of such indus ] trial and agricultural importance, and l
 
 the enemy, but, in accordance with | the armistice terms, cut off from ths | rest of Germany. We require the | speedy raising of the blockade, that | cruel weapon by which, despite the 1 armistice war Is still waged against l us.
 Finally, we require the importation | of necessaries of life under conditions 1 which enable us to purchase them.
 5- faJJ to nl nxxr1a aIcro generous attitude of many who have l striven to provide the Central Powers | with means of subsistence, and we | are especially grateful to the Pope, who has used his influence since the l early stages to secure speedy help | against starvation.
 In the carrying out of the contract | certainly, we have to deal with purely | business questions. The prices, and | the method of payment, do not allow | us to consider these supplies as pro- xiz;z of pI,o orif Cov vic