The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-02-14
BERNST0RFF|
NOT ADELECATE|
Ebert Says Germany Plans
Complete Demobi|lzation
and Disarmament.
ARMY or DEFENSE ONLY
New President Frankly As
tonishes Newspaper Men
by Declarations.

tonlSneS newspaper McH
by Declarations.
Weiniar. Feb. 14.-Friederich Eb-
ert, the president of Germany. has
announced to newspapermen here
that the government is arranging ths
details for complete disarmament
and demobilization
Count Won Bernstorff will not 80
to the peace conference as q Ger
man delegate: Germany plans for
/ the time being at least a peoples
army on the basis Of general con-
scription: Germany will announce
within few days her intention to
carry out complete. disarmament and
| demohilization and a commission
made up OF the center, democratic
and socialistic parties is now dis
mental program.
These points were made by Fried
rich Ebert, the new president of Ger
| many. In an informal talk with for
| eign pewspaperinen today. They ans
wered questions of American and
English correspondents. asked after
Hc fidO ICdu q lOIAldl luOSuOuS 6tdto-
ment which followed the lines of his
7 address on Wednesday, in which hc
ernphasiz Germany's intention to
| rehabilitate herself.
! Would Answer Questions.
President Ebert read his statement
] rapidly and then signifled his will
lingness to answer questions, an op-
| portunity of which the newspaper
men made immediate use.
The question of disarmament was
| first raised. since reports from the
peace conference in Paris indicate 1t
is occupying a large place In discus
| sions there. President Ebert frankly
| astonished his hearers by his declar-
| alton that n commission was already
working on the problem. He said
Germany In future was going to have
only an army of defense. 1t was at
the very end Of his talk that he ad-
mitted this guard would be raised
by conscription, and he left the room
before further details could be elici-
ted. t
He said the assurance that the bor-
ders OF the country would be pro-
tected was absolutely essential al
though he would welcome universal
disarmamAAt, which would make such
i.pfnt4otlon !. pnneceksary. He de.
ciarsG m und d4tstapding mad already
b4en toac3s6 H. )sch aTl6us
IbHenches 0f industry VIII ~ united
land operated sociAlfstiosily, adding
THAT only nonopolized business would
! be socialixed. In answer to question
relative to foodstuffs In Germany. he
said he regarded the situation - very
gloomy since the conditions are very
hard, Germany, he said. has only a
minimum number Of foreign securt-
ties with which she can. purchase
food.
"Our gold, as the whole world
knows, has in large part, gone to
the entente" he said. "All the gold
and securities now on hand would
not suffice to cover moro than the
most urgent needs. Germany would
be glad to repay honorably and up
rightly as soon as possible. II food
and raw materials are furnished and
Germany is given assistance toward
rehabilitation, I believe the economic
and general situation can be brought
into an orderly and progressive
path"
Authoritativsiy Denied.
Count Brockdorf- Rantzau, the for
eign minister in the provisional cabi-
net, DR.. Edouard David. the presi-
dent of the national assembly and
many persons experienced on eco"
nomic lines, he said. would probably
attend the peace conference for Ger
many, but not Bernstorff." he added
instantly to a questioner. 1t was the
first time Count Won Bernstorffs
participation, which had been adver-
tised freely, was denied authorita-
lively. The German peace delegates,
President Ebert continued. will ap-
pear with definite proposals, includ'
ing plans for a league OF nations,
workinSmen's protective laws and
court to decide international dis
putes.
Equal Suffrage Included.
Copenhagen, Feb. 13.-The pro-
gram of the new German govern
ment, Just published at Berlin, In
cludes equal rights for men and
women, the improvement of the edu-
cational system, Conscription along
democratic lines to establish peo-
Piles army, rationing at maximum
prices Of food and necessaries OF life.
care of the wounded and the fami-
lies of those killed in the war, the
socialization OF all industries ripe
for such treatment. particularly the
coal and iron mines, and considerable
additions to income taxes.
The program declares for peace
along lines laid down by President
Wilson, but refusing any peace OF
violence; for repatriation OF German
prisoners of war and for establish
t,,apt of q len o1ta NJ patious With
disarmament and an obligatory court
of arbitration, in order that war may
be made impossible in the future.