Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-06-27

GERMANY WILL SIGN THIS WEEK,

oChmAnI WILL SiGN lhlS WEEK.
| lhe German cabinet went to
pieces last week because many of
the members continued their oppo-
Sltlon to the Peace treaty. The
President proceeded to organize q
new cabinet with Herr Bauer as the
new Premier. The German National
Assembly on the afternoon of the %
by vote Of 237 to 1873 decided to
sign the treaty.
The assembly also voted conf
dence in the new government of
Herr Bauer 236 to 80. Sixty eight
members abstaincd from voting.
On the question of signing the
treaty five members of the assem-
bly, abstained from voting.
Before the vote of confidence was
taken, Herr Rauer, tho new premier.
declared that the government would
sign the treaty, but without ac-
know Lodging the responsibility of
Inc German people for the war and
without accepting the obligations
contained in articles 227 to 23O in
the treaty relating to the trial of the
former emperor and the eXtradition
OF other German personages.
The Government thereupon adj
dressed communication to NJ.
Clemenceau, President of the Peace
Council asking that the provisions
of the treaty requiring Germany to
acknowledge responsibility for the
war and to give ND the kaiser for
trial be eliminated as humiliating
10 Germany.
The council Of four definitely re-
lected the German suggestion that
further alterations be made in the
peace treaty.
! The council received four notes
from the Germans, which were suD-
posed to have been prepared in ad-
vance and were held to await adj
vices from Weimar on The result of
The meeting of the assembly. Presi-
dent Wilson went at once to the res
tdcncc of Premier Lloyd-George,
where the council took I'D consid-
Grafton of the notes.
One of these, from the new Ger
man Government, declared that
Germany was ready TO sign peace if
the clauses making Germany re-
SponslEle for the war and calling
for the trial of the former emperor
were eliminated.
The council of four remained in
session until eight O'Clock in the
evening, and then adjourned for din
ner. The council met again at nine
O'Clock and after brief further dis
cussion took its decision to reject
the German request.
When advised of this action by
the Council of Four the German
Assembly passed another resolution
lnstructing Germany's representa-
tives in Paris to sign the treaty.
In declaring its intention to ac-
cept and sign the peace treaty, the
government of the German repub-
tic sent the following note to NJ.
Clemenceau, president of the peace
conference, through DR.. Vance Won
HaimuSen:
"The minister of foreign affairs
has instructed me to communicate
to your ,eXcellency the following:
1T appears to the government of
the German republic in consterna-
ton at the last communication of
the allied and associated govern
ments, that these governments have
decided to wrest from Germany BY
force acceptance Of the peace con
ditions, even those which, without
presenting any material significance
aim at divcsting the German people
of their honor.
mo act Of. violncc can touch the
honor Of the German people. The
German people, after frightful suf-
fcring in these last years, have no
means Of defending themselves by
i. external action.
"iiclding to superior force, and
without renOuncing in the mean
time its own view of the unheard OF
injustice of the peace conditions the
government Of the German repub-
lie declares that it is ready to ac.
cept and sign the peace conditions
imposed.
please accept Mr.. President, as.
surances of my high consideration
(SigneU "VON HANIEII."