South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-17
Summary of AnS7Cer to Enemy Has
Fec Slight Changes From Original

OF the allied and associated powers
10 the conditions Of peace handed 20
tho Germans at Versailles MAY z.
was delivered 10 the German dele
cation Monday and made public
shortly afterward
The principles OF the original con-
ditions have been vigorously upheld,
as estsblishin.- peace OF justice bur
certain notifications in detail and
many explanations OF the effect Of
execution are rlade The reply is in
two parts--e general covering letter
and seriatir discussion Of the GEN
erai counter proposals. The changes
include
plebiscite FOR upper sHesia. with
guarantees o. coal from that terri
tory
Frontier recuacatons in West
Prussia
Omission Of the third zone in the
schleswig picbiscite
AIlow Army ncrcase.
Temporary increase Of the German
army from 100, 600 70 100000 men.
Declaration OF the intention 10 sub
~-+tN ftNAAAAf ~ iNANtAtAl NA rAE IlI lure a
list Of those accused Of violation Of
the laws and customs Of war.
Offer 70 cooperate with "a Germa n
commission on PREPARATIONS and 10
leceive suggestions for discharging
the obligations.
Certain detailed notifications in
the finance. economic and ports and
waterways clause including abolition
Of the proposed Kiel canal commits
sion
Assurance OF membership in the
League or Nations in the early fu-
ture II Germany fulfUs her obliga-
tions
The covering letter is from NJ. Gle
menceau. president OF the peace con
ference 10 Count Won Brockdorff
Rantzau, president Of the German
delegation. In this letter NJ. Gle
menceau says.
The allied and associated powers
have given the most earnest consid g.
Grafton 20 the observation OF the
German delegates on the draft treaty
OF peace. The reply protests against
the peace on the ground that in con
fiicts with the terms upon which the
armistice OF Nov II. 1918. was sign
ed and that II is a peace of violence.
and not a peace Of justice
Fail To Understand
The protest Of the German dele
gates shows that they fail 10 under
stand the position in which Germany
stands today. They seem 10 think
that Germany has only TO make sac
rinces IN order 10 attain peace as II
this were but the end OF some mere
struggle for territory and power The
allied and associated powers there
fore feel IL necessary to begin their
reply by a clear statement of the
judgment OF the world. which has
been forged by practically the whole
OF civilized mankind.
In the view of the allied and as
ISOLATED powers. the war which be
gan on Aug. I. 1914. was the great
est crime against humanity and free
dom Of the people that any nation
calling itself civilized has ever con-
sciously committed. For many years
the rulers OF Germany. true to the
Prussian tradition. strove for a posi-
ton OF dominance in Europe. They
were not satisfied with that growing
prosperity and influence 10 which
Germany was entitled. and which
all other nations were willing to ac-
cord her, they required that they
should be able TO dictate and tvran-
nize over a subservient Europe. as
they dictated and tyrannized over a
subservient Germany.
Used All Means
In order 10 attain their ends they
used every channel through which
10 educate their own subjects i'm the
doctrine that might was right in in
teTnational affairs They never
ceased TO expand German arma-
ments by land and sea and 10
propagate the falsehood that il was
necessary because Germany's neigh
bors were jealous Of her prosperity
and success.
she sought 20 SOW hostility ana
suspicion. instead OF friendship. be
tween nations. The Germans devei-
oped a system OF espionage and in
trigue through which they were en-
abicd 70 stir Up International rebel
lion and even TO make secret often
slve PREF arations within the terri
tory or their neighbOrs. whereby
they might when the moment came.
strike them down with greater GER
tainty and ease. They kept Europe
In a ferment by threats or violence
and when they found that their
neighbors were resolved TO resis;
their arrogant viii. they determined
TO assert their predominance in EU-
rome by force
As soon as their preparations
were complete. they encouraged "a
subscrvieut ally 20 declare war on
Serbia on IS hours notice. q war in
volvins the control OF the Balkans.
which they knew could NOT be local
lied. and which was bound TO UNI
chain = general war.
In order 10 make doubly sure
they refused every attempt at con-
ciliation and conference until il was
too late and the world war was in
esitable for which they had plot
ted and FOR which. slone among the
nations they were adequately
equipped and prepared