The sun., 1919-03-26
To Pay for Reformation Only.

uQ QeSIEONeQ.
In numerous INSTANCES there promises
to be dispute as to whether the dam
age was done by the Gernrans or by
the French. Belgian or British guns and
troops. The Germans are not disposed
to accept the theory that they must
pay for the damage done In various
areas by the Allies in their defence.
The delegation. moreover. will not ac-
cept without fight any plan to take
the German colonies and turn them over
TO the various Allies. In this also the
Germans will insist that President VIII
sons points. which were accepted as the
basis for the armistice. shall govern
in the final decision.
Won Bernstorn in Conference.
Chancellor Scheidemann and Foreign
Minister Brockdorff-von Rantzau led the
discussion. In which all the members
participated. especially Matthias Erzber-
ger, the armistice delegate: President
Ebert, and Count Won Bernstorff. who
sat across the table from the President.
According to the best information OBJ
tainable, the attitude OF Brockdorf-
Rantzau. who will head the peace dele
cation, Is that II It is intended merely to
hand the document to the Germans. CIV
ing them no opportunity for discussion
or negotiation, he would refuse to go to
Versailles.
"In that event all that is necessary is
to send a couple of clerks" he is said to
have declared. Emphasis was repeatedly
laid upon the point that President Will
sons fourteen points must be the guild
ing line In the terms submitted to Ger
many and that the American people are
the guarantors OF these principles, as
they would nsver permit n historical
American document to be treated as a
scrap OF paper.
Many of the members touched upon
the probable consequences of Germany's
refusal to sign the treaty. Most of them
believed that In that event the blockade
would be maintained until Germany was
starved into submission, but others con-
tended that the Allies would ind this
two edged sword, as II was almost GER
tain that general anarchy would follow.
The delegates were instructed, II is re-
ported. not to give up Danzig nor the
valley of the Saar.
The Government will not sign any
conditions that cannot be fulfilled nor
any terms that obviously are impossible
20 carry out or to make us slaves; at
least I will not sign SUCH" said Presi-
dent Ebert 10 me.
THE mandates from the people to the
Government extend only so far as the
signing of a peace on President Wilson's
principles beyond that the present Gov
eminent has no authority nor power to
60" declared Herr Erzberger. THE
election of the National Assembly was
= lsed on our acceptance OF your Presi-
dents outline" If terms outside o@sS .ese
principles are submitted the Government
must OF necessity submit them to the
people before they can sign the treaty.
democracy is no plaything with US.
We have become democratiZed and there
fore the principles of democracy. that IL
the will OF the people, must guide us
IN so vital an Issue as the fate OF TO-
O00, 900 people. No cabinet or merely a
few men can determine their will beyond
the power or authority granted OF I'M
piled in the mandates"
Moximilian Harden remarked to me
that he doubted IL the Government Will
have the courage to sign the treaty. The
manner in which all circles cling to the
hone that President Wilson and America
will bring about 'just and enduring
peace" is almost pathetic
Zurich, March 25.-Dr. Bernhard
Dernburg, former chief OF the German
propaganda service In the United states
writing In the TG0eoidft or Berlin de-
clares that the German people will not
sign a treaty of peace that is not in
splred by impartiality. Justice and a
spIrit of reconciliation which. he says,
President Wilson guaranteed In his mes
cage. The German people. Dr. Dern-
burg adds, will not sign treaty which
does not contain League or Nations
in which Germany Is admitted with tuil
rights and will only consent to disarma-
ment when other members or the league
disarm.