New-York tribune., 1919-06-16

trustworthy protectors of the national
and religious rights of mnoritics.
The Germans further protest against
the regulations as to change of ma
tionaity and against the lack of Sc
curity for German interests in the dis
tricts affected; and they demand a
commission to assess damages caused
by recent Polish disturbances. In the
eighth section the German delegates
agree to the holding of pleDiscite in
Schleswig, although this uoint was not
mentioned by PRESIDENT Wilson. They
protest, however. against the delimita-
tion of the voting districts, and pro-
pose another boundary and d different
system of voting and control for the
pebiscite.
A short ninth section accepts the
dsmantling of Heligoland, but insists
on any measure necessary for the pro-
lection of the coast and ports IT the
interest of the population.
The tenth section deals with colo
nes The delegates maintain that the
demand that Germany should relin-
auish all her rights and claims is an
irreconcilable contradiction of point 5
of President Wilson'S address to Con-
gress Of January s, 1918. which prom
ised free. sincere and impartial set
tlement of colonial claims
Gcrmany's claim is based on the fact
that she has acquired them lawfully and
developed them laboriously. The nos
session of them will be even more nee
esssry to her in the future than in the
CT n bn lou
change, she must obtain raw materials
from her own colonies. She further
requires her colonies as a market, and
as settlements for part of her sur
plus population.
As great civilized nation, the Ger
man people have the right to cooper
ate in the joint task of mankind, in
which they have already achieved great
things. The interests of the colored
population Of the colonies speak for
Germany remaining in possession Of
them, for the German admin stration
has abolished abuses and introduced
peace. order, justice, health, education
and Christianity.
Germany has clearly looked after the
interests of the natives. She has re-
Trained from mlitarzing them and has
adhered to the principle of the open
door The demand that the colonies
should be renounced is therefore con-
sidered unjustitied.
Without modifying this position the
delegates further point out that the
conditions under which the cession is
demanded are unacceptable in detail
particularly as to state and private
property and compensation, and they
claim that any mandatory over shoallC
pay all expenses incurred by the Ger.
man empire. and that the territory
Shantung, with certain stipulations as
to compensation.
Section II deals with Russia and
the Russian states. Germany does not
claim or propose to interfere with any
territory which belonged to the former
Russian empire. The peace of Brest-
Litovsk has already been renounced in
the armistice.
But Germany cannot recognize any
right on the part of Russia to demand
restitution and reparation, and it is
only able to recognize the relevant
treaties and agreements if their con-
tents are known and if they do not
prove to be unacceptable
CHAPTER 3-GERMANY'S RIGHTS
OUTSIDE EUROPE
The German delegates complain that,
according to the treaty draft, Germany
is to have no rights whatever in
Europe outside her own frontiers.
If Germany is to continue to exist,
the realization of these terms is i'm
nossihle Garnl2nv must have the use