The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-04-28

way PiNRSoNu "'N'N'N" ~
sidered This afternoon by the P
sion, providing for the trial OF v
also requiring Germany to del,v
charged with having exercised
customers of war" for arraignn
| the allied and associated pow
through such offense,
Thus tho peace conference comnls,
| sion on responsibility for the war nas
| solved its most welghty problem ThG
state departments announcement OF
1 the solution was received here general
| " with surprise, because II was known
| that Secretary Lansing, chairman OF
| the commission, had steadtastly op-
| posed AIRY attempt TO bring the toriher
| kaiser before an international tribunal
| Mr., Lansing contended there was no
| Inv by which such an offender coulu
| Ne reached by the conference, and that
| It would be contrary to the constitution
| of the United states for the Ameri-
| ran delegates 20 participate In the
execution Of sort Of international eN-
most facto law. Al that time, however,
| il was proposed to charge criminal
and military offensos, and II was sug
| Eestod today that the decision TO base
the indictment upon violation Of inter
|
treaties was taken TO meet the Amer
| team viewpoint
Three Groups.
| Offenses listed against the military
| forces OF the central powers, II was
said, may be grouped under three gen
era heads Crime against opposing
armies; crimes against opponents Ill
marine industry; crimes against non"
combRtants and civilians
Under tho first group would come tho
employing Of 'pro1ectlles which nANV
for their only object the diffusion OF
asphyxiating or deletevious gases, pro d.
hlbited In The Hague convention OF
1899 use OF mushroom bullets ana othet
weapons tending to cause unnecessary
suffering, prohibited In The haGae Sonl pu5
| vention OF 1907; destruction of lied
!, Cross and hospital peraonnel anu oas naa-
terlal. pollution Of water supply sources
and misuse of flags OF truce.
Crimes commmitted by tho enemy
naval forccs which would render "
dlvdual officers culpabe would lncluns
: the stalking without warning OF mer'
chant craft, destruction pnder any uo,,, u,
0ltion of hospital ships, bombardment ol
undefended ports and sinking OF Hle
boats and RATS laden with survivors
Offenses against civilian populations
OF occupied districts, include
Imprlsoning enemy subjects ennasse
expulsion OF civilians from occupieu
= territory; use Of prisoner labor on op-
! eratIoua directly connected with the
: war; internment under conditions OF
. hardship; compulsory enlistment; do
i / asement of currency Wahton deslluS
( ton OF property, abrogation OF civil
government,
| The announcement issued by the state
{ department follows: No..
6Folowing are the proposed articles
: regarding penalties, for insertion II
treaty OF peace to be considered AZ .
plenary session OF conference today
Z Monday, at o'clock pm. Paris time
! "'Article 4 The allies and associated
. mowers publicly arralgn William H., o.
= Hohenzollern, formerly German EN-
peror not for an offense against Grim
lnal law, but for supreme otiens'
against international morality ana th'
sanctity Of treaties.
"A special tribunal will be consti
| tuted to try the accused, thereby assur
, ing him the guarantees essential to I'M
\ | right of defense 1t VIII be compose,
, OF five judges, one appointed by eacl
OF the following five powers, namely
- The United states OF America. Ore"
Y !" In it's decision the tribunal VIII b'
z guided by the highest motives Of inter
n national policy with a view to vlndicat
Il ing the solemn obligations OF ihterha
4 tional undertakings and the Validity o
X | tnteTnAtlOnul HOIHlN1f ~ WI
duty to fix tho punishment which !
k considers should be imposed,
q "'The allied and associated power
= will address request to the govern
a nent OF the Netherlands for the sur
d render to them Of the ex-emperor IL
y Article q The German govern
msnt not having insured the punish
mont OF tho persons accused OF havin
" exercised acts In violation of the law
and customs Of war, such persons WI
% be brought before military tribunals y
the allied and associated powers ana
found guilty sentenced to the PUNISH
ments laid down by military law.
1.-THE German government shall han
over to the allied and associated power
or to such one OF them as shall 10 re
n quest, all persons accused OF haVli'
\ committed an oct in violation OF IN
y laws and customs Of war who ar
specified either by name, or by ranl
=, office or employment which they hel
under the German authorities
a % Article 8. Persons guilty OF Grim
J inal acts against the nationals OF on
n OF the allied and associated powers WI
& be brought before tho military trlbun'
Is of that power ,, .,
l. against the nationals of more than on
OF the allied and associated powers WI
be brought before military trleuna
composed Of members of the mllitaI
tribunals OF the powers concerned. !
every case the accused VIII be ehtue
n to name his own counsel
\ Article T. The German govern
ment undertakes to furnish all doct
ments and information Of every kim
II the production OF which may he cor
r si%S snowIedee Of The incriminating act
to The discovery Of the offenders, the ju
ir apnreclation OF the responsibility.