The sun., 1919-06-16
GERMAN REPLY
REJECTS PEACE
PACT AS UNFAIR
Rantzau, in Counter Pro-
posals, Repeatedly Refers
to Wilson Speeches.
DEMANDS PLEBIsCITES
Calls for Return Of Colonies
and Refuses to Surrender
Ex-Kaiser.

PARIS, June '15.-The German reply
and counter proposals to the condi-
tons Of peace laid down to them at
Versailles on May were made public
here to-day. The reply covers 1ls
pages and includes a covering letter
by Count Won Brockdorff- Rantzau. the
head of the German delegation. OF
May 20, which has already been pub
nshed, and a second section OK COM
ments following the main outline OF
the original draft treaty. Two sepa-
rate documents on legal and financial
questions. are included as part OF the
general reply. - ~ T..
Both English and French transla-
tons have been furnished in pamphlet
form, the former totalling about 50. 900
words.
The German maintain that the
allied and associated Powers have for
saken the peace of Justice to which
they solemnly pledged themselves in
the armistice negotiations and con-
. cluded a peace Of might in which all
.stha principles quoted at length from
speeches of the statesmen of allied and
associated Powers have been violated.
They protest against the proposed
terms individually and collectively, de-
mand q return to the original agree
ments. press for verbal negotiations
and state that Germany expects jus
tice on a basis Of equality and reci-
procity.
The reply begins with a detailed an.
alysis Of the legal basis Of peace. al
leges a fragrant series of contradictions
to this basis, and POINTS out that the
results would be the complete enslave-
inent Of the German people and the be-
trayal of all the worlds cherished hopes
OF peace. In the counter proposals
Germany demands immediate admission
TO the League Of Nations as part Of the
spirit of the armistice agreement and
rs necessary for the acceptance Of the
proposed military. naval and air terms.
She then analyzes the territorial changes
demanded. claiming that the right of seff
determination has been wilfully violated
throughout.
objects TO Colonies Loss.
She bitterly assails sth4 abolition OF
all German rights outside Europe as n
reconcilable with the preliminary nego'
tiations hnds MS wholly Impossible 70 {
great people who not only have supreme
needs for MARKETS. and supplies but who
have shown themselves capable Of shar-
ing the worlds task of colonization.
Germany. is wholly unable to accept
the reparations commission set up BY
the Allies as involving an infringement
- e. xNxy h,tN q
operative German commission to worf
alongside 1t. She accepts responsibility
only for civilian losses In occupied Bel
GUM and France and agrees to maxi
mum payments Of $4,000. 100000. pro
vided the other terms as to colonies
overseas trade and territories are &C
cepted as she proposes. As to deiiV
cries of ships, raw materials and ma
chinery, she can meet the allied claims
only in part largely because OF de
creasing production.
Germany demands that In. the eco
nomic provisions she be treated on {
basis of equality and reciprocity ant
not in the one sided way outlined. Sh'
agrees to freedom or traffic on German
rivers and within Germany. but Away
on condition that there be no interfer
ence with German sovereignty. sh
expects reciprocal treatment rather tina,
the assumption by the Allies of tn
right to. say what engagements are o
are not to become operative again.
The Germans refuse TO accept the tria
Of the ex-Kaiser or to sanction his ex
tradition from Holland on the groun
that no German subject can be brough
before q foreign court. She canno
agree to extradite other subjects &C
cused of violations of the laws and Gus
toms of war Instead, she proposes a
International court Of neutrals to judg
the fact of crime, the punishment to re
main with the national courts.
The labor clauses are not satisfactor
10 Germany and as a result she agai
proposes an International conference I
examine the allied and associated pre-
posals, the German proposals. and III
Bern resolutions. bitter protest
entered against the occupation OF I'll
Rhine provinces and the demand mad
that all allied troops be withdraw
within six months of peace. The occJ
patton as proposed would break up Gel
man economic life and allow the prejr
dicing of German interests in favor {
France and Belgium.
Demand Wilson BASIS.
The first part of the German con
German delegates state that they ell
tered upon their task with the convit
ton that the contents OF the treaty
peace had In principle been outline
by the events preceding It. They the
recaptulate the interchange OF con
munications with President Wilson b,
tween October s, 1918, and the armistit
OF November II. AS a result of thei
they consider that Germany as a has
OF peace has expressly accepted Pres
dent Wilson's fourteen points and mott
Ing else. The acceptance OF the tern
or the armistice was to be evidence Il
the honest acceptance of those cond
lions by Germany. This evidence HI
been furnished.
The Allies also have accepted Pres
dent Wilson's fourteen points, and
solemn agreement as to the basis
peace therefore exists between the ty
contracting parties. Germany has
right to this basis. and the Allies.
forBaking It. would break an intern
tional legal agreement But the pra
teal application of the principles mu
be negotiated upon and Germany has
right to discussion.
Chapter II. deals at length with 4
alleged contradiction between the dra
of the treaty and this agreed has
taken in connection with previous ass,
ances OF the statesmen, of the Enten
The delegates point out that their at
mics have repeatedly professed that IN
were not making war against the q,
man people. but against an irnperialis
and irresponsible Government, But ,
conditions OF peace are an obvious &C