Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1919-06-24
Cannot Perform Contract.

Asserting that the terms cannot be car
ried out and that the German govern
ment cannot be held responsible for
what may occur, the note concluded by
saying that the Germans will sign, with
reservations relative to the turning over
of those alleged to be guilty of crimes
and also the admission of the guilt of
Germany in causing the war.
In replying, the council OF four said:
THE allied and associated powers
have considered the note of the German
delegation of even date and in view of
the shortness Of time remaining, feel
time within which the German govern
nent must make its final decision as
to the signature of the treaty. less than
"a hours remain. The allied and associat
ed governments have given considera-
ton to all representations hitherto made
by the German government with regard
to the treaty and have replied with com
plete frankness. They have made such
concessions as they thought it were just
to make. The present note of the Ger
man delegation presents no new argu-
ments or considerations not already
examined
Must Take All or None.
The council then declared that the
time for discussion was past and that
the German representatives must make
a decision to sign and accept the treaty
as a whole or to reject 1t.
The full text of the German note
shows that while but two reservations
were made the Germans asked for the
insertion in the treaty of clause pro-
viding that withing two years that docu-
ment should be submitted to the council
of the league of nations for reconsidera-
ton of that portion of the treaty which.
as the Germans phrased it. Impair the
rights to self determination of the Ger
man people"
Similar reconsideration of that portion
whereby the free economic development
Of Germany on footing of equal rights
is denied" also was provided for in this
suggested clause.
The Plea of the vanquIshed.
The German note, dated Versailles,
June 30, and addressed to NJ. Clemen-
ceau. follows:
"The imperial minister of foreign af-
fairs has instructed me to communicate
the following to your excellency:
"The government Of the German re-
public has from the moment when the
peace conditions of the allied and asso-
ciated government were made known to
II,
the government. in harmony with the
whole German people, must regard these
conditions as being in part contraction
to the principle which was accepted by
the allied and associated powers, on the
one hand and Germany, on the other,
as being binding in accordance with the
laws of nations for the peace before the.
conclusion of the arnistice.
if the government of German republic
is nevertheless, ready to sign the condi
tions of the allies, with the above men
toned reservation. yet this is not done
of its free will. The government of the
German republic solemnly declares that
it's attitude Is to be understood in the
sense that it yields to force, being re-
solved to spare the German people, whose
sufferings are unspeakable, new war.
the shattering of it's national unity for
further occupation of German territor-
les, terrible famine for women and chill
dren and mercilessly prolonged retention
of prisoners of war.
The German people expects, in view
of the grievous burdens which it il to
take upon itself, that all German military
and civilian prisoners, beginning July /,
and thereafter in uninterrupted success
sion and within a short period, shall be
restored. Germany gave back her en-
emies' prisoners of war within two
months"
The government Of the German re-
public engages to fulfill the conditions
Continued on Page Two).