New-York tribune., 1919-06-16

for prisoners of war and interned
civilians as are incurred after they
have left the territory of the enemy
power.
CHAPTER 9-PENALTIES
AS to the trial of the ex-Kaiser, Ger
many cannot recognize the justifica-
tlon of such criminal prosecution,
/ which is not founded upon any legal
basis, or agree to the competence of
the special tribunal proposed, or the
admissibility of the surrender to be
requested of the Netherlands. She
cannot admit that a German be placed
before a special foreign tribunal, to
be convicted as consequence of an
exceptional law promulgated by for
elgn powers only against him on prin-
clHes not of right but of politics, and
to be punished for an action which was
not punishable at the time it was COM
mltted. Nor can she consent to a re-
quest being addressed to Holland to
surrender German to a foreign power
Tor such unjustihable proceedings. AS to
the surrender of persons accused of
violations of the laws and customs of
war for trial by a military tribunal,
even when proceedings have already
been begun by German courts, Ger
many is forbidden by her criminal code
to make such extradition of German
subjects to foreign governments. Ger
many again declares her preparedness
to see that violations of international
law are punished will full severity, and
suggests that the preliminary ques-
tlon as to whether such an offence has
been committed be submitted to an
international tribunal of competent
neutrals to judge all violations by sub
jects Of all the signatories, Germany
to have her share in the formation of
this tribunal, and the melting out of
punishment to be left to the national
courts.
CHAPTER 1O-LABOR
The conditions of peace start from
the standpoint that the interests of
the working classes are not to be de-
clded by the workers themselves, but
arc to remain the concern of their
governments. Moreover since Ger
many is not Immediately accepted as
member of the league of nations and
the organization Of labor, the German
people arc to be excluded from CO.
operation in determining the rights
and duties upon which the health and
welfare of the workers depend. al
though Germany's labor legislation
has become a model for the entire
world The peace conditions destroy
all the progress which the German
workers have made and submit them
to extreme distress and exploitation
Such a peace would be concluded at
the expense Of the working classes in
all countries. Consequently, the Ger
man workers can only agree to a peace
which cmbodies the immediate aims of
the international labor movement, and
which does not sacrifice all their
achievements in favor Of alien cppres-
sors. A solemn protest is therefore
made against even a temporary cX-
clusion of Germany from the organi-
cation of labor. The Allied and as
sociated governments possess no right
to inf1ict damage upon German work
ers by the exercise of wilful and ir-
responsible power. A peace which does
not bestow equal rights upon working
men would be based upon quicksand.
The peace terms are lacking Of the
first essential for recognition of equal
rights of workers of all lands. Ger
many once more proposes the sum-
moning of a conference of labor or
CARNATIONS to discuss the Allies pro-
posals, the German counter proposals
and the Berne resolutions of ebruary,
a resolution to be embodied in the
treaty of peace and to attain thereby
the force of international law Anv
other settlement would signify a vio-
lation Of fundamental human rights
which the conscience of the world dare
not allow.
CHAPTER II-OCCUPATION
Even in the provisions for its exc
cution the peace conditions do not re-
nounce the principle Of force. AS
guarantee for the fulhlment Of condi-
tions which strike such terrible blow
at the life of the German people an
occupation of German territory extend
i