The sun., 1919-05-26
GERMANS SAY
THEY WILL NOT
ACCEPT TREATY
Change of Attitude Follows
Conference of Leaders
Held at Spa.
no HOPE OF REVISION
Delegates Of Opinion That
Notifications VIII Be Only
Of Minor Nature.
NO HOPE OF REVISION
by LAURENCE HILLS.
Sfof Correspondent Of Tnx suS.

Sfo6 Correspondent Of Tns sux
copyrtoht. 1913; oil stohfs reserved.
PARIS, May 25.-Members of the
German peace delegation. following
their return from Spa, where Count
von Brockdorff Rantzau, In con-
ference with the German leaders.
framed the German policy, now are
insistent that they will not sign the
treaty.
What Is more, these Germans say
that they do not now expect any re-
suits in the way of material modifica-
ton Of the original treaty from their
counter proposal. They virtually ad-
nit that they have abandoned all hope
of getting any drastic revision and
therefore must refuse to sign, pre-
ferring non.resistance policy. They
do not believe the Allies will lombard
the German cities If they resist
merely passively.
1t was the impression here imme-
diately before the Spa meeting that
the Ebert Government was looking
for an excuse to sign, but this has
been removed by the statements made
by the Germans since their return.
Allowance must be made, however,
for sudden shift in the situation in
Germany and for the possibility that
the Germans will bluff to the last.
Blame Placed on Russia.
The German counter proposal was
gone over at Spa and approved; this
was the real purpose Of that meeting.
1t will be put In Tuesday or Wednes-
day, before the expiration of the time
limit. Meanwhile the Germans trans
mitted to-day a new note on RESPONSE
billty, discussing the causes Of. the
war exhaustively and placing the
blame entirely on Russia, indirectly
generating the former German Gov
ernment and not mentioning the
Kaiser.' This note is an amplificati tion
Of the former protest on responsible
ties.
Rumors are current that the Allies
intend to make some change regard
ing Danzig, at the instance of Premier
Lloyd George, who never has been
strong for the Danzig settlement. The
nature Of the suggested change Is not
publicly known, but 1t might pos
s!bly affect the German attitude.
The present German delegation
shows no disposition to resign; the
members assert that any others who
would sign would not be the legal
Government.
Victory in saar Plan.
The Germans have scored their first
important victory in obtaining a mu-
terial modification Of the peace terms
In regard to the Anal disposition of
the Saar Valley. The decision Of the
Allies in the Saar matter indicates
how far they are willing to go to meet
reasonable objections. This Is the
only claim of the Germans allowed
so far.
The Germans contended that in the
Saar case, even II the plebisclte pro-
ylded for in the treaty should vote to
return to Germany at the end Of the
specified period, the wishes Of the
people could not be carried out un-
less Germany were able at that time
to buy back the mines. The modlfica-
ton obtained by the Germans is in
paragraph g of the addition to the
treaty, providing that II Germany
we're unable to pay the price fixed by
majority of the commission OF
three experts on mines, the territory
should pass definitely to France de-
spite the findings OF the plebiscite.
PIebiscite VIII Detsrmins.
As now modified this clause pro-
Vides that II the plebiscite SO specifies
the territory shall 60 back to Ger
many regardless of payment for the
mines.
Tie German counter proposal Will
consist OF many typewriter pages
Continued on Fourth Page.