Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-06-23
GERMANS GIVEN
REPLY OF ALLIES
Delegates at Versailles. Re-
ceive Communication of
Council of Four
BIZ Associated Press.

note, in which Germany agrees TO
sign the treaty, with two reserva-
tions, was received by the president
tof the Peace Conference at o'clock
fast evening. The reply of the Allies,
through the Council of Four, was
transmitted to the German plenipo-
tentiaries at Versailles.
The German note follows, dated
Versailles, June %. and addressed
TO NJ. Clemenceau:
THE imperial minister of foreign
affairs has instructed me TO com
municate the following to Your Ex-
'cellency:
"The government of the German
republic has from the moment when
the peace conditions of the Allied
and associated governments were
made known to it let no doubt exist
as to the fact that the government,
in harmony with the whole German
people, must regard these conditions
as being in sharp contradiction 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 Tor the
peace before the conclusion of the
armistice.
Conditions Harsh
"Relying upon this principle OF
1 Justice which was agreed upon Dc
! tween the parties to the negotiations.
and assisted by Il clear eXposluon Oh
conditions in Germany, the govern
! ment has left no stone untnrneo III
order to arrive at direct eXchdhse
of opinions and thus obtain some
,,,itiqation of the unbearably harsh
conditions which might fehueI i
possible for the government OF the
German republic to sign the treaty
of Peace without reservations anu
to guarantee its execution
s9These endeavors of the govern
mont of the German republic, whlch
were undertaken in the interest," VI
the peace of the world and the re-
Cancellation of peoples, have Iaitsu
owing to rigorous inslstence Oh 'i'
conditions of peace. ~
"Far-reaching counter-pfoPos@i9 ~.
the German delegation nave ohlS
certain points received any orIv
ance. The concessions mace ois
raduced the severity of the condluohs
in a small degree. 5 ov
'The Allied and assoclateo go
ernments have, in an ultilita ule.
which expires on June 20. cohIron.
ed the government OF the dern
nnblic with the decision either 70
sipn the Treaty of Peace presented
nv them or refuse to sign. IN tue
latter case, a completely deiensiVe
neopIe has been threatened WIN ollo
forcible imposition OF the coh9 ,.,s
of peace already presented anu Win
10 aNrNF
DO Not Wish New war
.~rbe German people do not WISH
fnr the resumption of the bloody war,
a. honestly wishes for lastlns
Deace. In view of the attitude OF the
, kITed and associated governments,
fbe German people has no otnei
force in its hands save to appeal 10
yha eternally inalienable right 10 an
Sndenendent life, which belongs 10
fhA German people. as TO all peopieS'
"The government OF the 1er M.
republic can lend no support 10 tn,a
sacred right of the German Peopie
by the application of force. me so+
or,nnent only hopes for support
throupb fhe conscience of mankind
No neonle. including those OF the
AIIied and associated powers coulu
exnect the German people TO agree
With thorough conviction to an IN
s+runoent of peace. whereby living
members of the very body or the
German people are to be cut OIL
without consultation of the popuia-
+ions concerned: whereby unehdur-
able economic and financial burdens
are to be laid upon the German
people. 49,,
ce;ved .passionate expressions OF
opinion from the population in the
districts to be cut off in the east to |
the effect that they will oppose
themselves to the separation OF these
districts, which have for the greater
part been German for many CEN
turies by all means they possess
The German government, therefore,
finds itself compelled to decline all I
responsibility for any diflculty
which may result from the resist |
ance of the inhabitants against their
separation from Germany.
Yields TO Force
eff the government of the German
republic is. nevertheless, ready to
sign the conditions of the Allies. |
with the aforementioned reserva- !
ton, yet this is not done of its free
will. The government of the German
republic solemnly declares that its
attitude is to be under STOOD in the
sense that it yields to force, being re-
solved to spare the German people,
whose sufferings are unspeakable, n
new war, the shatterrng at ITS ma
tional unity by further occupation Of
German territories, TERRIBLE famine
for women and children, and meTci-
lessly prolonged retention of the
prisoners of var.
1.-The German people expect in
view of the grievous burdens which
it is to take upon itself that all Ger
man military and civilian prisoners,
beginning July ] and thereafter in
uninterrupted succession and within
a short period, shall be restored
Germany gave back her enemies
prisoners of war within two months"
~ &T.Nre;I,. nj. u,...a.....;... q,