South Bend news-times., 1919-06-26
NOTE TO GERMANS CALLS
ACT VIOLATION OF TRUCE
Allies Regard Work of Crews on Interned
Vessels as Deliberate Breach
of Peace Conditions.
By United Press

Bv United Press.
PARIS. June 26.-"sinking OF the
German feet Gin Scapa Flow is
not only a violation Of the armis-
tice. but can only be regarded as
deliberate breach in advance of the
conditions Of the peace" the al
lied powers declared. in the note
forwarded 10 Germany yesterday
The same was also said to be true
Of the burning Of French battle
flags in Germany.
1T is sevident that any repetition
Of acts like those must have a
very unfortunate effect upon the
future operation Of the treaty
which the Germans are about TO
sign" the note said
Notice was given that the allies
would demand reparation for the
sinking and trial of those respon-
sible
The note follows:
The terms Of the armistice sign
ed by Germany on Nov. Il. 1918,
provided as follows.
Article %XIII-The German
surface warships which shall be
specified by the allies and the
United States shall forthwith be
disarmed and thereafter interned in
neutral ports, or failing them. IN
the allied ports designated by the
allies and the United States, only
care and maintenance parties being
left on board
In law. Germany, by signing the
terms Of the armistice 81 out
above. entered into an understand
ing that the ships should remain in
the ports indicated under such or
ders as would insure that the arm
istice should be observed.
Was Act of Bad Faith.
The sinking Of these ships con-
stituted az once a violation of the
armistice and an act Of gross bad
faith toward the allied and asso-
ciated powers.
The admiral in command, while
recognizing that the act was a breach
OF the armistiCe, attempted 20 justify
IL by alleging his belief the armis-
tiCe had come 20 an end. This al
legged Justification is not we'll found
ed. as under the communication ad-
dressed 10 the German delegation or
June 16. 1919. the armistice woulC
only terminate on refusal 10 sign tbs
peace. or. II no answer were return
ed June 25 al o'clock
According 10 international law
every serious violation of the armis
tice by one Of the parties gives tn
other the right 10 denounce il an,
even IN case OF urgency TO recon
mence hostiHties al once A viola
ton Of the terms by individuals. act
ing on their own initiative only con
fers the right Of demanding punish
ment Of these offenders and IL neces
sarv. indemnity for the losses sus
tanned. Ii viii therefore. be open q
the allied and associated powers Z
bring before military tribunals IN
persons responsible for these acts O
destruction. so that appropriate pen
alties may be imposed. Furthermore
the incident gives the allied an
associated powers a right TO repara
tion for the loss caused.
Lastly the sinking Of the Ger
man fleet is not only a violation q
the armistiCe. but can only be I
garded as a deliberate breach IN at
vance OF the conditions OF peac
in consequence. the allied an
associated powers declare that the
take note OF these signal facts
bad faith and that when the invest
cations have been completed the
VIII exact the necessary reparation
II Is evident that any repetition
acts like those must have a very M
fortunate effect upon the future ol
GRAFTON OF the treaty which the &c
mans are about 20 sign They ha'
made complaint OF the I : years pc
iod OF occupation which the trea
contemplates. They have made con
plant that admission 10 the leagt
OF nations may be too long deferre
How can Germany put forth su,
claims II she encourages or permi
deliberate violations OF her writt
enga gements. She cannot compla
should the allies use the full powe
conferred on them by the treaty
she deliberately violates its pro-
slons-