Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-17
The Greatest National
Crime in History, and
+ Germany Must Pay.
i Asking for Justice, Her
Ne Victims Must Get 1t,
Says Premier.
BY the Associated press.

BY the Associated Press.
PARIS, June l6-The detailed re-
ply of the peace conference to the
counter proposals of the Germans,
which was handed to the German
delegation at Versailles today, takes
up in it's order each of the obJec-
lions made by the enemy to the pro-
visions of the original peace treaty
Among the notifications to the
treaty which are acceded to by the
conference are frontier notifications
peri Silesfa with "a guarantee to Ger
mahy that she will receive fair treat
mept in securing mineral products
from that region: modlficati tons in the
clauses relating to finance, economic
and waterways phases of the treaty;
permission for Germany to retain
100000 men Inf it's army temporarily
and, a promise to furnish Germany
the persons who are to be tried for
responsibility for the great conflict
and violations of the laws of war.
"Hypnotized by Bismarck.
Tho outbreak OF the war" the
reply says, was no sudden decision
taken In a difficult crisis. 1t was the
nation. aggression and war followed
by Germany for decades. Hypno-
tized by Bismarck's spirit of blood
and iron, Germany set about sowing
lions. conspiring with elements of
unrest in every land, steadily in
creasing ornaments and mobilizing
the universities, press, pulpit and
governmental authority to indoctrinate
the gospel of hatred and force. The
essential truth of these charges is ad
mitted by the Germans themselves
through their revolution.
The war was a crime deliberately
plotted against the life and liberties
Of the, people of Europe. 1t brought
death and mutilation to millions.
ease stalk across the continent from
responsible for bringing on these
calamities is essential on the score
of Justice and as deterrent for
others who may be tempted to follow
their example,"
Clemenceau Excoriates.
The allies answer Is in two parts-a
general covering letter and seriatim dis
cussions and the general counter pro-
posals.
Clennenceau, president of the peace
conference. to Count Won Brockdorff-
Rantzau. president of the German
delegation. In this letter NJ. Clemen-
ceaN says:
The allied and associated powers
nave given the most earnest consid
Grafton to the observation of the Ger
man delegates on the draft treaty of
peace. The reply protests against the
peace on the ground that 1t conflicts
with the terms upon which the armis-
tces OF November IL. 1918, was signed
and that 1t is peace Of violence. and
not piece of Justice. The protest of
thei German delegation shows that
they fail to understand the position in
which Germany stands today. They
MIMIC think that Germany has only
to make sacrifices in order to attain
peace, as il this were but the end of
some mere struggle for territory and
power. The allied and associated
powers therefore feel it necessary to
begin their reply by a clear state
ment OF the judgment of the world
which has been forged by practically
the whole Of civilized mankind.
Greatest Crime in History.
In the view of the allied and asso-
eiated powers. the war which began
on August I, 1914, was the greatest
crime against humanity and freedom
OF the people that any nation calling
itself civilized has ever consciously
committed. For many years the rulers
W SSi thdhyy true 10 the RUSSIAN ira
diuon, stroVe for a position of domi-
nance In Europe. They were not sat
iened with that growing prosperity
and influence to which Germany was
entitled. and which all other nations
were willing to accord her, they re-
CURED that they should be able to
dictate and tyrannize over a subsery-
lent Europe. as they dictated and tyran-
ni1ed over q subservient Germany.
In order to attain their ends thew
USED every channel through which to
educate their own subjects in the doc
t!fne that might was right in interna-
tional affairs. They never ceased To
expand German ornaments bv lana
ana sea and to propagate the false
mood that 1t was necessary because
tefmanys neighbors were Jealous of
her prosperity and power.
Espionage and Intrigue.
She sought to SOW hostility and
suspicion. instead OF friendship. be-
tween nations. The Germans de-
vsloped a system of espionage and
intrigue through which they were en-
abled to stir up international rebel
Hon and even to make secret OFTEN
sive preparations within the territory
Of their neighbors, whereby thew
might when the moment came, strike
them down with greater certainty and
ease. They kept Europe in a ferment
BY threats of violence and when they
found that their neighbors were re-
soived TO resist their arrogant will,
they determined to assert their pre-
dominance in Europe by force
AS soon as their preparations were
complete they encouraged a sub
seFvient ally to declare war on Serbia
on forty-etght hours notice. a war
involving the control of the Balkans,
which they knew could not be local
ised and which was bound to unchain
4 general war.
In order to make doubly sure. they
refused every attempt at Cancellation
ana conference. until II was too late
and the world war was inevitable,
for which they had plotted and for
which, alone among the nations, they
were adequately equipped and pre-
pared.
Huns Responsibility.
sGermany's responsibility, however.
10 not eonfined to having planned and
started the war. She Ia no less re-
spensible for the savage and inhuman
manner In which IL was conducted.
Though Germany was herself the
guaranty of Belgium. Germany violat-
ed the rules after q solemn promise to
respect the neutrality Of this un-
offending people.
mot content with this. they deliber-
ately carried out a series OF promis-
cuous shootings and burnings, with
the sole object of terrifying the n
habatants into submission by the very
frtghtfulness Of their action.
"fhey were the FIRST to use poison
fsrfng II entailed They began the
A~w, hing and lopp dist a nee SheIltnU of