Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-03-18
CRITICISM Of
PEACE DENIED
TO I HE HUNS
Marshal Foch Reminds Dr.
Erzberger War Is Still On
in Stormy Discussions
at ArmiStice Session.

At pIuSSCls anu tHC uioShauS
partly lifted. it is interesting to pc
ruse detailed accounts of the variou
stormy armistice sessions at Sp;
and Treves just released for publica
ton in the German newspapers
Here is a sequel to the recent ex
elusive Universal Service inside
story of the duel of wits between
Marshal Foch and DR.. Matthias Err
berger, chairman of the German
irmistice commission:
On various occasions DR.. Erzber
ger launched into lengthy lectures
On "justice and humanity" to which
Marshal Foch replied with heat tina
he refused to accept either ipstruc.
ton or criticism from the German
commissioner. Repeatedly, too
Erzberger had to be reminded thai
The war is still on.
Refuse to Be Slave.
A dramatic scene ensued whef
Erzberger declared Germany re
fuses to become the financial slav,
of the entente" That to reduce hel
! to such slavery, the allies eohief aim
was an accusation reiterated agar
and again by Erzberger. He as wei
as the Ebert government, in an Off
cial protest, made a number of othei
charges, some of which were:
|. That the allies in notes and
statements setting forth their de-
nands expressed "unconcealed JOY
over being in a position to cripple
and humiliate Germany"
2. That the allies were demanding
things incompatible with German
dignity" and honor"
Allege Trickery.
g. That Germany was tricked into
The armistice by making her believe
President Wilson's IA points were to
be scrupulously lived up to.
4. That the allies aim was to rem
der her defenseless first and then
crush her completely.
5. That the allies alone were re-
sponsible for Germany's inability
10 fulfill the original armistice con-
1itions.
E. That the allies themselves
Systematically violated the armistice
agreement.
7. That France was ''brutally .ex-
pelling" Germans from Alsace- Lor-
-aine on a 24-hour notice.
Lively Dialosns ~
One particularly lively dialogue
between Foch and ,Erzberger, as
'recounted in the German press, fol-
lows:
Erzberger: Germany has reached
the utmost limit of possibilities. We
must, therefore, reject any punitive
measures and demand a postpone
ment of the date of delivery. Ger
many is determined to fulfill the ar
mistice conditions scrupulously, but
he allies on their part have sys-
tematically violated the armistice
agreement. Unhindered traffic and
economic freedom of movement be-
tween the occupied territories and
The rest of Germany have been de-$
stroyed.
"We are particularly filled with
Indignation at the procedure of the
force of occupation in AlsaceLor-
raine. The brutal expulsion of Ger,
man officials as we'll as of numer-
Gus members of all professions and
all classes of society who, in most
cases, have been forced to leave
within "a hours, without their be-
longings, and without regard to
future chance of existence. Fur
lhermore, the complete isolation of
Alsace-Lorraine from economic and
spiritual intercourse with the rest
Of Germany has given tremendous
squirt to the flames of indignation
not only in northern and southern
Germany. but among the old inhabi-
tants of Alsace-Lorraine them
selves. ....eg
TN addition the entire property
Of Germany in Aisaee-Lorraine has
been conhscated. Citizens of Al
sace-Lorraine, returning to their ma
tive land, have been deprived of
their property, ard all persons in
the provinces who were not citizens
OF France in 1871, either by their
own adherence or by virtue of their
ancestry, are treated as foreigners,
despite the fact that lAlsace-Lor-
raine must until decision is
reached by the peace conference,
be returned as German.
"All measures taken by the
French government in Alsace-LoF-
faine prove that France means TO
the decision of the peace
treaty and to annex AlSace-Lor-
raine, without paying the slightest
heed to the right of self-determina-
ton, so often and SO noisily de-
Military Questions.
Foch: THE explosions from Al
sace-Lorraine have nothing to do
with the French government These
are purely military questions. The
aim is the security of the
allied troops.
Il refuse to accept either instruc-
ton or criticism regarding measures
of military nature. Meantime |
remind you of the German conduct
II Lille and northern France"
Erzberger: That was in the war
We are now living in the period OF
.rmistice."
Foch: France is not at peace with
Germany. | am soldier. When
here is war, there is no peace. There
S no third condition"
Connare With T. lille
Erzberger: "The third condition
5 armistice. While the war was on
personally transmitted through
German soldiers news to inhabitants
Of Lille regarding their relatives.
The least that could be done is to
the hardships of the peo-
,ie of Alsace-Lorraine by lifting the
,ostal blockade
. Foch. Let us drop this subject