The sun., 1919-05-23
WOULD ABANDON
ARMY FOR SHIPS
Germany Also Ready to Give
Up Navy Programme to Get
Back Merchant Marine.
CLINGS TO UPPER 'SILESIA
Balks at Assuming Guilt of
War-Counter Proposals
on Reparations.
CLINGS TO UPPER 'SILESIA
ny KARL II. Won WIEGAND.
Std1 Correspondent OF TIE Sur.

Std6 Correspondent Of TEE sur.
Copyright, 1919; all rights reserved.
BEMIN, May 20 (delayed) Ger
many's complete answer to the allied
peace terms received its last touches,
SO far as Berlin is concerned, at a
lengthy Cabinet meeting yesterday
and will go to Versailles to-day or
tomorrow. The completed draft as
agreed upon between the Cabinet and
the Versailles delegation will have
some minor changes, either by Count
Brockdorff- -Rantzau himself or In ac-
cordance with kilograms from Berlin !;
but in the main the answer Is COM
pleted.
At times during the discussion
sharp differences developed over coun-
ter proposals suggested by Germany's
so-called 'strong" men and the COM
promisers. The latter were in favor
of going almost to the limit in order
to bring about peace and to prove to
the world that Germany desires to
go as far as 1t Is physically possible
to prove to the world that the ma
ton sincerely desires peace.
In the introduction to her answer
Germany takes the position that
President Wilson's fourteen points
and his speeches relating thereto, to-
gether with the exchange Of notes In
October and November OF last year,
constitute an agreement binding both
sides, and establishes for Germany a
certain status emitting her to the
right of peace by negotiations, the
violation of which would be contrary
TO international law.
Larger Army Is Wanted.
1t appears that the proposition to
reduce the army to 10000 within two
years met the gnvest opposition. 1t
Is reported that compromise was
reached respecting the matter Of uni
versal service, but some insisted on
the right to maintain volunteer
army of not to exceed 100000 for one
year, declaring that such an army
was necessary to establish stability.
A motion to give up the entire army
and to renounce the naval programme
is said to have been adopted, but 1t
appears a counter proposal will de-
mand the return of large part of
the German mercantile marine. 1t
is also said that Germany agrees to
oblIgate herself to build ships for the
Allies, beginning with 100000 tons the
first year and increasing until the
output reaches 100000 tons annually
for five years.
1t is said that an agreement was
reached TO accept disarmament on all
except the eastern frontier, on condi-
tion that the principle of self-deter-
mination would be applied. 1t was
stipulated, however, that Rantzau
should hold out to the last on the
question of giving up upper Sllesia.
The chapter on reparations is said
10 have been rejected and counter
proposals made; also a demand for
mixed commission to determine the
exact damage and the amount of
reparation.
Determine Blame for War.
Prof. Hans Delbruech and Count
Max Montgelas, who left for Yer
sailles yesterday, are two members of
the commission who are delegates to
determine the guilt for the war. The
third member of the mission Is Prof.
Weber. They will discuss this mat
ter with RantZau and frame Ger
many's demand for opening the ques-
ton of guilt before competent court.
The discussions over this point were
extremely bitter, with even the demo-
cratic elements supporting Rantzau
in his contention that II would be to
the eternal national dishonor of Ger
many to subscribe TO the admission
that Germany was solely guilty for
causing the war.
The report that new documentary
evidence had been found In Vienna,
! throwing a more favorable light on
the action of Bethmann-Hollweg and
Won Jagow with respect to Austria's
ultlmatum to Serbia, proves to have
/ been without foundation.
The protest storm is still raging in
the German mental forest, probably
reaching its height yesterday, when
hundreds OF meetings were held in all
parts OF the country.