The daily times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1902-1936, 1919-06-17
THE ELETTER OF
CLEMENCEAU
To the Germans Tells Them
They Are Responsible for
the War and Must
cIIEEEP IJENCES
SUFFER CONSEQUENCES
CBy the Associated Press.)

Paris June 16-The covering let
ter to the reply handed the German
delegation is from M. Clemenceau,
president of the Peace Conference
to Count Won Brockdorff Rantzau,
president of the German delegation.
In this letter M Clemenceau says:
1.-The allied and associated powers
have given the most earnest con-
sideraticn to the observation of the
German delegates on the draft treaty
of peace The reply protests against
the peace on the ground, that 1T con-
f1icts with the terms upon which the
armistice of November IL, 1918, was
signed and that it is peace OF
violence and not a peace of justice.
The protest of the German delega-
ton shows that they fail to under
stand the position in which Germany
stands today. They seem to think
that Germany has only to make sa-
crifices in order to attain peace as
if this were but the end of some
mere struggle for territory and pow
er. The allied and associated pow
ers 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 macklnd.
In the view of the allied and as
soclated powers, the war whIcn besan
on August l, 1914, was the greatest
crime against humanity and freedom
of the people that any nation calling
itself civilized has ever yet con pscious
ly committed. For many years the
rulers. of Germany, true to the Prus-
sian tradition, strove for a position
not satisfied with that growing pros
perity and Influence to which Ger
many was entitled, and which all
other nations were willing TO accord
her; they required that they should
be able to dictate and tyrannIze
over a subservient Europe as they
dictated and tyrannized over a sub
servient Germany.
In order to attain their ends they
used every channel through ~hich
the doctrine that might was right
in international affairs. They nev-
er ceased to expan1 German arma-
ments by land and sea and t. prora-
gate the falsehood that i! was neaes-
sary because Germany'3 neigbbors
were jealous of her proseprity and
power
She sought to SOW hostility and
suspicion, instead of friendslir. be-
tween nations. The Germans deve-
loped system Of espionage and in
trigue through which they were en-
abled to stir up international rebell-
ion and even to make secret often
sive propositions within the territory
Of their neighbors, whereby they
might, when the moment came,
strike them down with greater GER
tainty and ease. They kept Europe
in a ferment by threats of violence
and when they found that their
neighbors were resolved to resist
their arrogant will, they determined
to assert their predominance in
Europe by force.
AS soon as their preparations
were complete they encouraged a
subservient ally to declare war on
Serbia on forty-eight hours notice,
war involving the control of the
Balkans, which they knew could
not be localized and which was
bound to unchain a general war.
In order to make doubIy sure
they refused every attempt at con-
ciliation and conference, until it was
too late and the world war was in
evitable, for which they had plotted
and for which alone among the ma
tions, they we're adequately equipped
and prepared.
"Germany's responsibility, howev-
er, is not confined to having planned
and started the war. She is no less
responsible, for the savage and inhu-
man manner in which it was con-
Quoted Though Germany was her
self the guaranty of Belgium, Ger
many VIOLATED the rules after a sol
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