New-York tribune., 1919-12-08
Berlin Stubborn;
Won t Sign Pact
Denies Responsibility for
Scapa Flow; Says
Allies Prol0ng War
By William c. Dreher
Ne,o York Tribune
Cnne;aI CahI. C.....s.

Ne,U York Tribune
Special Cable Service
copyright. 1919. New York Tribune Incl
BERLIN, Dec. 7.-All information
dicated that the government is firmly
resolved not to sign the protocol to
the peace treaty Monday at Paris. Be-
sides disclaiming all responsibility for
the sinking of the German fleet at
Scapa Flow and refusing to replace that
loss, the government takes the posi-
tion that the clause in the protocol
reserving to the governments Of the
Allies and associated powers the right
to take any measures whatever against
Germany to compel fulfllment Of the
treaty will, in effect, perpetuate the
state of war.
Officials of the government said that
Germany Is ready to sign treaty that
means peace, but not one that exposes
the German people to q renewal of war
fare at any moment.
Gustav Noske, Minister of Defense,
to-day ridiculed the reports current in
foreign countries, and which were
quoted to him by The Tribune CORE
spondent, that Germany was already
planning revenge on the Allies and was
secretly building up an army, in viola
ton of the terms of the peace treaty,
in order to accomplish that purpose.
Busy on Reconstruction
ut is absurd to speak Of leading
German military men being filled with
plans for revenge on our recent
enemies" said Herr Noske. "Their
efforts now are being directed entirely
toward the resstablishment Of peace
and order in Germany"
VI hot
was still maintaining a large army,
Herr Noske emphasized the distinction
between the different branches of the
reorganized German forces and insisted
that the size Of the army was being
cut to conform to the treaty.
'As far as the reduction Of the army
is concerned" said Herr Noske, "all
the responsible authorities of the Ger
man government agree that the obliga-
tions assumed under the treaty Of
peace must be met completely. All
steps, accordingly, have been taken to
reduce the army to 100000 within three
months after the ratification of the
treaty and to 100000 by April 1, 1920"
THE organization of Einwohnerwehr,
or Home Guards, for the protection of
life and property, however," the Min
lister continued, "does not conflict with
the terms of the peace treaty, as these
organizations are not under military
authority, and the arming of part of
them with modern weapons is justified
by the TACT that certain quantities of
such weapons are still in the hands of
certain criminal elements in the Ger
man population.
Police System Reorganized
Heavily armed police companies ex-
ist nowhere. On the contrary, the
German government has reorganized
its police system and the home guard
service in an unshaken determination
to put down the unruly elements that
got out, of control during the long war
and in the subsequent revolution. The
government wants only to establish
peace and order in the country, without
which a loyal observance of the terms
of the peace treaty is quite impossible"
In reply to an inquiry regarding re-
ports from abroad that many of the
German troops have refused to take
the oath of allegiance to the new con-
stitution, Herr Noske said that all
had sworn to the new constitution
without the slightest unpleasant Incl
dent.
Minister Noske said that the evacua-
tion Of the Baltic provinces, as insisted
upon by the Allies, was proceeding
smoothly and that the German troops
which had been in that region were be-
ing discharged under the supervision
of the Allied commission and General
Niessel.
Asked what credence should be given
foreign reports that German imperial
ism is working for common action with
Russia, Herr Noske said:
"It is utterly absurd to speak Of CO.
operation between German Imperialism