The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-06-27

only If other straits were similarly
treated (%alluding manifestly to the
SueZ and Panama %canals).
Among the notifications also are
frontier notifications in West Prussia.
The third zone of the Schleswlg
plebiscite is omitted in the new draft.
The Germans had charged that thlS
zone went further than Denmark her.
self wished to go.
The Germans are allowed a)tempor-
airy Increase Of their army from loo'-
600 to 100000 which meets their plea
for n sufficient force to maintain law
and order in the transition period.
The revised document also contains
a declaration of intention to submit
within Il month of the signature OF
peace Il list of those accused Of viola
ton. of the laws and customs OF war.
The German reply had denied the
allies right to cXtradite and try the eX-
kaiser or any other German citizens.
1t declared Germany's willingness for
an International neutral court to es-
tablish the fact Of crime, the punish
ment TO be left to the national courts.
Germany's claims regarding Danzlg
are rejected. DanZig is made q free
city. It's inhabitants will be autono-
nous and do not come under Polish
rule. Clemenceau's covering letter eX-
plains that the city forms no part or
the Polish state.
Poland, however, by the treaty, has
been given certain economic rights"
in Danzig.
The German reply said:
"DanZig, a purely German town,
must remain with the German empire.
TO make it a free city and to sur
render certain Of its rights to Poland
would lead to violent opposition and a
continuous state of war in the East"
The Germans, however, offered 70
make Danzig, as we'll as KOenigsberg,
free ports.
Covers Foes Sins.
Like a judge who, before modifying
n sentence, wishes to impress upon
the prisoner the full weight Of his
guilt and pound into his brain the
fact that the leniency is really unde-
served, Georges Clemenceau, premier
of France, explains the revised treaty
handed to Germany, lashes the van
pushed empire with q bitter, singing
Indictment, lest it's former or present
masters, deeming clemency weakness,
rally once more for an attempt to turn
defeat into triumph.
HiStory'S most mOmentOuS peace
document, now revised beyond revi-
sion, is thus accompanied by the most
aggressive, the most flaying diplomatic
note on record. 1t is indeed a cover
ing" letter, for it covers all the sins Of
the foe, all his dark deeds before and
during the war, and all the reasons
why he has been condemned and must
suffer for those sins. 1t is, at the same
time, n sharp rebuke to the Teuton
peace parliamentaires for utterly fail
ing to understand the position in
which Germany stands today"
This fact, the French premier ex-
plains, forces him TO open his letter
with "a clear statement of the .judg-
ment Of the world which has been
formed by practically the whole civil
lied mankind" Then he enumerates,
not under so many headings. but in
smoother and eloquent sequence, the
long series Of crimes to which, he says.
the foe must turn if he seeks the rea-
son for the stern justice of the peace.
Germany, he says, tried for years
before the war to dictate and tyran-
niZe over q subservtent Europe.
She taught her subjects the doctrine
that might was right.
She armed feverishly by land and
sea and spread the falsehood that her
neighbors were jealous of her.
She developed a widespread system
of espionage and intrigue all over the
world.
She kept Europe in a ferment by
threats of violence.
She encouraged Austria to declare
war on Serbia Mt 4S hours notice, fully
aware that the conflict would become
general.
She conducted the war in q savage
and inhuman manner.
She violated Belgian neutrality and
Systematically terrorized that coun-
try's inhabitants.
She was the first to use poison gas.
She was the first to bomb and shell
defenseless towns.
She caused the deaths of 100000
men, and injuries and sufferlngs to 90
100000 others.
Lust for Tyranny.
She did all this-'to crafty her lust
for granny by resort to war;" and her
conduct us almost unexampled In hui
man history"
Then Clemenceau continues:
1.-THE allied and associated powers be-
lieve that they would be false to those
who have given their all to save the
freedom of the world If they consent
TO treat war on any other basis than
MS q crime against humanity and
right"