The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-05-08
SPOKESMAN
DEFIANT REPLY
TO FRENCH CHIEF
Continued From First. Page,

work with you that which has been de-
stroyed, and repairing any wrong that
may have been committed, principally
the wrong to Belgium, and to- show to
mankind new aims of political and
social progress,
Gentlemen: The sublime thought to
be derived from the most terrible disas-
ter in the history of mankind Is the
league of nations. The greatest prog
ress in the development Of mankind
has been pronounced and will make It's
own way. Only II the gates to the
all who are of good will can the aim
be attained and only then will the
dead Of this war not have died in vain.
The German people in their hearts are
ready to take, upon themselves their
have been established are not any more
shaken. so ' T1
I'VE shall examine the document
handed TO us with good will and in the
hope that the final result Of our Inter.
view may be subscribed to by all OF
u.s."
Scene Dramatic.
The scene was an impressive me-,
and the function was not without its
tense moments. Indeed, the entire half
hour which 1t took Count o Brock
dorff- Rantzau to deliver his reply to
Premier Clemenceau was a. period Of
tenseness for President Wilson, Premier
and in fact for virtually every one
present. ts
The speech was translated, sentence
by sentence. by the German interpre-
tiers, who did not fail to bring out with
full emphasis every sharp phrase In
1t and the three allied statesmen put
their heads together in evident anger
at more than one OF the German
spokesman's cutting utterances,- as II
they were deNberating upon the ad-
visibility of an immediate answer.
Premier Clemepceau, as president of
the congress, started upon his open
ing speech, passing to permit this to
be translated into English n Ger
man by French Interpreters. The trans
lation into the German was decidedly
faulty and hating. The premier then
addressed the Germans again to ex-
plain the conditions Of the negotiations.
telling hen there would be no oral dis
c~ussions permitted and that they must
submit their observations in writing
within 10 days.
When the premier concluded with the
customary phrase, has any one any
observations to make, Count Won
Brockdorff -Rantzau raised his hand,
hut he was not recognized until the
premier's remarks had been translated.
During the translation, Paul Dutasta,
the general secretary Of the assem-
hlage, proceeded almost unnoticed
across the open space in the center Of
the rectangle and deposited a copy of
the peace treaty before the head OF
the German delegation.
Count Won Brockdorff- Rantzau has
the floor" said Premier Clemenceau,
as soon as the translation had been
finished.
The head of the German delegation
lsI not rtun Itlra T1ra-,tar ClApnannnn,
reading his speech sitting. but. it was
remarked by some that this apparent
discourtesy to his adversaries may have
been dictated by his physical condi-
|tion.
an interpreter began the French trans
lation. The words did not reach the
head Of the table distinctly and Premier
Clemenceau called for a louder utter
ance. He was equally dissatisfied with
the second attempt of the interpreter,
and two Of the German officials finally
left their places with, the German dele
cation and moved across to the head
Of the table to deliver the German
plenipotentiary's bold n frequently
offensive message, sentence by SEN
tence, right into the faces Of Premiers
Clemenceau, Lloyd George and Presi-
lent Wilson.
Count Won B~rockdorff- Rantzau's gut
teral German repeatedly rang out in
strong emphasis on particularly vigor-
Gus phrases or words OF his speech,
as for instance when he declared the
admission by Germany Of sole guilt for
the war would BE- "a lie" and when he
forbade the allies to speak of cruelty
and murder" in view OF the sufferings
and deaths of German civilians under
the blockade and after The armistice.
The Interpreter who gave the Eng