The sun., 1919-06-17

ciples upon which the treaty is drawn
must stand.
Mistaken interpretation.
The German delegation have greatly
misinterpreted the repsration proposals
Of the treaty. These proposals. oonf,ne
the amounts payable by Germany 20
what 10 c,early justifsbie under the
terms OF the armistice In respect Of
damage caused 90 tho civilian population
OF the Allies by the aggression OF Ger
many. They do not provide for that
interference in the internal life OF Ger
many by the reparation commission which
IN alleged. They are designed to make
tho payment OF that reparstion which
Geunsny musr make N easy ana con-
venient to both parties a. possible. and
they WIN be interpreted IN that sonse.
The allied ana associated Powers. there
fore. are not prepared to modify them.
But they recognise. with the German
Delegation, the advantage OF arriving as
soon as possible at the fixed and dednite
sum which shall be payable by Germany
and accepted by the Allies It h not
possible to hx this sum to-day. for the
extent Of damage and tho cost Of repair
have not yet been ascertained. They
are, therefore. willing to accord to Ger
many all necessary and reasonable
facilities to enable her to survey the de-
vastated and damaged regions. and to
make proposals. thereafter within four
months OF the signing OF the treaty or
settlement of the claims under each
IT the cAteeorles of damage Tor which
she Ia liable. II within the following
two months an agreement can be
reached, the exact liability Of Germany
will have been ascertained. II agree
ment has not been reached by then- the
arrangement as provided in the treaty
will be executed.
The allied and associated Powers
have given careful consideration 70 the
request of the German delegation that
Germany should be admitted to the
League Of Nations as one OF the condi-
tons OF peace. They are unable to &C
, cede to this request. The German revo-
luton was postponed to the last moment
OF the wac. and there is as yet no
guarantee that It represents a permanent
| change. In the present temper Of inter
national feeling Il In impossible to ex-
pect the free nations OF the world TO 81
down Immediately In equal association
with those BY whom they have been %
previously wronEed. ..
Must Prove worthiness.
To attempt this too soon would delay
and not hasten that process OF appsass-
ment which all desire. But the allied ana
associated Powers believe that II the
German people prove by their acts that
they intend TO fulnn the conditions Of
the peace, and that they have atandoned
| forever those aggressive and estranging
policies which caused the war. and have
| now become q people with whom II Ia
possible to live IN neighborly good fel-
lowship, the memories of these past
I years VIII speedily fade. and II will be
possible Mt an early date to complets
the League of Nations by the admission
| OF Germany thereto. 1t In their earnest
hope that this may be the case. They
| believe the prospects of the world depend
upon the close and friendly cooperation
OF all nation. In adjusting international
questions and promoting welfare anc
proGress Of mankind, but the early entry
| Of Germany into the league must de-
pend principally upon the action OF ths
German people themselves
In the course of its discussion OF their
economic terms and elsewhere, the Ger
man delegation has repeated Its denun-
citation Of the blockade instituted by The
allied and associated Powers. Blockade
il and always has been q legal and
1 recognised method OF war. and its op-
Grafton has been from time to tim<
adapted to changes in international com
tfnunication. II the allied and esso-
tciated Powers have imposed upon Ger
many q blockade OF exceptional severity
which throughout they have consistently
sought to conform to the principles o,
information law. II Is because OF tn,
criminal character Of the war initiated
by Germany and OF the barbarous meth
DDS adopted by her in prosecuting II.
The allied and associated Powers have
not attempted to make specific answer
20 All the observations made in the Ger
man note. The fact OF their omission
does not, however, indicate that they ar
either admitted or open to discussion.
In conclusion tho allied and associatet
Powers must make II clear that THU
letter and the memorandum attachet
CONSTITUTE their last word They have
examined the German observations ant
counter proposals with earnest atten
ton and care. They have. in conse
Iquence, made important notifications II
the draft of the treaty.
But in its principles they stand by Il
|, They believe that II 10 not only jus
settlement OF the great war. but Sha
il provides the basis upon which tn
peoples of Europe can. live together II
friendship and equality. at the sam
. time Il creates the machinery for tn
peaceful adjustment of all internationa
problems by discussion and consent, ant
whereby the settlement of 1918 itself cal
be modified from time TO time to sui
new facts and new conditions as the.
arise. It Is frankly not based upon
general conformation of the events o
llsl4-le1s. 1t would not be q peace o
Justice IL II were. but II represents
sincere and deliber ate attempt to es
tablish that reign OF law. based upo
the consent of the governed. and sus
! tanned by the organized opinion or man
! kind" which was the agreed basis o
the peace.
Get seven Days to sign.
As such, the treaty in its presen
,, form, must be accepted or rejected
The allied and associated Powers there
fore require n declaration from III
German delegation within nve (sinc
. changed to seven) days that they ar
prepared to sign the treaty as no'
1 amended II they declare within tn
period that they are prepared to sig,
the treaty as It stands, arrangement
will be made for the immediate sigma
ture of the peace at Versailles. 4
default of such a declaration this com
munication constitutes the notification
provided for in Article Eleven Of tn
: convention prolonging the armistic
5 signed on November IL, 1918. The sal
, armistice will then terminate and tn
5 allied and associated Powers will TAX
= such steps as they think needful
l fierce their terms.
. The detailed reply follows exactly tn
scheme OF the original conditions Q
! peace which was In turn followed b
a the Germans In their counter proposals
The allied and associated Powers ar