New-York tribune., 1919-05-10
Imperial Ministry
U rlgg S All States
to Place Ban on
Public Amusement
People Demand
.PactBeRejected
Berlin and HAMBURG
Exchanges Closed;
Loan Bonds Drop

fress) s).-fhe president of the Imperial
Ministry has sent the following tele-
gram to the governments of the free
states:
IN deep distress and weighed
down by cares, the German people
have waited through the months OF
the armistice for the peace condi.
tons Their publication has
brought the bitterest disappoint-
ment and unspeakabie grief to the
entire people. A public expression
, ought to be given these feelings bv
all Germans. The imperial govern
ment requests that the free states
have public amusements suspended
for week and allow in the theatres
only such productions as correspond
to the seriousness of these griev-
Gus days"
The people, though fairly stricken
dumb by the peace terms, are now re-
covering sufficiently to declare that
Germany can not and will not sign the
compact, no matter what comes.
Strikes Are Increasing
Strikes are increasing, and Bolshe-
vlsm and the Spartacan uprisings of
the last two months have, if anything.
made Germany immune to the possible
horrors which are TO be Anticipated if
they are AGAIN plunged into war, ac-
cording to the best opinion here.
There exists small group of Ger
mans, chiefly conservatives, who pre-
fer to see the Entente occupy the
whole country than to have it Bolsbs-
vlk, but they are in the dwindling
minority.
Reports from the Versailles CORE
spondents emphasize the feeling of
amazement and excitement which nre-
vailed on the reading of the terms of
the peace treaty. All the correspond
ents agree that no hasty decision will
be reached. A fortnight is allowed the
| Germans for the return of an answer.
and this time will be used for careful
consideration Of the demands and the
preparation Of counter suggestions.
the correspondents say
Death To Germany, Says Scheidemann
After a fve-hour session of the Ger
man Cabinet Thursday, Philip Sche-
demann, the Chancellor, delivered
RI ba
consider the treaty. After comparing
the most important conditions laid
down by the Allies in connection with
President Wilson's fourteen points.
Scheidemann is reported to have said:
"These conditions are nothing else
than death for Germany, but the gov
eminent must discuss this document of
hatred and madness with sobriety."
The Chancellor indicated that the
German delegation at Versailles had
been instructed to hand note to the
Allies showing the difference between
the treaty terms and President Will
sons fourteen points and submit
counter proposals and cndeavor to
start an oral discussion. He expressed
the hope that the peace conditions
would be considered with good will
by both parties and that satisfac-
tory result would be reached.
There is much speculation in Berlin
as to whether the terms represen,
maximum demands which may be re-
ouced or whether they are minimum
and irreducible.
Counter Proposals Prepared
According to the Berlin Zeitung am
Mittag," the delegation at Versailles
will carefully avoid any bargaining.
but viii present definite. clear-cut
counter propositions, which, in part.
have already been prepared.
These counter proposals." the news
paper declares editorially, will be
based on the fourteen points SO dis
gracefully abandoned by President
Wilson. If the German people had
to vote on these terms as a whole
there would not be in the whole en-
pire single yes Force without
AAi'i'e uoSo W pc wilson
phrase, and the Wilson peace offered
us yesterday falls in this category
instead of on his fourteen points,"
Members of the Bourse reached the
exchange yesterday without knowing
that the exchange committee had re-
solved TO cease trading for three days
as result of the excitement due TO the
delivery of the peace terms TO the Ger.
man delegates at Versailles. The mem
r