The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-28
Demands Mandate Over Her
Colonies as League Member.
Present Claim for Damages
From Allied Blockade.
REFUSE TO GIVE UP WILHELM
Omit Italian Boundaries From
Austrian Treaty.
Poles, Czechs and Others Must
Pay Part Austrian Debt.


Versailles, May 2S.-The German
peace delegation here. it was learned
today. will present a counter claim of
12,S5O,OO0, marks (about s3.212.-
50O,00O) for damages from the allied
blockade as an offset to the repara-
ton demands of the allied powers.
Won't Give Up Kaiser.
! Berlin May 27.-May 2S.-The Ger
man counter proposals to the peace
| treaty as made public here today, re-
! fuse to surrender the kaiser and de-
| mand immediate admission of Ger
! many to the league of nations, with
a mandate over her former colonies.
The counter proposals agree to the
| limitation of the Germ an army to
! 100000 men and offer to disarm the
| large German naval vessels, tho in
sisting on retaining some commercial
| vessels.
| They further assert that no changes
! in German territorial limits should be
made without plebiscites in the terri
tories affected. Such plebiscites are
asked. especially upper Silesia. East
Prussia, West Prussia. MemeI and
| Danzig.
The Germans agree that Danzie
| shall be a free port with the river
Vistula on which Danzg is situated)
| internationaliZed.
! 1t is asked that the entente with
draw from occupied territories within
four months
Willingness to reimburse especially
/ France and eBlgium for damages sus-
| tained during the war is expressed.
Not Be Made Public.
Paris, May 2S.-The German coun-
ter proposals to the allied peace
terms. the Petit Parisien says, will
not be made public until the allied
answer has been sent the Germans.
t'iume and other boundary matters af-
4 fecting Italy will not be included in
the peace treaty which will be hand
ed the Austrian delegates at st Ger
main Friday, ii was learned today.
1t was also learned the treaty will
not contain detailed provisions regard
ing reparations owing to the difficulty
of apportioning Austria's debt among
the nations which formerly made up
the dual monarchy.
Big Four Work on Issue.
The big four, sitting with Colonel
House and Andre Tardieu of France,
worked all morning IN an effort 10
settle the Adriatic problems they
affect Italy. The extent of the prog
ress made, If any, was not made
known.
The Fiume situation. which recently
nearly caused n split in the peace con-
ference, will be reserved for future
settlement by the big four. BY this
means the allies will be enabled to go
ahead and come to terms with Aus
tria without the danger Of Italy rais-
ing a last minute objection, it is point
! ed out.
Difficulty has been experienced, ac-
cording to available information in
allocating the Austrian reparations
| among the new nationalities which
| have gained recognition since the
| armistice. Instead OF. Germany and
Austria, as they now exist, paying the
entire bill, Poland, Czecho- Slovakia
and other new countries will have to
pay portion, because their peoples
were part of the enemy nations when
the debt was rolled up. Financial ex-
perts found this system necessary in
| order to maintain the worlds equili-
brium during the breaking up of CEN
trail Europe. Military terms will not
be included in the treaty as at present
drawn.
Huns Plead IA Points.
Berlin, May 2S-The German
counter proposals to the terms of the
| treaty of peace will in the opening
section argue for the existence of Ger
| manys contractual right to A peace
based on President Wilson's fourteen
points because the entente nations
| agreed to peace on that basis and
neither Mr.. Wilson nor the repre-
sentatives of any other allied govern
| ment have since demanded that peace
be established on any other basis
| The second section will deal with
| the contradiction between the draft
of the treaty and previous RANGES
| from entente statesmen and the gen.
eral ideals of international right.
The counter proposals will declare
! that the terms of peace completely
| ignore the fact that Germany has re-
placed an "imperialistic and irrespon-
sible" government by a strictly demo-
cratic one and that Germany in her
proposals for league of nations has
adhered to the principle of a lirnita-
ton of armaments.
1T would be difficult to see" one
section reads. what different condi-
tions could have been imposed on an
imperialistic government. The SOL
emn assurances of France. Great Brit
ain and President Wilson that the
peace would be a peace of right ana
not of violence have not been kept
especially regarding territorial ques-
tions."
/ Deny Blame for War.
Basle. May 2S.-The German coun-
ter proposals will deny German re-
sponsibility for the war. according to
a dispatch received here today from
Berlin These advices said the Ger
man note accepts responsibility for
damage in northern France and Bell
gium because of the violation of Bel
gian neutrality. not because Germany
alone was responsible for starting hos
tilities.
Includes League Clauses.
l. Paris. May 2s.-The Austrian peace
treaty. the newspapers say. will in.
elude clauses on the league of nations
similar to those which were a part
of the German Deace terms. The Aus