Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-05-23
IN |MPUDENT WORDS
GERMANS TELL WHY
THEY WILL NOT SIGH
Rantzau Asks Extension of
Time and Another Week Is
Given Teuton Delegates to
Consider Treaty

The time limit for the Germans to
present counter proposals to the
peace treaty has been extended one
week BY the big four.
The time limit was set Off tomor-
row, but was advanced to May %, at
the request of Foreign minister
Brockdorff-
Germany demlines to sign the
peace terms laid before it because
theys spell the economic destruction,
political dishonor and moral degrade
ton of the entire German nation, not
only for the present, but also for still
unborn generations" was state
ment authorized by the cabinet.
THAT these consequences must
logically follow acceptance of the
peace conditions the American press
itself has recognized without ques-
tion," the statement continues. TIC
ward them Germany took the stand.
point that acceptance of such condl-
lions could not be demanded and
that the entente was unjustified in
proposing such demand
Moral and Legal Claim
Germany has not only moral
right to compliance with the general
promise made it, but firmly
grounded, definite, clearly defined
claim, according to the basic rules
of international law on all the en-
tente powers and especially on the
United States. A specific recognition
of the right of Germany and OF the
German people to a peace OF right,
instead of the Photographed song OF
hate which was written at Versailles
is contained in the note of the Ameri-
can secretary of state, Lansing, OF
November 5, 1918.
In it the secretary Of state mott
fed the Swiss minister in Washing
ton Internationally that the estab-
lished basis of President Wilson's
fourteen points should be authori-
tative for the peace conditions. Sec
rotary Lansing announced furthe'
that the entente governments after
careful consideration also were pre-
pared to recognize the conditions
Set up by President Wilson as the
basis for the conclusion of peace.
1.-The declaration of rights emana-
ting from these specific declaratlons
of all the entente powers and the
sole asset in the general moral
breakdown of al international poll
tics which has found indispensable
expression in the Versailles terms.
Holds America Responsible
Germany answers them with Its
clearly iuristic right In international
law. Toward the political-moral
bankruptcy of Versailles the Ger
man nation stands as a creditor with
undeniable rights, and it is not in a
position to yield on this chief point.
Germany concluded peace on the
basis of President Wilson's fourteen
points. which all America had made
its own, and all America. every Ess IN n.
fillment of its claims.
ct is not the German peoples
: business to indicate how its rights
shall be realized by the fourteen
4 oil nv a of
Secretary Lansing. That, rather, is
the task of those who constructed
! the fourteen points and brought them
to acceptance, thereby inducing Ger
Z many to lay down her weapons. We
do not believe that President Wilson.
Secretary Lansing and the American
people can take other than this Ger
man standpoint. ifsthey. do not wish
to do that which, President w ilson
in his message Of Decemberss4. 1917,
said: we would dishonors our own
cause if we Treated Germany any
other than Justly and in q. non-parti-
san manner and did not insist upon
war ended. We demand nothing
which We are not ready ourselves to
admit
And the German people demand
nothing more than that which Presl-
dent Wilson announced in this decla-
ration. We demand nothing more
than that Americans place the four
teen points opposite the peace terms.
And here begins Americas definite
duty to step in. America either
must put it's fourteen points through
or it must declare that it is unable
to do so. or that it does not want to
do so, SO that in no case may the
world be led to believe that America
desires to have the peace conditions
count as President Wilson's fourteen
points. essysy%
ssTIlat is our demand, to which we
cling. and we cannot imagine what
argument from the American side
-1srnl1Id he effective against it"