The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-06-23
DECLINE
TO CHANGE TREATY
Although Germany Had Protested That
the Terms Were Impracticable and
That Their Signatures Would
Be Given Under Duress.

Paris, june p (By the Associated
Pressl The German note to which the
council of four replied to-day by def
nitevly rejecting any suggestion for an
alteration in the treaty, declared that
the Germans regard the terms of peace
as impracticabe and that their sigma
ture Is given under duress. Protests
were made against the clauses concern
ing reparations, the forfeiture of colo
nies and Others.
Asserting that the terms cannot be
carried out and that the German gov
ernment cannot be held responsible for
what may occur, the note concluded by
saving that the Germans viii sign with
reservations relative to the turning over
Of those alleged to be guilty of crimes
and also the admission of the guilt of
Germany in causing the war.
In replying, the council of four said;
"The allied and associated powers have
considered the note Of the German dele
CATION of even date and, in view of the
shortness of time remaining, feel it their
duty to reply at once, OF the time with
in which the German government must
make its final decision as to the sigma
ture of the treaty less than "a hours
remain. The allied and associated gov
ernments have given fullest consdera
tion to all representations hitherto made
by the German government with regard
to the treaty and have replied with com
plete frankness. They have made such
concessions as they thought it were just
to make The present note of the Ger
JaIn fnt, Ra
ments or considerations not already ex-
amined"
The council then declared that the
time for discussion was past and that
the German representatives must make
a decision TO sign and accept the treaty
| as a whole or to reject it,
The full text of the German note
shows that while but two reservation
were made, the Germans asked for the
! Insertion in the treaty of clause pro-
viding that within two years that doeu-
ment should be submitted to the council
Of the league of nations for reconsidera
! tion Of that portion of the treaty which
as the Germans phrase it, compares the
rights to self-determination of the Ger
man people, reconsideration of that por.
! blOH HItitbJ bllt 1ict tCOHOullt utNbl-
opment of Germany on footing of equal
rights is denied" was also provided fol
in this suggested clause.
! The concluding paragraphs Of the Ger
man note are as follows:
! "The government of the German re
public engages to fulfill the condition:
of peace imposed upon Germany. It de
sires, however, in this solemn moment tC
express itself with unreserved clearness
in order to meet in advance any accusa
tion of untruthfulness that may now ol
later be made against Germany.
"The conditions imposed exceed tn,
measure of that which Germany can il
fact perform. The government of tn,
German republic, therefore, feels bount
to announce that it makes all reserya
tons and declines all responsibility a,
regards the consequence which may b,
threatened against Germany when
which as is bound to happen the impos
sibility of carrying out the conditions
comes to life, even though Germany
capacity to fulfill them is stretched t,
| the utmost.
Germany further lays the creates
emphasis on the declaration that sh
cannot accept article 230 of the peac,