Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-03-04


as TWO brilliant verbal duciists. two
hard-hcaded. yet always dignified and
s siJn,. GUS oarsainers. In the first in
lot renewal OF the armistices, pub
lished by the kocInische Zcituny.
nc article, which quotes the ncgo-
t;ators directly, shows that in rnanV :,
minor point Marshal Foch generously
%iSined 10 the persistent German pleas.
"n,'c not oudging one inch on the cs-
COMMISSIONERS hedging. evading, plead
ing ana holding out at every turn. At
ap ana ,'siiG ut IL shows ErIberser protesting
mat u was against the German ma
tionai honor" to be ordered" TO do
anyth,ing. Foeh,s answer to this pro-
cstins bits of the historic rcpartce.
~ inc very outset Of the session.
"nich LOOK place on the day before the
icit"ai IN January, Erzbergcr. chair
man OF the German comm issfon, sought
20 create favorable psycholog ical
setting oy delivering The following lit
All measures had been .akcn to in
sure the quickest possible reply from
INC German government 10 our report
berlin was partly disturbed yesterday,
so that the transmission of my mes
sages was delayed.
CONFRONTED WITH TASK
OF MAKING DECISIONS
Besides. the government in Berlin
was confronted with the task OF max
ing decisions OF great domestic-pO-
litical Importance.
The leader Of tho spar,acus group.
pourg, the coinnunistic thcorctician
lin
This news made "visibly deep i'm
preston on all tho allied officials" the
hHcinische Ieitung's account asserts.
but Mars hal i'och was prompt in get
tinS down TO business Said he:
We must finish quickly. The arms
tlcc expires tomorrow morning. must
give my orders to the troops in good
time"
;, Then began a discussion of Article
Germans OF agricultural implements
clauses.
Erzberscr: The article is unaccept-
possicFe Even the attempt would de-
stroy German agriculture. wreck the
new harvest and sacrifice our people
!" nehth oy starvation"
;. foch: quite as II is with as, but
france has stolen no machines. After
all. NC only demand the return OF
~ no time did Erzbergcr admit tho
thett OF the machines. He spoke
throughout of destroyed machinery"
REFUSES TO ACCEPT
IMPOSSIBLE DEMANDS
Bu, ! can not and shall not sign
pleaded for time 10 submit facts and
nsurss and refused to have definite
Foch: But without figures and data
We cannot get along. Deliver hall Of
fnc n'achiAes al once and the rest
ErzberGer; That is impossible, too"
foch: Deliver at least one-third OF
the total at once"
\ Eroerger; That is impossible also.
Until March ] you will need no har
E.Sting and moving machines. but YOU
VII need plows and such like. we
work."
Toch: Quite right, Let u. say,
ana then possible exchange nane a in 0t eGe
delivery, of individual kinds of ma
General Won winterfeld: The ma
chimes to be delivered by us must be
i ne~ or at least in excellent condition.
I'M, ms requires far-reaching considera-
Foch Very. we'll; then. let US say in
one -thi-d by March l."
After considerable further oujbbling
an agreement is reached. Article "
~ men taken up. dealing with the con-
tro! OF russian prisoners of war in
OBJECTS TO .ORDERs,
FROM ALLIED FORCES
Erzherger; 1T is against national
sS0a nat ba tn the system of repatria!ion
"a form must be found whi@h &C., iere
nc mutual understanding AT least
me WORD regulated must be sub
STUFFED for ordered"
Foch; We are siill at war. and 4,
war therc IS no such thing as mural
UNDERSTANDING. However the seat NJ
me commission proposed will be in
heEnn There are, therefore. 10 he
nircct negotiations with the govern
h:ni IN Beriin. So we shall say .reri,-
lated instead of 'ordered'"
AZ this luncture Erzberser made a
new play for allied sympathy by en-.
ptlasiZlhS there was common foe"
bo!shevism. He said: oe
:, Agreed. The object OF this clause
Is common tGn men to al of US. and. in fact.
10 me "hoic world. namely-the com
hat!nS of Boishevism
however. the whole stipuiations re-
Garding Russian prisoners are bearinr