South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-17

and that the German people are not
responsible for the policy OF the
rulers whom they have thrown from
power. The allied and associated
powers recognize and welcome the
change. II represents a great hope
for peace and a new European order
/ nthe culture.
But II cannot affect the settle
ment OF the war itself The Ger
man revolution was stayed until the
German armies had been defeated
in the field. and all hope Of profit
ing by war Of conquest had van
/ ished. Throughout the war. as be-
fore the war. the German people and
their representatives supported the
war: voted the credits subscribed 10
the war loans. obeyed every order.
however savage. OF their government
They shared the responsibility Of
the policy OF the government. for at
any moment. had they willed il, they
could have reversed II. Had that
policy succeeded they would have
acclaimed II with the same enthU-
siasm with which they welcomed the
outbreak OF the war They cannot
now pretend. having changed their
rulers after the war was lost, that it
is justice that they should escape
the consequence OF their deeds
Is Peace OF Justice
The allied and associated powers
therefore believe that the peace they
have proposed Is fundamentally a
peace Of justice. They are no less
certain that IL is peace OF right on
the terms agreed. There can be no
doubt as TO the intentions of the al
lied and associated powers TO base
the settlement Of Europe on the prin-
ciple OF freeing oppressed peoples
and re-drawing national boundaries
as far as possible. in accordance with
the will OF the peoples concerned,
while giving to each the facilities TO
live an independent national and
economic life
These intentions were made clear
not only in Prest Wilson's address
TO congress on Jan. s. 1918, but in
/ the principles Of sediment enunci-
ated in his subsequent addresses,
which was the agree terms OF peace
a memorandum on this point is at
tached 10 this letter:
Accordingly, the allied and asso-
ciated powers have provided for the
reconstruction Of Poland as an indie
I pendent state. with free and secure
/ access to the sea All territories in
habited by induitably Polish popu-
lations. have been accorded to Po-
land. All territories inhabited by
! German majorities. save for a few
/ isolated towns and for colonies es-
/ tablished on land recently forcibly
appropriated and situated in the
midst Of Individually Polish territory.
have been left 10 Germany. Wner-
ever the will OF the people is in doubt
"A plebiscite has been provided for.
DanEig Free City.
"Danzig has been constituted as a
free city so that the inhabitants will
he autonomous, and do not come
under Polish rule or form any part
/ Of the Polish state. Poland has
been given certain economic rights
in Danzig and the city has been sew
/ cred from Germany because in no
other way was it possible 10 pro-
vide for that free and secure access
4 10 the sea-. which Germany has
promised TO ccncede.
(SECTION NIISSINGD
Clause VI Of the treaty says the
allied and associated powers have
given careful consideration to the
request Of the German delegation
that Germany be admitted 10 the
I League OF Nations as one Of the con-
: ditions OF peace but that the allies
are unable 10 accede to this request.
II adds that the German revolution
was postponed to the last moment of
/ the war and that there is no guar
antee that it represents a perma-
nent change and that IL is impossi-
BILE in the present temper Of its feel
ing ito expect the free nations of
the world 10 sit down Immediately
in equal association with those by
whom they have been so grievously
wronged."
1t is added that the allied and as
sOciated powers believe, If the Ger
man people prove that they intend
10 fulhH the conditions of the peace
and that they have abandoned for
ever those aggressive and estranging
policies which caused the war and
have now become a people with
whom il is possible TO live in neigh
/ bOrly good fellowship, the memories
Of these past years will speedily
fade. and il will be possible at an
early date to complete the League
of Nations by the admission Of Ger
many thereto"
Defend Blockade.
Clause VII refers 70 the denuncia-
ton by Germany Of the blockade of
the allies. Ii declares that the
blockade always has been legal and
recognized method of war. II adds
that II the allies imposed a blockade
Of exceptional severity on Germany
Il was because Of the criminal char
acter Of war initiated by Germany
and of the barharous methods adopt
ed b ythem nH prosecuting it"
Clause VIII says. In conclusion in
the allied and associated powers
must make 1t clear that this letter
and the memorandum attached
thereto constitute their last word
- 4