The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-05-24
BERLIN CABINET
REJECTS TREATY
Statement Issued by Ministers
Points to Economic Ruin
in Terms.
WILL RELY ON "A POINTS
Assert Pact Would Spell Political Dis
honor and Moral Degradation
Duty of America to Support
German Cause.

Berlin, May 22.-"Germany refuses
to sign the peace terms laid before it
because they spell the economic de-
struction, political dishonor and moral
degradation of the entire German ma
ton, not only for the present, but also
for still unborn generations" was a
statement authorized by the cabinet
through the press.
THAT these consequences must log
ically follow acceptance of the peace
conditions the American press itself
has recognized without question:" the
statement continues. Toward them
Germany took the standpoint that ac-
ceptance of such conditions could not
be demanded and that the entente was
unjustitied in imposing such de-
mandS."
Claims Promise by Lansing.
Germany has not only moral right
to compliance with the general prom
ises made it, but a firmly grounded,
definite, clearly defined claim, accord
ing to the basic rules of international
law, on all the entente powers and es-
pecially on the United States.
"a specific recognition of the right
Of Germany and of the German peo-
pies to a peace of right, justice and
reconciliation, instead of the para
graphed song Of hate which was writ
ron of Uprco iI1ac tr tatn 10, ~
note of the American secretary of
state, Lansing of November 5, 1918.
In it the secretary of state notified
the. Swiss minister in Washington UNI
conditionally that the established basis
of President Wilson's fourteen points
should be authoritative for the peace
conditions. Secretary Lansing an
nounced further that the entente gov
eminent after careful consideration al
so wereprepared to recognize the con-
ditions set up by President Wilson as
the basis for the conclusion of peace"
"Germany's Sole Asset"
"The declaration of rights emanat-
ing from these specific declarations of
all the entente powers and the United
States constitutes Germany's sole as
set in the general moral breakdown of
all international politics which has
found indispensable expression in the
Versailles terms.
Germany answers them with It's
clearly juristic right in international
law. Toward the politicO-moral bank
ruptcy of Versailles the German nation
stands as a creditor with undeniable
rights, and 1t is not in position to
yield on this chief point. Germany
concluded peace on the basis of Pres
ident Wilson's fourteen points, which
all America had made it's own, and all
America, every individual, is respon-
sible for the fultillment of its claims.
1T is not the German peoples bust
ness to indicate how its rights shall be
realized by the fourteen points, or es-
pecially by the note of Secretary Ian
sing. That, rather, is the task of those
who constructed the fourteen points
and brought them to acceptance, there
by inducing Germany to lay down her
weapons.
Demands American Support.
1--WE do not believe that President
Wilson, Secretary Lansing and the
American people can take other than
this German standpoint, if they do not
wish to do that which President Will
son in his message of December 4,
1917, condemned categorically when he
said:
1--WE would dlshonor our own cause
if we treated Germany any other than
justly and in nonpartisan manner
and did not insist upon justice toward
all, no matter how the war ended. We
demand nothing which we are not
ready ourselves to admit
"And the German people demand
more than that which Presi- |
dent Wilson announced in this declara-
ton. We demand nothing more than |
that Americans place the fourteen
points opposite the peace terms. We |
do not believe that any one in the Unit
ed States will then ave the courage
to claim that there can be found in the
peace conditions one single trace left |
of President Wilson's program. I
"And here begins Americas definite |
duty to step in. America either must |
put its fourteen points through or 1t |
must declare that 1t Is unable to do |
so or 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.
"That is our demand, to which we
cling, and we cannot imagine what ar
gument from the American side would |
be effective against it,
saGs,.,,s.-a--,