The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-06-26
GERMANS READY TO
SIGN PEACE PACT
Enemy Accepts Unconditional
Terms of Allied Powers.
FOES SURRENDER COMPLETE
Yields on Last Day and Hour of Grace
Pleas for Lighter Conditions
and More Time Are Flatly
Refused.

anu 1QIS iliHC TlS ioAiy
Refused.
Paris, June, 2I.-The German gov
eminent at Weimar formally com
municated its willingness to sign the
peace terms Internationally, it was
announced by the French foreign Of
fee
The signing of the peace treaty is
not likely to take place before Thurs
day, possibly not until Friday. This
announcement was made by Premier
Clemenceau and Paul Dutasta, secre-
tary of the peace conference.
The Italian delegates at present in
Paris have been authorized to sign the
treaty on behalf of Italy. This an
nouncement removed one question
which it was feared might delay the
signing.
The German note accepting the al
lied peace conditions without reserva-
ton made only one typewriter page.
Paul Dutasta, secretary general of the
peace conference, had the note trans
lated as soon as he received it and
sent copies of the translation to Pre-
mier Clemenceau, Premier Lloyd
George and President Wilson.
The German note of acceptance, 1t is
said, is couched in such language that
1t maintains the German position that
the peace conditions are "a peace of
violence"
4a-Hour Delay Refused.
Before accepting Internationally the
German government requested an adj
ditioral As hours within which to sign
the peace treaty. The council of three
fatty refused the request.
The request for additional time
pleaded that the change in the govern
ment and the generally disturbed con
ditions made it difficult to complete
the arrangements.
The communication asking more
time was received at three O'Clock
Monday morning. At nine O'Clock
President Wilson and Premier Clemen-
ceau met with Lloyd George at the
latters house for consideration of the
note. The character of this communi-
cation was not disclosed, however, M
til later in the morning when an
nouncement was made that the Ger
man request had been rejected.
The decision to refuse the request
was reached after a discussion lasting
less than an hour.
Text Of German Note.
The German note read as follows:
''To His EXcellency, the President Of
the Peace Conference. Mr. Clemen-
ceau.
Mr. President: The minister of
foreign affairs instructs me to beg the
allied and associated governments to
prolOng for 4S hours the time limit for
answering your excelency's note com
municated yesterday evening and like
wise the time limit for answering the
note of June 16. 1919.
1T was only on Saturday, after
great difficulties, that new cabinet
was formed which, unlike its prede-
cessor, could come to an agreement to
declare its willingness to sign the
treaty as regards nearly all its pro-
visions.
THE national assembly has ex-
pressed its confidence in this cabinet
by large majority of votes. The an
swer only arrived here just before
midnight, as the direct wire from Yer
sailes to Weimar was out of order.
The government must come into con-
tact anew with the national assembly
in order to take the grievOus decision
which is still required of it in such
manner as it can only be taken in ac-
cordance with democratic principles
and with the internal situation in Ger
many.
accept, Mr.. President, the assur-
ance of my distinguished conSidera-
ton.
(Signed) "VON HANIlL."
The Allies Reply.
The following reply was sent after
its approval by the council of the al
lied and associated powers:
"Mr. President: The allied and as
ISOLATED governments beg to acknowl-
edge the receipt of your communica-
ton of June %. After full considera-
ton of your request they regret that
1t is not possible to extend the time
already granted to your excellency to
make known your decision relative to
the signature of the treaty without
any reservation.
(SigneD "CLEMENCEAU."
There appeared to be some indica-
cations that in accepting the peace
treaty Internationally Germany's ac-
ton would be accompanied by the pas
sage in the national assembly at Wei.
mar of resolution or declaration that
the signing was under compulsion and
that the German people did not feel
morally responsible for the war and
were willing to submit the question Of
responsibility to a tribunal consisting
of two members representing the al
lied and associated powers, two neu-
trails and one German.
l.