The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1919-05-26
Wall ANSWERED
: BY CLEMENCEAU
People May Determine Their
Own Future, Says Premier,

WASHINGTON, May 26-Decla-
ration by Count Won Brockdorh-
Ran,teau. head OF the German peace
delegation, that II was "in admissible
lha, German populations should be
bariered about from sovereiy mt, to
sovereignty, as II they were mere
chatiels, and pawns, in a game" has
been met by Premier Ciemenceau.
speaking for the associated powers
with the statement that in no case
would self-deterninstion Of peoples
BE- denied "nder the peace treaty.
The declaration OF the head C the
German delegation was embodied in
= note addressed to the associated
governments as represented at the
Versailles conference on May -.
and made public at the state depart
ment along with the reply OF the
latter under the signature OF NJ.
Clemcnceau.
The German delegates in their
note objected specifically to the sur
render OF territory under the peace
treaty in Silesia, Posnia, west and
east Prussia, and also the Saar
basin, the demand for all OF which.
the German note asserts. Is "obvi-
ously inconsistent with the piinei-
Piles upon which the armiNioe and
the negotiation, for peace were pro-
posed" Because OF the German
population Of the district. Count Won
Brockdorif-R -Ran,leau further charges
the associated governments with the
bartering OF territories" for the
purpose Of giving guarantee for fl
nanoial or economic claim, OF the ad-
versaries OF Germany
In replying to the German note,
N. Clcmenceau said
Bargaining Denied.
u must emphatically deny on be-
half OF the allied and associated
government ,h' suggestion continued
In il (the German no e) that German
territories are by the treaty os peace
made the sibjeci OF bargains be-
tween one so ereignty and another
o. though they were mere chattels
and pawns in a gam. In fact, the
wishes OF the population OF all the
territories in question will be con-
suited and the procedure followed
u such consultation has been care
fully settled with special regard to
local condition"
Omitting to take up the question
bf the restitution Of Alsace-Lorrains
and the occupation OF Kiel Count
Won Brockdorff- Rantreau said he
would discuss these provisions OF the
treaty in a subsequent note.
With respect to some of the ter
5 Yitory which Germany Is required tc
eede. including . part Of that giver
70 Poland and also Schleswig. Coun
Won Brockdorff- lnt,eau ADMITTED
that the principle Of national self
discrimination may indeed be as
esssd." o
Ssar Basin IN Qussdoa.
Premier Ciemeneeau's reply deal
Speeifieally with provisions which
have been drawn up for the admin
istration Of the Saar basin II der tn
league Of nations A. affecting tn
tolitical rights It its population
These provisions he said. secur
the rights and welfare Of the popula
tioo, assure the maintenance 0. al
their present liberties" and In add
'tion guarantee to them in financia
and social matters a number OF spe
eiai advantages"
The provision for 4 plebiscite a
the end OF fifteen years, he said wi
enable this poprltion to determin
the final form OF government Of tn
territory In which II lives "in ful
freedom and not necessarily TO III
advantage either Of France or Ger
many"