The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1919-06-05
TEXT OF GERMAN
NOTE TO ALLIES
GIVES OUTLINE OF GERMAN
CoUNTER-PROPoSAL-
TEXT OF NOTE


make sacrifices to obtain peace, is
convinced that the executions Of the
peace treaty as drawn "are more
than the German people can bear"
Count Won Brockdorf- -Rantzau,
head of the German peace delegation,
THUS sums up the attitude of the Ger
man nation towards the proposed
treaty of peace in a note to the Al
lied and associated powers, outlining
various German counter proposals.
The German note, delivered to Pre-
nier Clemenceau, president of the
peace conference, last Thursday, was
made public tonight by the State
Department.
Says Terms Impossible
The German delegation note here
in its note asserts that it will refuse
to sign the present treaty, but de-
clares on behalf of the German ma
ton that "even in her need, justice
for her is too. sacred thing to allow
her to stoop to achieve conditions
which she cannot undertake to car
ry out"
Exclusion of Germany from the
league of nations, the note asserts,
means that in signing the peace
treaty Germany would be executing
a decree for its own prescription,
nav, its own death sentence"
The German people, the note says
have been disappointed in their
'hope for a peace of justise which
had been promised" and stand
"aghast" at the demands made upon
them by the victorious violence OF
our enemies"
What Germany Agrees To.
Outlining it's counter proposals
the German delegation agrees to re-
duction of Germany's army and navy
ON condition that Germany be admit
ted immediately to the league Of ma
tions; to renounce Germany's sover-
eign rights in Alsace Lorraine and
Posen, but as to all other territories
which Germany is called upon to give
up the principle Of self determine
ton effective at once, is asked; she
Also agrees to subject all German
colonies to admission by the league
of nations, but under German man.
datory and to make the indemnity
payments as required, but IN
amounts that will burden the Ger
man taxpayers no moreheavily than
the taxpayer of the most heavily
burdened State among those repre-
sented on the reparations commits
sion.
The note declares Germany is will
ing to put her entire merchant ma
rine with that of the associated
powers, neutral participation in the
inquiry as to responsibility for the
war is asked.
Would Mean Slavery
Although the exaction of the cost
of the war has been expressly re-
nounced, as yet Germany, thus cut
III pieces and weakened must declare
herself ready in principle to bear all
the war expenses of her enemies
which would exceed many times over
the total amount of German State
and real assets. Meanwhile her enc
mics demand in excess of the agreed
conditions reparation for damage
suffered by their civil population anu
in this connection Germany must al
so 20 bail for her allies. The sum to
be paid is to be fixed by our enemies
unilaterally and to admit of subse-
auent modification and increase. No
limit is fixed save the capacity OF
the German people for payment, de-
termined not by their standard OF
life but solely by their capacity TO
meet the demands of their enemies
by their labor. The German people
would thus be condemned to perpet-
nal slave labor.
Economic Life Impossible
In spite of the. exorbitant> demands
: tie reconstruction of our economic
LIE is at the same time rendered
Z impossible. We must surrender our
merchants fleet. We are to renounce
aH foreign securities. We are TO
hand rover to our enemies our prop
erty in all German enterprises
/, broad, even in the countries Of our
SiIies. Even after the conclusion OF
peaee the enemy States are to have
the right to confscating all German
uroperty. No German trader in their
countries win be protected from
~~.os,,roc We rnuSt COM