Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-06-16

between union with France, union with
Germany as free state and complete
independence.
Germany has agreed to an indie.
pendent Polish state, but the terms or
the treaty include in 1t number OF
totally German towns and extensive
German tracts Of land for military or
economic reasons without regard to- ma :
tionality or history. This particularly
applies to upper Silesia, and strong pro-
test is entered.
Germany cannot consent to the sever
ance of East Prussia from the German
empire Germany Is ready to cede to
Poland such Pwssian territories as are
indisputably Polish. 1t is demanded
that Danzig remain with the German
empire, but Germany Is ready to make
Mcneil Konigsberg and Dapzig free
ports in order to secure to Poland the
promised access to the sea, and to grant
special transit facilities under specified
conditions reciprocally applied.
If any German territory is ultimately
J reded to Poland, says the reply, Ger
| many must protect its former nation :
nls. This is declared to be all the more
| necessary because the Poles have not so
far shown themselves to be trustworthy
| protectors of the national and religious
rights of minorities. A commission is
| demanded to assess damages caused by
recent Polish disturbances. Germany
agrees to the holding of a plebiscite In
Schleswig.
Dismantling Accepted
Germany accepts the dismantling OF
Helgoland. With regard to the colonies,
Il is maintained that the demand that
Germany should relinquish all her rights
and claims is an irreconcilable contra :
diction of the fifth point of President
Wilson's address to Congress of Janu
ary s, 1918. Germany's claim is based
on the fact that she acquired these colo
MES lawfully and developed them la :
boriously. She must hold them for the
purpose of obtaining raw material. ana
she requires them also as market ana
as settlements for her surplus popula =
ton.
Counter proposal is therefore made
that an impartial hearing of the colo
nial question should take place before
special committee.
Section ~ deals with Russia and
the Russian states Germany does not
claim or propose to interfere with any
territory which belongs to the former
Russian empire. The peace Of Brest
Litovsk has already been renounced.
Germany, however, cannot recognize
any right on the part of Russia to
demand restitution and reparation.
The Germans make plea for ships
and for participation in foreign trade.
Germany accepts the obligation to
pay for other damages sustained by
the civil populations in the occupied
parts of Belgium and France, but op-
poses reparation for other occupied ter
ritories, in Italy, Montenegro, Serbia
Rumania and Poland She cannot ac
cept the reparation commission as out
lined. A German commissions is, there
fore, proposed for operation with
this commission, any disagreement t.
be finally decided by mixed court Of
arbitration under neutral presidency
Ton for-ton replacement of shipping
cannot be accepted, although she agrees
| to construct an even greater tonnage
over a longer period than stipulated
The surrender of the whole overseas
merchant feet is unacceptable. Ger
many Acknowledges the principle OF
placing her resources directly in the
service of reparation. but only in SC
far as not to infringe her economic soy.