The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-19
CABINET HESITATED
TOSIGN ARMISTICE
German Leaders Hesitated at
First, but Reluctantly
Gave Their Assent.
DREAD OF BOLSHEVISM
Also Considered Possibility of
French Troops Refusing
to Occupy Towns.
/ ny CHARLES TOWER.
Special Gable Despatch to TIE sus from tbs
!, london Times SerUce.

epecef Caob DespafcH 20 lhk SUI from thk
london Times SerUce.
Copyright. 1918: all rights ressrusd.
WEIMAR, via Copenhagen, Feb. Ia
At o'clock Monday the National As
sembly adjourned as token OF mourn
ing after hearing of the fresh armistlce
terms. Count Won Brockdorff- Rantzau
resigned as a protest against the refusal
of the Cabinet to follow his advice as
responsible Foreign Minister to decline
to sign the new terms. Later reports
say he has withdrawn his resignation)
succeeded in obtaining first hand re-
ports of Germany's first Cabinet crisis.
The story follows:
When the new armlstice terms reached
Weimar later Saturday evening the Cab
met Immediately held a sitting, In which
the utmost Indignation was expressed.
especially at the clauses regarding ter
ritorial restriction of the German forces
which would have meant virtual aban-
donment OF Siiesia. and, secondly, the
final clause. which. for the remainder
of the armistice. is held to make Mar
shall Foeh master OF Germany.
Won Broeadorff -RantEau urged tina,
Herr Erzberger, head of the German
armistice commission, should be in
structed to refuse to sign the armistice
On Sunday morning 1t was decided ia
summon the party leaders. At noon
Chancellor Scheidemann's Cabinet was
solid for a refusal to sign. They had
reached the conclusion that they could
not face the Assembly with the terms
and Won Brockdorff Rantzau personally
felt he could not recommend their ac-
ceptance.
Cabinet shows Prussia nism.
Moreover there had been a growing
inclination to believe that Germany
might be better of II she simply threw
up her hand and refused TO sign, chal'
lenged the Allies to occupy Germany
and took the consequences than II she
continued to struggle against ever re-
current outbreaks of disorder. Reports
Of grave disorders in the Ruhr district
Of westphalia and an almost impossible
situation In Bavaria all inclined the Cab
met to the utmost pessimism.
Berlin was greatly excited when the
papers announced the conditions had not
been accepted. Some people thanked
Heaven that here at last was shown
some strength OF mind; others labor
iosly calculated the consequences or the
refusal Public opinion was divided but
again one heard the expression OF the
belief that however unpleasant occupa-
-
relief from Spartaean disturbances and
probably speedy relief from increasing
food difficulties.
Meantime the Cabinet in Weimar IL
ready with its programme of refusal &c
eigu an immediate resignation. 1t was
known that Herr Erzberger had emer'
gency plenipotentiary authorization t6
sign X he thought Mt, but he had de
clined to use 1t and himself had agree
with the rest OF the Cabinet In thinking
refusal was best.
Fear of BoIshevism Persists.
But the party leaders put a different
complexion on the matter. Their dis
cusslon with the Cabinet lasted a lont
time. One point which cropped up was
the question whether II the Allied
armies should occupy Germany the.
| might not themselves become affected
with Bolshevism so as to make matters
| worse instead OF better.
Others thought the Allies might be pu
, In an awkward place by the refusal t'
sign since 1t was believed the F'renci
troops at any rate would murmur a
having to occupy quietly towns and vii
lagos intensely hostile in population
But the general feeling of the part!
leaders was against refusal to sign
They did not believe such action would
be supported either by the majorit!
of the assembly or the country at large
| 1t might easily play into the hands o
the Spartscans. il was however
question of utmost difficulty because tn
terms already accepted. especially tn
shipping agreement had already beel
made the occasion Of violently abusv
attacks. The Cabinet yielded TO tn
general opinion of the party leaders.