Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-05-21

and reconciliation instead Of the para
graphed song Of hath which was writ |
ten at Versailles. is contained in the
note of the American secretary of
state, Lansing, of November 5, 1918,
I'm it the secretary of state noti-
fled the Swiss minister in Washington
Internationally that the established
basis Of President Wilson'S fourteen
points should be authoritative for the
peace conditions. Secretary Lansing
announced further that the Entente
governments after careful considera-
the conditions set up by President
Wilson as the basis for the conclusion
of peace.
Sale Asset.
THE declaration of rights emanat-
ing from these specific declarations
of all the Entente powers and the
United States constitutes Germany's
sole asset in the general moral break
down of all international politics
which has found indispensable X
preston in the Versailles terms.
Germany answers them with its
clearly juristic right in international
law. Toward the politico-moral
nation stands as a creditor with
undeniable rights and it is not in a
position to yield on his point. Ger
many concluded peace on the basis
of President Wilson's fourteen points
which all America had made it's own.
and all America. every individual, is
responsible for the fulfillment of its
claims"
1T is not the German peoples BUSH
ness to indicate how it's rights shall
be realized by the fourteen points, or
especially by the note of Secretary
Lansing. That. rather. is the task OF
those who constructed the fourteen
>-.-S -,,l -~,,- 1o- r. n01Anf-
ance, thereby inducing Germany to
lay down her weapons. We do not be-
lieve that President Wilson. Secretary
Lansing and the American people can
take other than this German stand
point, if they do not wish to- do that
which President Wilson in his mes
sage Of December 4, 1917, condemned
categorically when he said: we
would dishonor our own cause if we
treated Germany any other than just
~ and in n nonpartiSan manner II
did not insist upon Justice toward all,
no matter how the war ended. We
demand nothing which we are not
ready ourselves to admit. {.
and the German people demand
nothing more than that which Prcsi-
dent Wilson announced in his declara-
ton. We demand nothing more tina
that Americans place the fourteen
points opposite the peace terms. We
do not believe that n n in he
United States will then have the
found in the peace conditions II
single trace left of President Wilson'S
program.
Americas Duty.
"And here begins Americas defin-
lite duty to step in. America either
must put it's fourteen points through
or it must declare that it is unable
to dc so or hat it does not want 10
do so, SO that in no case may the
world be led to believe a America
! desires to have the peace conditions
count as President wilson's fourteen
points.
THAT is our demand. to which we
cling, n We cannot imagine what
argument from the American side
would be effective against it,
In Presidents Wilson's message to
congress of December 4, 1917, no pas
a can be found in textual agree
ment with the quotation in the cabinet
statement. The quotation appears to
be Il condensation from the following
passage in the message in question:
we can do this (ce%ncentrate on
the persecution of the task of winning
enthusiasm because we know that for
us this is a war of high principle, de-
based by no selfish ambition Of con-
quest or spoilation. =
| 1t is because il is for us a war 81
high, disinterested purpose. in whidh
banded together for the vindication
of right. n wal for the preserva zion OF
/ our nation and of all that it has held
! lear of principle and of purpose, that
we feel ourselves doubly constrained
to propose for its outcome only that
which is righteous and of irreproach-
able intention. for our foes as we'll as
for our friends. The cause being just
and holy and settlement must be OF
like motive and quality. For this WI
can fight. but for nothing less noble
or less worthy of our traditions
Clemcnccau's Answer.
Paris. May 21.-The text of the re.
!; ply of Premier CleR6 ceau is dated
, May 90, 1919. and@ 5 follows:
Mr.. Chairman:A in your note Of
; May 10 you state that Germany, while
accepting in November 1918, the
obligation to make reparation', die
to mean hat her responsibility was
involved either for the war or fol
: the acts of the former German gov
eminent and that it is only possible to
: %tconceive of such an obligation if its
origin n cause is the responsibility
!. of the author Of the damage. Yor
add that the German people woulC
never have undertaken a war Of ag
erosion.
"Yet, in the note from Secretary O.
State Lansing of November S, 1918
which you approve of and advise in
favor of your contention, it is stated
. thai the obligation to make repara
ton arises out Of 'Germany's aggres.
sion by land, sea and air."
"As the German government did no
at the time make any protest agains
this allegation, it thereby recognized
it as well founded. Therefore, Ger
many recognized in 1918 implicit!
: but not clearly, both the aggression
I and her responsibility.
! 1T is too late to seek to deny then
today.
TT would be impossible, you stat
. further, that the German people
: should be regarded as the accomplish
: of the faults committed by the for
= mer German government However
Germany a never claimed, ant
! such a declaration would have beef
: contrary to all principle of interna