The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-05-23
THOSE WHO CAUSED
WAR MADE BURDEN
Allies Reply Says the Re-
port on Economic Condi-
tions Is Very Inadequate
Presentation of the Facts
of the Case and Is Marked
in Part by Very Great
Exaggerations.

Paris, May 23.--Germany's share of
set down in the economic terms pf the
peace treaty, Is based on her ability to
shoulder it and not according to her des-
erts, the allied and associated council de-
clares in its answer to the German note
of protest against this section of the
treaty.
Germany was mainly responsible for
the damage and destruction, it is point
ed out, and she cannot escape that re-
sponsibility. 1t is not the peace terms,
the allied note says, but the acts of
those who made and continued the war,
which are the cause of any sufferings
Germany may have to bear.
Paris, May 23.--The note from Count
Won Brockdortf Rantzau, head of the
German peace delegation at Versailles,
regarding the economic effect of the
peace treaty, dated at Versailles, May
Is, was made public to-day. 1t reads:
"Mr. President: In conformity with
my communication of the 9th instant l
have the honor to present to your excel
lency the report of the economic com
Mibil tnt sbuuN vi thc
effect of the conditions of peace on the
situation of the German population.
"In the course of the last two genera
tions Germany has become transformed
from an agricultural state to an indus
trial state. As long as she was an agri-
cultural state Germany could feed 40-
100000 inhabitants. In her quality of
an industrial state she could ensure the
nourishment of population Of 81 000,-
O00 In 1918, the importation of food
stuffs amounted, in round figures, to l2,-
100000 tons. Before the war a total of
100000 of persons provided for their
existence in Germany by foreign trade
and by navigation, either in direct or
an indirect manner, by the use of foreign
raw material.
According to the conditions of the
treaty of peace, Germany win surrender
her merchant tonnage and ships in course
of construction suitable for overseas
trade. German shipbuilding yards will
build for five years in the first instance
tonnage destined for the allied and asso-
cated governments. Germany will,
moreover, renounee sher colonies, all her
overseas possessions, all her interests
and securities in the allied and associat-
ed countries and in their colonies, domin-
ions and protectorates will, as an in
stallment of the payment for part of
the reparation, be subject to liquidation,
and may be exposed to any other eco
nomie war measure which the allied and
associated powers think fit to maintain
or to take during the years of peace.
"By the putting into force of the ter
ritorial clauses of the treaty of peace
Germany would lose to the east the most
important regions for the production of
corn and potatoes, which would be equiv
alent to the loss of q per cent of the
total crop of those articles of food
Moreover, the intensity of our agricul-
tural production would diminish consid-
erably. On the one hand the importa
tion of certain raw material indispen-
sable for the production of manure, such
rs phosphates, would be hndered; on
the other hand, this industry would suf-
fer like all other industries from lack of
coal The treaty of peace provides for
the loss of almost third of the produc-
tion of our coal mines. Apart from this
decrease, we are forced for 10 years to
deliver enormous eonsignments of coal
to various allied countries. Moreover, in
conformity with the treaty, Germany
will concede to her neighbors nearly
three-q quarters of her mineral production
and more than three-fifths OF her zinc
product.
"After this diminution Of her products
after the economic depression caused by
the loss of her colonies, Of her merchant
feet, and of her possessions abroad, Ger
many would not be in state TO import
from abroad sufficient quantity of raw
material. An enormous part of German
industry would therefore inevitably be
condemned TO destruction
"At the same time, the necessity of
importing foodstuffs would increase CON
siderably, whilst the possibility of salts
flying that demand would diminish in
the same proportion.
"At the end of very short time Ger
many would, therefore, not be in a DO.
sion to give bread and work to her nu.
merous millions of inhabitants, who
would be reduced to earning their liveli-
hood by navigation and by trade. Those
persons would have to emigrate, but
that is material impossibility, all the
more so because many countries, and
the most important ones, will oppose any
German immigration. Moreover, hun
dreds of millions (2l of Germans ex-
PEELED from the territories of the pow.
ers now at war with Germany, from the
colonies and territories which Germany
must surrender, will return to their ma
tive land
"1he putting into execution of the
conditions of peace would, therefore
bring about the loss Of several millions