Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-02-21
SHOCKED BY THE NEWS.
German National Assembly Learns
Who Controls Situation.

The party speeches in the national
assembly which had been set down for
Monday afternoon says Berlin dis
patch, suffered rude interruption by
the outcome of the new. armistice ne
gotiations. The general outlines Of the
new terms were known early today,
and 1t was no surprise when President
Fehrenbach announced that the speech
es and arguments would be deferred
so that Matthias Erzberger, head Of the
German arnistice delegation might
give a personal explanation Of what
happened between his departure and
his Unexpectedly quick return today.
Herr Erzberger, noticeably wrought
up and laboring under strain be-
gan with The announcement that the
delegates were entitled to know at the
earliest possible moment the full de-
tails Of the negotiations. He then
read the terms, and the house listened
in almost agonized silence. The slight
est stir or noise brought angry Kisses;
the assembly never had been one tithe
so still.
The members of the house stirred
uneasily as he finished and stopped
for breath. Before continuing his ex-
planation, Herr Erzberger interjected:
"Fateful Hours"
1T is my wish that you may never
have the fateful hours I have had.
We on the armistice commission have
had to bear untold responsibility"
He then referred to the unfortu-
nate, well-nigh fatal, delay in the ar
rival of the terms at Weimar, and
went into details on Marshal Fochs
ultimatum, which, he said, he was as
sured was framed with the unquall-
fed approval of President Wilson.
Herr Erzberger told of the efforts
to secure notifications, but said Mar
shall Foch had been sternly insistent
on the acceptance of the terms.
He touched only briefly, but clearly,
on his successful protests against Po-
lish incorporation Of Silesia and his
unsuccessful efforts to save Birnbaum,
Bentschen and other German towns
He emphasized that the Allies would
take over the responsibility Of keep
ing the Poles in check and give guar
antees for the safety Of the Germans
on the Polish side.
Wilson's IA Points Prevail.
To Herr Erzbergers protests Mar
shall Foch replied that all were pure
ly military measures and in accord
ance with President Wilson's IA points.
Herr Erzberger protested likewise
against the indeterminate extension Of
the armistice, but Marshal Foch
brusquely declined to make any alter
alton, and insisted upon inclusion Of
clause which gives him power to pro-
mulgate any order to Germany at will.
Herr Erzberger then demanded
whether the short, indeterminate con-
tinuation of the armistice might lead
to an early peace, to which Marshal
Foch replied: II think so; I assume
So"
The minister said the difficulties had
been greater because the negotiations
had become sharper and more acute
recently, and a long discussion DEM
onstrated that nothing more would
be changed.
Confidence in Foch.
The minister assured the assembly:
81 have confidence that Marshal
Foch's given word will be kept
Herr Erzberger said that he had
achieved almost no results in his eff
forts to have German prisoners re-
leased, beyond promise by France
and England each to send back 1000
badly wounded men. He then read the
German note, which he presented to
Marshal Foch, as the armistice terms
were signed. He had had sad mis-
sion with few happy results.
1.-THE world knows" he concluded,
"that we do not want a new war and
cannot conduct one. The world will
condemn the entente for its severity"