Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-07-11
GIVES DIGEST OF COVENANT TO.

>.Soi So NSllNSlSu III OI
Commons. London, on the 30th an
explanation of the peace treaty,
which he described as 1.-The most
momcntouS document to which
the British empire ever affixed it's
seal"
Though showing the effects of
his long laborS ut Paris and lacking
his usual fire, the premier at times
made imprisoned utterances, and
was loudly cheercd. His announce
mcnt that the former German en-
peror would soon be placed on trial
before a tribunal sitting in London
was cheercd most OF all, while his
presentation of the Anglo-Frcnch
convention, providing for British
aid if Germany should attack France
unprovoked, a convention analog-
Gus to one between the United States
strained approval.
The scene recalled some of the
great speeches of the war. All the
seats were taken and every inch of
standing room was prcempted. The
Prince of Wales, the American am
bassadors. John w. Davis and
Thomas Nelson Page, the Japanese
and Italian ambassadors and many
other noted persons were in the dis
tinguished visitors gallery.
Discussing the determination of
the allied and associated powers to
place on trial William Hohcnzol-
lern, the former German emperor.
as the man held chiefly responsible
for the war, he declared that if such
a course had been followed after
other wars, there would have been
fewer wars" 1t was the intention
to make such example of Germany
as to discourage others from "ever
again attempting to repeat this in
fanny"
Speaking of the territorial terms
of the treaty, Mr.. Lloyd George said
the territory taken from Germany
was matter of restoration. 1t was
restoration Of Alsace-Lorraine, he
said, taken forcibly from the land
to which its population was deeply
attached; it was restoration of
Schleswig-Holstein, the taking of
which he described as the ''meaneSt
of HohcnZollern frauds. robbing
helpless country on the pretensc
they were not doing ii and then re-
tanning the land agairs: the wishes
of the populations; restoration of
"Poland torn to bits by Russian,
Austrian and Prussian autocracy
and now reknit under the flag of
Poland" and he added. "They are
all territories which ought not to be
long TO Germany"
The British delegation, the prem
Ter said, has taken stand resoiuteIy
opposing any attempt to put a pre-
dominantly German population I'M
der Polish rule as it would be fool
iSh TO have another AlSacc-Lorrainc
in Europe.
Il do not think anyone can claim
the terms imposed constitute injus-
tice to Germany" the premier said
in discussing the rcparation clauses
unless they believe justice in the
war on the side of Germany. Hav-
ing regard to the uses Germany
made of her army there is no in
Justice in scattering and disarming
it. If the allies had restored the
colonies to Germany after the evil
dence of ill-treatment Of the natives
and the part the natives have taken
in their own liberation, it would
have been base betrayal.
"Then take the trial of those re-
sponsible for the war. If wars of
this kind arc to be prevented, those
personally responsible for them,
who have taken part in plotting and
planning them, should be held per-
sonally responsible. Therefore, the
entente decided that the man who
undoubtedly had the primary re-
sponsibility, in the judgment, at any
rate, of the allies, should be tried
for the offenSes he committed in
breaking treaties he was bound to
honor and by that means bringing
on the war.
at was an exceptional course,
and it's pity it was, because if it
had been done before there would
have been fewer wars. The allied
countries unanimously decided that
a tribunal, an intcr-allicd one,
should sit at London for the trial of
the person chiefly responsible for
the war"