The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-22
SONG OF HATE
SAYSBERLIN OF
PARIS TREATY
Destroys and Degrades
Present and Future Cen
eratiOns, Is Charge.
WILSON'S PROMISE CITED
Calls 1t Americas Duty to
Keep Her Word or Admit
Inability to Do So.
WILSON'S PROMISE CITED

BERLIN, May 20 (delayed) ).-"Germany
declines to sign the peace terms laid
oefore 1t because they spell the eco
nomic destruction, political dishonor
and moral degradation OF the entire
German nation, not only for the pres
ent but also for still unborn genera
TONS was statement authorized bv
the Cabinet this morning through the
Associated Press.
| Ihat these consequences must log
ically follow acceptance of the peace
conditions the American press Itself
has recognized without question" the
statement continues. Toward them
Germany took the standpoint that ar
ceptance OF such conditions could not
be demanded and that the Entente was
unjustified in imposing such demend.
Germany has not only a moral right
70 compliance with the general prom
ises made 1t but firmly grounded. den-
ni'e' clearly defined claim, according to
the basic rules of international law. on
all the Entente Powers and espec,s,,v
on the United States A specific rec
ognition OF the right OF Germany and
OF the German peoples to a peace OF
r'sh'' justice and reconciliation, instead
OF the paragraphed song OF hate which
was written at Versailles. in contained
IN the note OF the American Secretary
Oh state Lansing OF November S, 1913
Foint 10 Promise of Lansing.
In 1t the Secretary of State notified
'ne SWISS Minister in Washington un-
conditionally that the established basis
, OF President Wilson's fourteen poInts
should be authoritative for the peace
conditions. Secretary Lansing an
nounced further that the Entente Gov
ernments, after careful consideration.
were also prepared 10 recognize the con-
ultions set up by President Wilson as
the basis for the conclusion Of peace
The declaration OF rights emanating
from these specific declarations OF all
the Entente Powers and the United
states constitutes Germany's sole asset
IN the general moral breakdown of all
international politics which has found
unsurpassable expression in the Yer
sailles terms
Germany answers them with its
clearly Juristic right In international
law Toward the politico- moral bank
ruptcy OF Versailles the German nation
SANDS as creditor with undeniable
rights. and it is not in a position to
yield on this chief point
Germany concluded peace on the ba-
sis of President Wilson's fourteen points.
winch all America had made its OWL,
ana all America, every individual, is re-
sponsible for the fulfilment of its claims
1t is not the German peoples busi-
ness to indicate how its rights shall be
realized by the fourteen points, or es-
pecially by the note OF Secretary Lam
sing. That rather. is the task OF those
who constructed the fourteen points and
brought them TO acceptance thereby
inducing Germany to lay down her
weapon.
Says German View Is Only One.
We do not believe that President
Wilson. Secretary Lansing and the
American people can take other than
this German standpoint IL they do not
wish to do that which President Wilson
In his message of December 4. 1917. |
condemned categorically when he said:
We would dishonor our own course
III We treated Germany any other than
Justly and In non-partisan manner and
did not insist upon Justice toward all. no |
matter how the war ended. We demand |
nothing which we are not ready our |
selves to admit
And the German people demand moth |
ing more than that which President
Wilson announced in this declaration. |
We demand nothing moro than that
Americans place the fourteen points op- |
posite the peace terms. We do not be- |
lieve that any one In the United States
will then have the courage TO claim
that there can be found In the peace !
conditions one single trace left OF Presi-
dent Wilson's programme.
And here begins Americas definite
duty to step in America either must
put its fourteen points through or Il |
must declare that II is unable to do so |
or that It does not want to do so, so |
that in no case may tho world be led |
to believe that America desires to have |
the peace conditions count as President |
Wilson'S fourteen points.
That Is our demand, to which we |
cling, and we cannot imagine what ar
gument from the American side would |
be effective against it,"