The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-05-10

Belgium, and we are willing to repair
it,
But in the manner of making war
also Germany is not the only guilty
one. Every nation knows of deeds and
of people which the best nationals only
remember with regret. l do not want
to answer by reproaches to reproaches,
but / ask. them to remember, when rep
aration is demanded, not, to forget the
armistice. It, took YOU six weeks until
eAgQt 1t at last, and six more until
we CAME to- know your conditions of
peace. = III
80 Grimes in WAR may not be excus III
able, but they arb committed in the III
Struggle forNvietory and in the defense
of national feSistence, and passions are
Earoqsea Which make the conscience Of
fpeopie - fuNts} i s4s4ss - II
1.-THE hundreds of thousands, Of nom
/ combatants who have persisted since
| Nov. II by reason of the blockade were 4
killed; with cold 1deliberation after our
adversaaies had:seonebered, and victory
had; beef assured ITO Them Think of
that when; y YOU speak difsguilt and pun
ishment.
Tile measure of the guilt Of all those
who have taken part can only be stated
by an impartial inquest before a neu- |
trail commission, before which all the |
principal persons of the tragedy are
allowed to speak and to which all the |
: archives are open. We have demanded |
such an inquest and we repeat this de
mand.
q In this conference also, where we
, stand toward our adversaries alone and
without any allies, we are not quite
without protection. You yourselves
g have brought us an ally, namely, the
. right which is guaranteed by the treaty
and by the principles of peace.
> The allied and associated govern
: ments have foresworn in the time be-
e tween Oct. and Nov 3, 1918, a peace
= of violence and have written peace of
justice on their banner. On Oct. ),
1918, the German government proposed
= the principles of the President of the
:. United States of North America as the
:, basis of peace, and on Nov 5, the sec
II rotary of state, Mr.. Lansing, declared
! that the allied and associated powers
agreed to this basis with two definite
u deviations.
|. ssThe principles of President Wilson
have thus become binding TO both par
u ties TO the war, for you, we'll as for
us and also for our former allies. The
{ various principles demand from us
~ heavy national and economic sacrifices
81 but the holy fundamental rights of all
~ peoples are protected by this treaty
90 The conscience of the world is behind
nc it. There is no nation which might
Is violate it without punishment
IL You will find us ready to examine
O. upon this basis the preliminary peace
ne which you have proposed to us with {
y firm intention of rebuilding in common
ne work with YOU that which has been des
"a troyed and repairing any wrong thai
ne may have been committed, principally
on the wrong to Belgium, and to show Il
;, mankind new aims of political and so
~ cial progress.
I'M :. Considering the tremendous guam
re THY of problems which arise, we ough
II as soon as possible to make an examin
ne alton of the principal tasks by specia
ne commissions of experts. on the basis o
en- the treaty which YOU have proposed t
ha us. I'm this If viii be our chief task I
Oh mankind and of all the people who hav
re taken part by international. proteetio
of the life, health and liberty of TIL
er working classes.
en- :" As our next aim, ] consider tn
'll reconstruction of the territories of BE
1
pc been occupied by us and which hay
lst been DESTROYED by war,
..'To do so, we have taken upon oul
nat selves the solemn obligation, and W
or are resolved to execute it to the exter
ms which shall have been agreed upon 10
OF tween us. This task we cannot d
the without tie cooperation of our form,
Ter. adversaries. We cannot accomplis
m the work without the technical and
nancial participation of the vietoriol
peoples, and you cannot execute
OF without Us.
opy Impoverished Europe must dcsi
ek that the reconstruction shall be fu
iet filled with the greatest success al
lie with as little expense as i'll any W;
possible. This desire can only be fl
I'M filed by clear understanding abor
lch the best methods to he employed.
Die would be the worst method TO 90
no and have the work done by Germs
eat prisoners of war. Certainly this wo1
yer. is cheap, hut it would cost the wor
Ter dear if hatred and despair shall sci
the the German. people when they eonsid
lter that their brothers, sons and fathe
late who are prisoners are kept prisone
axe beyond the preliminary peace in fc
'un- mer penal work.
'un- t'Without any immediate solution
this question, which has been draw
we out too long, we cannot come to du
'niy able peace Experts on both sides W
fes- have to examine how the German pc
We pie may come up TO their financial o
olll- legations 10 repair, without suceumbil
has under their heavy burden. A era
IN would bereave those who have rig
The to reparation of the advantages
gov which they have claim, and wou
nee, draw after it irrevocable disorder
agile the whole European economical ssyste
con- "The vanquishers, as well as the va
ner- pushed peoples, must guard again
its this menaeing. danger with its inealc
hey liable consequences There is only o
we're means of hanishing it-unlimited ct