The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1919-06-20

AS to the league of nations, Ger
many, the reply says, had repeatedly
been promised that the league of ma
tons would unite the belligerents, con-
querors as well as conquered, to secure
the world against further disasters
But the status of the league has been
established without German help, and
Germany is not even invited to join
the league.
Self Determination Ignored.
The right of self determination of
nations has been proclaimed, says the
reply, by President Wilson, Mr.. AS
quith, MI. Churchill, Lord Grey, Sig
nor Orlando and Premier Lloyd.
George, but the treatment of the in
habitants of the Sarre region and of
the district of Eupen, Malmedy and
Moresnet does not comply with such
a solemn recognition of this right. The
same, it is added, is true with regard
to Alsace-Lorraine, the cession OF
which, without consulting the popula-
ton would constitute a new wrong.
The third chapter deals with pos.
sible results of the treaty as drafted,
The Germans claim it involves the de-
struction of German economic life.
Germany's creditors could not obtain
the immense sums required from a
p%auperized country. The elimination
of Germany from the worlds trade
might get rid Of a troublesome com
petitor, but the world, already i'm
poverished by the war, would become
infinitely poorer.
The world now requires an interna.
tional community of labor, it is ar
gued, to which Germany agrees. But
the proposed treaty is merely a cele-
bration Of the last triumph of imper-
ialist and capitalist tendencies. The
delegates appeal to the innate right
Of men and nations. The proposed
treaty is characterized as incompat-
ible with respect for this innate right
In the resolve, however, to fulfill the
obligations Germany makes certain
counter proposals.
Calling attention to the fact that
Germany has submitted her own pro-
posals for a league of nations, the
German delegates agree to negotiate
on the basis of the allied proposals if
Germany is admitted on equal terms.
as soon as peace has been signed. This
is on condition that clauses are insert
ed guaranteeing equality in trade con-
ditions, freedom from external inter.
ference, and the prevention of eco
nomic warfare and exclusion by boy.
colt.
Germany agrees to the basic idea
regarding army, navy and air regula-
tons, and especially the abolition OF
compulsory military service, if this
is the beginning of a general reduc-
ton of ornaments and abandonment OF
compulsory military service. A period
of transition must be allowed during
which Germany may retain such for
ces are urged eorgetwmlti-cebG
ces are required to preserve internal
order before reducing her army to the
100 900 limit. On condition that Ger
many enters the league at once she
agrees to dismantle the fortresses in
the west, and establish a neutral zone,
But no special supervision of the pro-
cess Of disarmament, except that of
the league, can be admitted, and an
extension of time must be granted
after discussion on the basis of equal
ity.
Oral negotiations to settle details
with respect to the surrender Of war
ships and aviation measures are pro-
posed.
Much space is devoted to territorial
questions. Particular attention is paid
to the Sarre district with its important
coal mines. The population of this
district, it is asserted, has been at
tached to Germany for more than a
Thousand years, and the people today
are as German as they were a hun
dred years ago. The separation of the
Sarre district, the Germans say, is to
compensate France for coal destroyed
in the north. But, it is commended,
such a question can only be settled on
an economic basis, not by tearing away
a national undisputed territory and de-
grading the league of nations by in
volving it in the transaction.
The German government declines to
make any reparation in the form of
punishment, and declines to pass on
to individual parts of the population
the punishment intended for the whole
community. The annexation of the
Sarre district to France would mean
the creation of another Alsace-Lor-
raine, Germany claims, and says the
whole question must be reconsidered.
Still insisting that for the greater
part, Alsace-Lorraine is German, the
Germans admit that according to pres
ent conceptions Of right an injustice
was committed in 1871, when the peo-
pie were not consulted. Germany,