River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1919-06-05

with the desires Of the workers OF the
whole world, wishes to see the work.
ers in all countries free and ENJOYING
equal rights. She wishes to ensure
to them in the treaty of peace the
right to take their own decisive part
in the settlement Of social policy and
social protection.
Nine. The German delegation
again makes the demand for a neu-
trail entry into the responsibility for
the war and culpable acts in conducts.
An impartial commission should have
the right to investigate on its own
responsibility the archives Of all the
belligerent countries and all the per-
sons who took an important part in
the war.
Nothing short Of confidence that
the question of guilt will be examined
dispassionately can have the peoples
lately at war with each other in the
proper frame Of mind for the forma-
ton OF the league Of nations.
Only Most Important Proposals.
These are only the most important
among the proposals which we have
to make. AS regards other great sac
rifices and also as regards the details,
the delegation refers to the accom-
panying memorandum and the annex
thereto.
The time allowed us for the prepa-
ration of this memorandum was so
short that it was impossible to treat
all the questions exhaustively. A
fruitful and Illuminating negotiation
could only take place by means of
oral discussion. This treaty of peace
is to be the greatest achievement Of
it's kind in all history. There is no
precedent for the conduct of such COM
prehensive negotiations by an ex-
change Of written notes only. The
feeling Of the peoples who have made
such immense sacrifices makes them
demand that their fate should be de-
cided by an open, unreserved ex-
change of ideas on the principle open
covenant of peace openly arrived at,
after which there shall be no private
international understandings of any
kind, but diplomacy shall proceed al
ways frankly in the public view.
Justice Demands Carrying Out.
Germany is to put her signature to
the treaty laid before her and to carry
it out. Even in her need, justice for
her is too sacred thing to,allow her
to stoOp to achieve conditions which
she cannot undertake to carry out.
Treaties of peace signed by the great
powers, have, it is true, in the history
Of the last decades again and again
proclaimed the right Of the stronger.
But each Of these treaties Of peace
has been factor in originating and
prolonging the world war. Whenever
in this war the victor has so spoken
to the vanquished, at Brest-Litovsk
and Bucharest, his words were but
the seeds of future discord. The lofty
aims which our adversaries first set
before themselves in their conduct Of
the war, the new era Of an assured
peace Of justice, demand treaty in
stinct with different spirit. Only the
cooperation Of ali nations, a cooper
alton Of hands and spirits, can build
up durable peace. We are under no
delusions regarding the strength Of
the hatred and bitterness which this
war has engendered, and yet the
forces which are at work for a union
Of mankind are stronger now than
ever they were before. The historic
task Of the peace conference at Yer
sailles is to bring about this union
Accept, Mr.. President, the express
sion of my distinguished considera-
ton.
(Signed)
"BROCKDORFF-RANTZAU."