The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-16

fess for social Justice, and insure the
realization OF reforms which the working
classes have more than ever a right TO
expect after the cruel trial to which the
world has been subjected during the
last 1--WE years. G. CLEMBNcEAu."
Text of the German Note.
The text Of the German note which
was forwarded on May 10 by Count Won
Brockdorff -Rantzau follows:
VERSAILLES, May 10, 1919.
"Ths German peace delegation to Hts
Ercellencp, the President Of the Peace
Conference.
SIR: With reference to Articles IS
and So of the proposals for the estab-
lishment of League of Nations sub
mitted by us, we beg herewith to trans
NIT the draft Of an international. agree
ment on labor law, prepared by the Ger
man Government
The German Government is Of one
mind with the Allied and Associated
Governments in holding that the great
est attention must be given to labor
questions. Domestic peace and the ad-
vancement of mankind depend vitality on
the adjustment of this question. Tho
demands for social justice repeatedly
| raised in this respect by the working
| classes Of all nations are only partly
realized In principle in Section XIII. OF
the draft OF peace conditions of the
Allied and Associated Governments on
| the organization of labor. The sublime
| demands have. for the most part, been
realized in Germany with the assistance
| Of the working classes. as is generally
acknowledged, In an exemplary man.
ner. In order to carry them into execu-
| ton everywhere In the interests Of man.
kind the acceptance of the programme
| Of the German delegation is at least
| necessary. We deem It requisite that
all States should Join in the agreement,
| even though not belonging to the
| League of Nations.
'Tn order to guarantee to the work
| ing classes, for whom the proposed i'm
| provements are intended, cooperation in
/. the framing Of these provisions, the
| German delegation Is of the opinion
| that representatives of the National
| Trade Union organizations of all the
| contracting Powers should be summoned
| to a conference at Versailles to discuss
| and take decision on international la
Dor law before the peace negotiations
are terminated.
THE proceedings of this conference
should, in the opinion of the German
delegation, be based on the resolutions
of the International Trade Union Con.
ference in Bern. February 5 to 8. 1919
and the programme for international la
Dor legislation, addressed to the Peac,
| Conference in Paris, which emanatec
from the decisions of the Internationa
Trade Union Conference in Leeds II
1915. At the request Of the TRADE
Unions of Germany. we beg to enclos'
q copy Of these resolutions, which have
been adopted by the representatives o.
the Trade Union organizations of 30
hemia, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany
Norway, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland
Spain and Hungary.
Accept, Sir, the assurance Of m,
highest esteem.
| "(Signed) BRocKDoRFF-RANTz
The International agreement on laboi
law prepared by the German Govern
ment, referred to in the. note OF Coun
Won Brockdorff Rantzau, was prepared
In the German Ministry Of Labor SOM
months ago and first published on MAY
1. Most of this document is taken vi
with detailed proposals for labor legisla
ton, q number of which were incor
porated in the International labor char
ter issued by the syndical conferences a
Bern IN February. Very slight provision
however Is made for the future continu
ance of the International labor legisia
ton. Article VII, which contains tn
, proposition for an international organi
cation, speaks OF an international confer
ence which would meet at least once II
, Ave years. In It each Power would nav
one vote, and a four-ffths matorit
would be necessary before any resolu
lions would be binding upon its mem
; bers. A commission charged with tn
technical oversight Of the DEGREES OF TIL
conference Is the only place where labo
would have any direct representato
and corresponds with lesser powers, I
the international labor Office arrange
/. for in the terms Of the Allies.
The definite terms proposed at presen
include Freedom of immigration an
the right OF immigrants 10 hold trad
union privileges the right OF combira
ton: social Insurance the eight hou
= day and the weekly rest period prohibi
, ton of night work the fourteen year ag
, limit for child labor; medical super
vision for juveniles provision for IN
I education of young persons; the mini
= mum wage, and the protection of wome
In industry and of workers in dangerou
/ trades.
BERLIN, May l4.-Count Won Brock
dorff-Rantzau, the head OF the Germa
! peace delegation, in communicating
D the other members of the delegation III
n text of the three notes he sent to PRIME
4 Clemenceau. pointed out that the peac
treaty in its present form could not b
a accepted and could not be signed becaus
l. | Il was impossible to fulfil its terms.
s Dispatches from Versailles reportin
the Counts action add that he told III
:. German delegation that it would Gig
s nothing 1t was not intended to fulfil. TIL
r delegation, he continued, would endeavc
8 to improve the treaty and make its sign
ing possible.
4