Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-01-08
MATTER BEFORE
PEACE CONGRESS
Government Decides to Act
After Appeal Is Made by Peo-
pie for Reunion
by A. Z. GELDHOF.
y. y. A. Washington Bureau,
ff28-f134 Munscy Bldg,
Washington, ID. e..

Washington, ID. &.
The Danish government has decid-
ed to ask the peace congress to re-
turn North Schleswig, stolen by Bis
luarclS in 1864 to Denmark.
This fact was igiven the Newspaper
Enterprise Associations Washington
Bureau exclusively today by the Dam
ish legation.
There has been much discussion
OF the Schieswig-Holstein question In
this country and in Denmark before
and since the armistice with Germany
was siansd. but Denmark, being a
neutral country, felt that it was mot
in q position. to make demands OF
Germany at h peace table.
Now. however, the Danish govern
ment has been actuated to its decision
hy Il request of the voters Of North
SchlesNig-o Slesvig. as the Danes
spell it-that their rights and desires
be recognized by the peace conference
ON receipt OF official advices to this
effect the Danish legation gave me
this sttaement:
Danish Position Officially Defined.
'Thc Danish government has IN
formed the North Slesvigers that 1t
las received their petition with heart
felt satisfaction, and has stated that
Denmark felt it could not take up
this question before the North Sizes
Niger5 themselves claimed their right
to determine their own future. Now
that tho political organization of Dam
ish North S~lesvigeTs has spoken. and
advocated a solution of the question
which conforms with the wishes Of
the Danish nation. and which is in
accord with the principle OF national
INSTRUMENTATION, favored by both
b~eiligerent sides. the Danish govern
ment will ask the associated powers
TO recognize the rights OF the North
SlesVigers in the coming peace corr
ference. HSFk2A
The petition referred to was sent to
Copenhagen by the North Slesvig AS
ISOLATION OF Danish voters. and was
signed by Deputy Iianssen-Norre-
nolle. their representative in the GER
ma reichstag.
The government will not. it was
said at the legation. make any reques-
ton for the annexation of Southern
S~chleBwig or of Holstein. The Kcil
canal. which divides Southern Schles-
wig from Holstein. will therefore re-
main German property-unless tho
peace conference orders that 1t be
neutralized. Both Southern Schles-
wig and Holstein are populated by
more Germans than Danes. and Den
mark feels that their annexation
Northern Schleswig. however. Is In
habited almost entirely by Danes
north of a so-called Language line"
which runs from the bay of Flens-
borg, but not including the city of
tlensborg. across the peninsula to a
point Just south of Tondern.
In this territory the Danish gov
eminent proposes hat a vote be
taken to solve the question. All mon
and women over the age OF 20 who
were born and live in North Schles-
wig. or who have lived there for ten
Years. or whoIy% 16rn Inefeb~te~<
PEELED by Germans. will have the
p.snt TO vote.
II adjacent districts of South
Schleswig should claim the right to
vote on the question they will be al
lowed u give expression to their de-
sire through a separate vote.
Tho Danish legation recalls the fact
hat after Germany annexed Schles-
wig-Holstein in 1864, Bismarck prom
ised that the people of North Schles-
wig should have a vote on the ques-
ton. but he took ARE that his PORN
Use was never carried out.