New-York tribune., 1919-06-24
Germans Tried to
Protect Ex-Kaiser
Final Futile Plea for Change
in Terms Rejected Blame
for Causing the Great Var

PARIS, June % (By The Associated
Press).-The full text Of the German
note to which the council of four re-
piled yesterday by definitely refusing
any alteration in the treaty shows that
while but two reservations were made
on the trial of the Kaiser and re-
sponsibility for the war-the Germans
asked for the insertion in the treaky of
a clause providing that within two
years that document should be sub
mitted to the council of the league
of nations for reconsideration of that
portion of the treaty which, as the
Germans phrased it, "impairs the rights
to self-determination Of the German
people" Similar reconsideration of
that portion whereby the free eco
nomic development of Germany on
footing of equal rights is denied" also
was provided for in this suggested
clause.
The concluding paragraphs of the
German note are as follows: (The text
OF the first portion of the German note
was made public Sunday, night.)
The government of the German re-
public engages to fulfil the conditions
OF peace. imposed upon Germany. 1t
desires, however, in this solemn mo-
ment to express itself with unreseryed
clearness in order to meet in advance
any accusation of untruthfulness that
may now or later be made against Ger
many.
"Can't Fulfil Terms"
THE conditions imposed exceed the
measure of that which Germany can
IN fact perform. The government of
the German republic therefore feels
bound to announce that it makes all
reservations and declines all RESPONSE
bllity as regards the CONSEQUENCES
which may be threatened against Ger
many when, which as is bound to hap
pen, the impossibility of carrying out
the conditions comes to life, even
though Germany's capacity to fulfil
them is stretched to the utmost.
Germany further lays the greatest
emphasis on the declaration that she
which requires Germany to admit
herself to be the sole and only author
OF the war, and she does not cover this
article by her signature. 1t conse-
quently follows without further argu-
ment that Germany must also decline
to recognize that the burden should be
placed upon her on the score of the
responsibility Of the war which has
unjustly been laid at her door.
Would Protect Kaiser
likewise it is equally impossible
Tor German man to reconcile it with
his dignity and honor to accept and
execute Articles 227 to 230, by which
Germany is required to give up to the
AIMED and associated powers for trial
lnnIV1dNQJS a
who are accused by the Allied and as
sociated powers for the breach Of in
ternational law and of committing acts
contrary to the customs of war.
further, the government of the
German republic makes distinct pro-
test against the taking away of all the
colonial possessions Of Germany and
the reasons given therefor which per-
manently deny to Germany fitness for
colonial activity, although the con-
trary is clearly established aud ir-
REPUTABLE evidence to this effect is
contained in the observations of the
German peace delegation on the con-
ditions Of peace.
Calls Requests Modest"
"The government OF the German re-
public assumes that it is in accordance
with tho desires Of the Allied and as
sociated governments that it has
spoken openly both rs regards what
concerns it's good will and also as re-
CARDS its reservations. Therefore, in
view OF the condition Of conatrajnt into
which the German people are, forced by
the requirements of the Allies-a con-
dition of constraint such as has never
been inflicted on any people in q man
ner more crushing and more disastrous
In its corsequences-and relying on the