The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-05-09
CHIEF Of ENJOYS
Of HUN DEFENDS
GERMAN CRIMES

Versailles, May Sin his speech be-
fore the peace conference yesterday, |
Count Won Brockdorff Rantzau head OF |
the German delegation, said in part:
Public opinion in all the countries of |
our adversaries is resounding with the |
crimes which Germany is said to have !
committed in the war. We are ready |
to confess wrong that may have been |
done. We have not come here to be. |
little the responsibility of the men who |
have waged the war politically and
economically, or to deny any crimes
which may have been committed against
the rights of peoples We repeat the
declaration which has been made in the
German reichstag at the beginning of
the war, that is TO say, wrong has been
done to Belgium and we are willing
to repay il.
but in the manner of making war
also Germany is not the only guilty one.
Every nation knows of deeds and of
people, which the best nationals only
remember with regret. l do not want to
! ask them to remember, when repara-
ton is demanded, not to forget the ar
mistice, 1t took us six weeks until
we got it at last and six more until
we came TO know your conditions of
peace.
Grimes in war may not be excusabe
but they are committed in the struggle
for victory and the defense of national
Low lot.
make the conscience of people blunt.
The hundreds of thousands of non
combatants who have pershed since
November II, by reason of the blockade
We're killed with cold deliberation after
our adversaries had conquered and vic
tory had been assured to them. Think Of
that when you speak of guilt and of
punishment.
The measure of the guilt of all those
who have taken part can only be stated
| by an impartial inquest before neutral
commission before which all the prin.
! cipal persons of the tragedy are allowed
| to speak and to which all the archives
are open. We have demanded such an in
quest and we repeat this demand
In this conference also where we
stand toward our adversaries alone and
without any allies, we are not quite
without protection. You yourself have
brought US an ally, namely, the right
which is guaranteed by the treaty and
| by the principles OF peace.
The allies and associated govern
ments have forestalled in the time be-
tween the fifth of october and the NTH
of November, 1918, a peace Of violence
and have written q peace of justice on
their banner. on the fifth of October
| 1918, the German government proposed
the principles of the president of the
| United States of North America, as the
basis of peace, and on the fifth of No
vember their secretary of state, Mr.
Lansing, declared that the allied and
associated powers agreed to this basis
with two definite deviationS.
The principles of President Wilson
! have thus become binding to both par
ties to the WARRIOR you, as we'll as for
US, and also for our former allies. The
various principles demand from us
heavy national and economic sacrifices,
| but the holy fundamental rights of all
peoples are protected by this treaty. The
conscience of the world is behind it..
There is no nation which might violate
it without punishment.
You will find us ready to examine
upon this basis the preliminary peace
which you have proposed to us with a
firm intention of rebuilding in common
work with you that which has been
destroyed, and repairing any wrong that
may have been committed (the wrong
to Belgium and TO show to mankind
new aims of political and social pro
gress.
Gentlemen: The sublime thought to
be derived from the most terrible dls-
aster in the history of mankind is the
league of nations. The greatest prog
ress in the development Of mankind has
been pronounced and will make its way.
Only if the gates to the league of ma
tions are thrown open to all who are OF
good will can the aim be attained and
only then, will the dead of this war have
not died in vain. The German people
in their hearts are ready to take upon
themselves their heavy lot, if the bases
of peace which have been established
are not any more shaken.
A.