The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-05-20
CONDITIONAL
NO. EXPECTED
Willy Huns Will Neither Say
Positive .'No" Nor Un-
equivocaI "Yes."
MYSTERY IN COURSE
Teuton Peace Delegates Re-
fuse to Sit at Same Table,
Differences So Acute.
(By Lincoln Evre.l


Versailles. May 19.---(By Telegraph
From NJ Y. World, Copyrighted -
Count Won Brockdorff- -Rantzau re-
turned today to Versailles with the
completed draft of Germany's re-
sponse to the peace terms considered
.as whole. The document. volumi-
nous one, was turned over to him at
Spa by Dernburg. who had been
sent th' : from Berlin for that pur-
pose. :: ates Landsberg and Gels
berg. : had been to Berlin, re-
turned their chief.
The : a possibility that the doc
rumenf : count has brought from
Spa OF be ready for submission
to difference by Wednesday,
,'wheI :; original period will expire
in W - the Germans were to make
up 81 minds. 1t will probably be
alte onsiderably by Count Brock
doT- tex which it must be trans
latlI to French and English and
printed.
When the German foreign minister
went to Spa he left behind him a
morose and embittered group of his
compatriots, whose differences of
opinion over the question of signing
or not signing have become SO acute
half of the delegation refuses to sit
at the same table with the other half.
Rush Work on Reply to Allies.
(By Cyril Brown)
Berlin, May 19.-(By Telegraph
From N. Y. World, Copyrighted.)-
simultaneously in Versailles and Ber-
lin, work is being rushed on the text
of Germanys reply, which will be a
Conditional no." The reply will con-
sist OF general introduction OF
counter proposals.
The Introduction setting forth that
the peace treaty, in its present form,
is unacceptable, is backed up by
elaborate detailed arguments to prove
that the conditions violate President
! Wilson's principles, pointing out that
Germany is unwilling, unable to ac-
cept the treaty, as the Wilson prin-
ciples were accepted by both sides,
thus virtually constituting a prelimi-
nary peace treaty The introduction
will conclude with an expression of
Germany's desire for bona fide nego-
principles only. ~
Already. the introduction has been
completed and it was submitted to,
and approved by the peace commit
tee of the national assembly Satur-
day night. The utmost secrecy is
surrounding the cabinet meetings and
the sessions of the national assem-
bly's peace committee dealing with
Germany's answer. The complete
scmfiite proposal III II WAS expected,
would be readyetoday for submission
to the peace committee and was to
be rushed tonight by courier to Ver-
eailles in time for handing it over
before the time. limit expires at noon
Wednesday.
Official circles have not yet given
UP all hope that verbal negotiations
may result, and that an acceptable
compromise Letween a "Clemenceau
and Wilson peace" may be reached
At the same time the wise ones are
braciug themselves for the shock of
a sharp ultimatum to sign or refuse
to sign. In the event of this, ultima
tum, all observers agree that the
present government will remain true
to it's pledge, and will not assume the
responsibility for accepting peace in
approximately its present form nor
would the present national assembly
SANCTION lIlC SiSlllHB Vi ldlla yihSN tit
treaty afterwards. Nor would Count
Won Brockdorff- -Rantzau and the
present, delegation put their names
10 the treaty, even if so instructed by
their government, which is incon-
ceivable.
Need~Not Expect YES"
An unequivOcal yes" need there
fore under no circumstances be eX-
pected .unlesss far-reaching modifi-
cations are granted by the allies. On
the other hand the government shows
no signs of having the moral courage
to answer in an unconditional no"
A clue to the mystery of Germany
course is that the present government
is padded with practical politicians
who have vital interest in clinging
to office. After the storm of protest
which the government enthusiast
cally helped to arouse, the present
government would be quickly kicked
out if it signed the present treaty.
It's life would be equally short II 1t
refused point blank. It's only hope of
prolonged existence lies in an appeal
to the warweary people. 1t is con-
sidered probable that if plebiscite
should be held it would result in
favor If SIGNING