The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-02-18
DECIDED
To BREAK
RELATION
German Cabinet Thought
Conditions of Armis =
Were Impossible Of
Acceptance.
CHANGE OF ATTITUDE
Foreign Minister Resigned, But Again
Changed His Mind as Also
Did Herr Err
berger.

[By Frank ]. Taylor, United Press
Staff Correspondent
WlEIMAR, Feb. 1S.-Intervention OF
German party leaders was all that
prevented the armistice being broken
off at the last minute, 1t was revealed
today.
The cabinet had already decided
1t was -impos sible to accept the new
tude after strong representations by
the political spokesmen Of the Ger
man people.
After determining that the terms
were too drastic. the cabinet resolved
to call in party leaders for fndorse-
ment or It's position, before definitely
ordering Matthias Erzberger, chairman
of the arTnistice commission, not to
sign the renewal.
The politicians, however, took an
opposite view and eventually succeed.
ed in persuading the cabinet members
to reverse their decision.
Foreign Minister Brockdorn Rantzau
thereupon resigned, but later decided
to remain, If the government rather
than he personally should take the re-
sponsibility for the consequences.
The order to sign was sent to Err
berger after four o'clock Sunday af-
ternoon. 1t is understood that it was
received only few minutes before the
time set by Marshal Foch for accept
ance or refusal-six o'clock. Err
his own responsibility that he would
not sign the extension unless express
ly ordered to do SO.
rw,a ocJxN 1p
assembly tomorrow will be devoted to
the discussion of the armistice.
Americans to Berlin.
BASEL, Feb. 1S.-American troops
will go to Berlin to protect food sent
there from the United States for dis.
tribution in Germany, according to
reports received here today.
Five Killed In Fighting.
GENEVA, Feb. 1S.-Spartacans have
occupied Nuremburg, it was reported
In dispatches received here today.
Five persons were killed in tho fight
ing.
New Armistiee Terms.
[By Fred S. Ferguson United Press
Staff Correspondent
PARIS, Feb. 1S.--The allied COM
misstcners, designed to formulate
additional armistice conditions with
Germany, have practically completed
their work, It was learned today.
The armistice renewal, signed Sun
day, is essentially provisional, and
definite agreement, containing addi-
tiona1 military and naval terms, will
be substituted as soon as the COM
missioners finish their task. It was
said today that Marshal Foch may
be able to communicate the addi-
tional terms to the Germans within
week.
Germany, rendered impotent by
the new and subsequent military
regulations, will be protected by the
allies from outside aggression Foch
sent telegram to Warsaw last night
forbidding the Poles to attack Ger
man territory.
The terms which Germany accept
ed Sunday and will be compelled to
observe later combine to fix her
military and naval status, not only
as a defeated, MANAGING power. but
neeessitate reorganization of the
remnants of her war machine under
the rules Of the league of nations.
They are understood to include de-
struction of all submarines hmita-
ton of the output of the Krupp
works in accordance with the league
ideals, and disarmament of the He'll
goland and Kiel canal Notifications,
at least to within the status fixed by
the league. Even more radical plans
have been advanced, such as COM
plete destruction of German fortifi-
cations, but no decision has been
reached on this by the supreme war
council.