The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-04-26
Delegates to Versailles Clothed
With Authority to Negotiate
Peace
TELEGRAM OF CLEMEN-
CEAU CLEARS SITUATION
Six Delegates Will Represent
The German Government


Berlin, Monday, April 21 fBy the
Associated Press The German cab
met in special session this morning,
after considering the second telegram
from Georges Clemenceau, the
French premier, president OF the
peace conference in Paris, correcting
the false impression created by his
first note, decided that the peace dele.
cation originally appointed should go
to Versailles at the end Of the pres
ent week. 1t was determined that the
date Of April 25, first fixed for the
arrival of the German representatives.
at Versailles, could not be adhered
to because of the confusion over tho
arrangements. ~. S
Premier C!emenceau's second teie-s
gram reached the foreign Office last
evening but was not considered ofti-
c;al until this morning. In itsthe
French premier said his original noti-
tication had 'been misconstrued ana
misinterpreted by Germany. He de-
clared there was no intention on me
part of the entente to deny the Ger
mans the right, Of negotiation or dis
cussion.
With this assurance the cabinet im-a
mediately determined to revoke =. HIS
decision 10 send DR.. Haniel Won Hahn
hausen, with. a pair OF subordlnates,
in his role of high class messenger 80
Paris and reverted to its intention ofs
sending six delegates to the Versailles
congress, headed by Count Won Brock
dorff- -Rantzau. the foreign ): minister
Dr.. Eduard David, the former socialist
leader in the reichstag, originally Sc Nse-
lected as one Of the six. is. reptaced
by Herr Landsberg, the secfetary tor
publicity, art and literature. as DE-
David is i'll. ssss
The body of experts will not proceed
to Versailles, for the presents it lss
stated. -.
The delegates, it is made knoHHs
expect to be given complete fresdon
of movement and unobstructed meas
Of communication with their home
government.
The government today made, public
the text Of the note from General
Nudanr, the representative: Of Mar.
shall Foch at Spa to Germany, saying
that the allied and associated govern
ment could not receive delegates who
Aare authorized only to receive the text
of the peace terms, and also the Ger 2
man governments reply. In part, the
reply was:
The French minister, president ami
war minister on. Clemenceau, chair
man of the peace conference) having
transmitted to the German govern
ment the request Of the allied and
associated governments to clothe the
German delegates with the same plen4
airy powers for negotiation on all
peace questions as representative OF
the allied and association government
possess, the German government, as.
suming that the negotiation of the
contents of the draft Of the prelimi-
nary peace is intended to follow the (
presentation Of the draft, designatss
the following persons as delegates {
with proper plenary powers: (Here
follows the names already published}s
"It is contemplated to send further
persons to accompany the delegates
whose names and positions the Ger.
man government will communicate
as speedily as possible in a second
telegram. The German government
is ready to send the persons indicated
in the foregoing to Versailles, aSsur-
ances being given that the delegates !.
and those accompanying them dur.
ing their stay there shall be guaran-
teed freedom of movement as well as {
free use Of the telegraph and tele-
phone for communication with the
German government. The German {
government reserves the right subse- 4
quently to appoint special experts for S
separate peace questions"