Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-08

struggle for victory and in the defense
Of national existence, and passions are
aroused which makes the conscience OF
peoples blunt.
"The hundreds Of thousands of non
! combatants who have pcrishcd since
November II by reason of the blockade
were killed with cold dcibcration after
our adversarics had conquered and vic
tory had been assured TO them. Think
of that when you speak of guilt and OF
punishment
"Thc measure of the guilt of all those
who have taken part can only be stated
by an impartial inquest before a neu
tral commission. before which all the
principal persons of the tragedy are
allowed to speak and TO which all the
archives are open. We nave demanded
such an inquest and we repeat this de-
mand.
In this conference. also. where we
stand toward our adversaries alone and
without any allies. we are not quite
without protection. You yourselves
have brought us an ally. namely. the
right which is guaranteed by the treaty
and by the principles of peace.
Asks "Peace of Justice
'"The Allied and associated govern
mcnts have forcsworn in the time be
tween the 9th of October aud the 9th OF
November. 1913, a peace of violence and
have written peace OF Justice on thlr
banner. On the 9th of october. 1918. tn"
German Government proposed the prin
ciplcs of the President of the United
States of North America as the basis OF
peace. and on the 9th Of November their
secretary of state. Mr.. Lansing. de-
clarcd that the Allied and associated
powers agreed to this basis, with two
definite deviations.
"Thc principles of President Wilson
have thus become binding to both par
ties to the WARRIOR you. as well 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
people are protected by this treaty.
The conscience of the world is behind
il. 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 de
stroyed and repairing any wrong. that
may have been committed, principally
the wrong to Belgium. and to show to
mankind new aims of political and So
cial progress.
Considering the tremendous quan.
tity of problems which arise. we ought
as soon as possible to make an cxaml
nation of the principal tasks by spe'
cial commissions of experts. on the
basis of the treaty which you have pro
posed to us. In this it will be oul
! l,I,,o &c -. fba
tated vigor of mankind and of all the
people who have taken part by inter.
national protection Of the life, healtf
and liberty of'th working classes.
"As our next aim, ] consider the re
construction of the territories of Bel
) GUM and of Northern France. whicl
, have been occupied by us and whicl
have been destroyed by war.
ITO do so, we have taken upon our
, selves the solemn obligation, and we ar
: resolved to execute it to the ~eXten
, which shall have been agreed upon be
tween us. This task we cannot do with
out the co operation of our former ad
versaries. We cannot accomplish tn
I work without the technical and tinancia
, participation of the victorious peoples
. and YOU cannot execute it without us.
! Impoverished europe must desir
that the reconstruction shall be fultilc,
|, with the greatest success and with a
little expense as in any way possible
This desire can only be employed.
. would be the worst method to go on an
Y have the work done by German prison
e ers of war. Certainly this work
A cheap, but it would cost the world dea
$ if hatred and despair shall seize tn
@ German people when they consider tina
their brothers. sons and fathers VIII
. are prisoners are kept prisoners bcyon
;, the preliminary peace in former pena
u work.
L without any immediate solution O
n this question. which has been draw
S out too long, we cannot come to
: durable peace. Experts of both side
c will have to examine how the Germa
: people may come up to their financia
obligations to repair, without succumb
ing under their heavy burden. A cras
e to repair, to the advantages to whic
= they have claim. and would draw afte
y it irretrievable disorder of the Who'll
$ European economical system.
n ''Thc vanquishers, as well as tn
n vanquished, peoples must guard agains
. this menacing danger with its incal
; culable consequences. There is onl
Z one means of banishing it-unlimitc
o confessions of the economic and sociu
Isolludrlty OF dll IHe peoples III Ire
and rising league of nations.
Gentlemen The sublime though
r to be derived from the most terribl
Y disaster In the history of mankind is I'll
league Of nations. The greatest prog
Il ress in the development of mankind ha
~ been pronounced, and will make il
!, way. Only if the gates of the lcagu
IL of nations are thrown open to all VIII
s. are of good will can the aim be al
= tanned, and only then the dead of th
e war vii not have died in vain.
il "The German people in their hear
nre ready to take upon themselves the
# heavy lot, il the bases of peace whic
- have been established are not any mo-
shaken.
J. ''The peace which may not be d,
lie Tended in the name of right before Il
= world always calls forth new resistan
against it. Nobody will be capable
subscribing to it with good 'conscienc
for it will not be possible of fulfillmen
Nobody could be able to take upon hin
self the guarantee of its execution viii,
ought to lie in its signature.