The sun., 1919-05-22

Within the limit
Retarded as Submitted.
Having regard to this. beg, in the
name Of the German peace delegation.
TO move that the contents of the in
tended notes he regarded AZ having ale
ready been made the subject OF discus-
sion in writing. and that the requisite
time be granted to us for a more de-
tailed exposition. Accept, sir, the as
surance OF my highest esteem.
BRoCKDoRFT- HANTzAu.
To this NJ. Ciemenceau replied as fol-
lows
May 20. 1919
SIR: 1 beg to acknowledge the re-
ceipt of your letter Of May 20, stating
that the subjects on which this German
delegation wishes to offer suggestions
are so complicated that the memoranda
OF the German delega ton cannot be COM
pleted within the fifteen days granted
on the seventh instant. and asking, in
consequence. for an extension of the
time limit.
In reply, beg to inform your excel
lency that the allied and associa led Gov
ernments are willing to grant an extern
sion until Thursday. May 20.
Summary Being Prepared.
Count von Brockdorff- Rantzau also
has asked permission for a special train
to bring to Versailles printing presses
and a force of workmen in order TO
hasten the preparation Of the German
reply for presentation to the ALLIES.
A general summary Of observations
on the whole treaty is In course OF
compilation. as we'll as notes on various
epecihc points. These notes will deal
with the eastern boundary of Germany
Alsace. occupied territories, separations,
labor and German properties in foreign
countries.
il is too late for Germany to seek 10
deny both the aggression in the war ana
her responsibility for It, This declara-
tion IL made by Premier Clemenceau, as
president OF the Peace Conference, in
replying to the German note on repara-
tions, the text of which. with the reply.
was made public last night.
The argument put forth by Count Won
Bfockdorff- Rantzau was that Germany
did not start war of aggression. that
the German people were convinced they
fought defensive war and that the pres
ent German Government could not be
held responsible for faults" Of the for
mer German Government.
Premier Clemenceau took UP the
points made by the German delegation
and declared that the German Govern
ment last November made no protest
against the charge in a note OF Sec
retary OF state Lansing that Germany
was the aggressor. The president Of
the conference points out further that
Germany made the French Government
OF 1871 and the Russian Government of
1917 responsible for the acts of the inn
peTial regimes In France and Russia.
Note OF the Germans.
The. German note reads:
AT VERSAILLES, May ia. 1919.
ITO HIS EEcelienct, N. ClemeHCeaH,
President Of the Peace Conference,
.''SIR: In the draft of the peace treaty
submitted to the German delegates. Part
VIII. concerning reparations, begins
With Article 231. which reads as fol-
lows:
""The allied and associated Govern
ments affirm and Germany accepts the
responsibility of Germany and her al
lies for causing all the loss and dam
age to which the allied and associated
Governments and their nationals have
been subjected as n consequence OF the
war imposed upon them by the agrees
sion OF Germany and her allies
Now the obligation to make repara-
ton has been accepted by Germany by
virtue of the note from Secretary OF
State Lansing of November s. 1918, in
dependently of the question of RESPONSE
biiity for the war. The German delega-
tion cannot admit that there could
arise out of a responsibility incurred by
the former German Government in re-
gard to the origin of the world war.
ait right for the allied ana associated
P6wes TO be Unidentified by Germany
for losses suffered during the war.
Holds People Are f3IamIess.
''The representatives OF the allied and
associated states have. moreover, de-
clared several times that the German
people should not be held responsible
for the faults committed by their Gov
eminent. The German people did not
will the war and would not have TN
dertaken war Of aggression. They
have always remained convinced that
this war was for them a defensive war
THE German delegates also do not
share the view of the allied and asso-
ciaSd Governments in regard to the
origin OF the war. They cannot consider
the former German Government as the
party which was solely or chiefly to
blame for the war. The draft of the
treaty of peace transmitted by you con-
tains no facts in support OF this view;
no proof on the subject is furnished
therein. The German delegates, there
fore. beg you to be so good as to COM
municate to them the report OF the COM
mission set up by the allied and asso-
ciated Governments for the purpose of
establishing the responsibility Of the au-
thors of the war
Pray accept, Mr.. President. the as
surances OF my high consideration.
"BRoCKDoRFF-R ANTzAU."
Reply of CIemenceau.