The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-23
REFUSE TO RELEASE
GERMAN CRIMINALS
Rantzau's Pleas to Allies Meet
With Singing Rebuke
From the Council.
DRAFT TREATY TO. STAND
Berlin in Appeal for Prisoners
Is Told to Wait Until
Pact Is Signed.

PARIS, May 23-The following CORE
spondence between the allied peace dele
gates and the German peace delegates
is made public to-day,
Prisoners of War-Letters from Count
Won INSTRUMENTATION to NJ. Clemen-
| ceau:
German Peace Delegation. Versailles,
May 10, 1e1s-Sir: The German delega-
ton has noted with satisfaction that the
| draft treaty handed to It recognizes the
principle that the repatriation of Ger
man prisoners of war and German in
termed civilians Is to be effected with
| the greatest possible rspidity.
TT Is in accordance with the opinion
| OF the German peace delegation that the
| task of settling the details of the execu-
| ton of that repatriation should be en-
| trusted to a special commission. Direct
conversations between the commissions
OF nearly all of the belligerent States In
regard to prisoners have been shown
| to be the best means Of solving the DIFF
| hculties. and II ought to be all the
easier at the present moment to clear
up by early discussion in a commission
| any Emergencies of view or doubts in
regard to certain points.
THE German peace delegation, bear
| ing in mind the difference of jurisdiction
in the various countries concerned, Is OF
| Niic OpinlOU, IOT lUSJhnCor tnhI u 10 III
| dlspensable for prisoners of war and
informed civilians who have been de-
| tanned for offences other than those
| against discipline to be repatriated I'M
conditionally. Germany recognized this
same principle as regards the prisoners
OF war and interned civilians OF the
allied and associated Powers detailed in
Germany.
Believe in Some Alterations.
'Gn the view Of the German peace
delegation certain alleviations should,
as a matter OF course and for reasons
of equity, be agreed 10 in favor of pris-
| oners OF war and informed civilians for
the period which will elapse until their
final departure.
The German peace delegation has.
moreover. been compelled to note that
the arrangements contemplated are ia
vorable only to the allied and associated
| Governments, for instance, so far as
concerns the restoration of private prop
| erty, the search for persons who have
disappeared and the care to be taken OF
graves. The German peace delegation
presumes that for questions such as
these complete reciprocity may be re-
quired for general reasons OF humanity
Because of the great technical diffi-
Guilty of repatriating prisoners of war
and interned civilians, especially in view
OF the shortage Of tonnage of COAL the
greatest Importance should be attached
to finding a solution Of all preliminary
questions before the despatch Of the
repatriated prisoners and informed civil
ians actually begins. For that reason
the German peace delegation proposes
that the commission should start Its
deliberations forthwith separately from
all other questions.
THE explanation of this proposal lies
first, in the fact that there are thou.
sands OF German prisoners of war and
linterned civilians in overseas countries
but the German delegation is likewise
thinking of the Germans who are In
Siberia and whose despatch seems to be
a question not only Of special urgency
but OF extraordinary difficulty.
Want Germans I'm Good shape.
The German delegation for reasoni
OF internal policy regards II OF the ut
most Importance that the German pris
oners of war and informed civilians
should be returned to their homes in as
normal condition as possible. in ordel
that they might there be brought bach
as rapidly as possible into tho economic
life OF the country. That only appears
possible-the precise settlement of trans
port problems apart-if everything pos
sible is done TO improve the mental ant
physical state OF those WHO are returning
home.
Having regard TO the present situa
ton in respect OF economic existence IL
Germany it must be admitted that Ger
many is unable to do with her own re
sources everything required in order I,
secure that end. This refers especial,
10 food and clothing. Therefore IN,
German delegation thinks il desirabl,
that the deliberations OF the commission
should likewise include an examination
OF the question of the manner in which
the allied and associated Government;
might assist Germany in the solution o.
these problems.
THE question: arises, for instance. o.