Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-11-20
GERMANY MOVES
TO REPUD|ATE PART
OF PEACE TREATY
Declares It Is Not Bound
by Mandate Section
of Pact.
PROTESTS AGAINST METHOD
OF DISTRIBUTING COLONIES
Holds Versailles Paper Was
Signed in Belief Teutons
Would Be in League
MAY URGE OTHER CHANGES
Bcriin's Attitude Thought to Call
for Prompt Formulation of
American Policy.
PROTESTS AGAINST METHOD
OF DISTRIBUTING COLONIES
MAY URGE OTHER CHANGES
lBy Associated Press. /

GENEVA. Nov. l3.-The German
government no longer considers Itself
bound by the clause of the Versailles
trea,y by which Germany surrenders
her colonies to the allies, according
TO an official note OF protest which
has been presented to the league OF
nations
The note declares that the allies
have not fulfilled their Undertakings
regarding the clause of the treaty
concerning the allotment Of the Ger
man colonies and mandates. II adds
that. having .signed the pact of the
league Of nations, Germany under
stood sh. would be admitted to the
lcagIe and consequently take part
in the allotment of mandates. but that
now she no longer considers herself
bound by that clause of the treaty.
The German note. addressed to the
secretariat OF tho league of nations.
and which viii be published later. is
~ long document couchcd in judicial
terms. II is moderate In form. but
| constitutes strong >protcSt against
league mandates, on which the as
scmbly viii have TO pass judgment.
The existence OF tho note became
j known today owing TO an indiscre-
lion Full appreciation OF the docu-
! mcnt will be available only when Its
fun text is published by the secre-
tariat OF the league. From such frag
mentary parts OF the note as had
reached the various delegates this
afternoon, II was the consensus OF
. opinion In conference. circles that
German protest was not founded on
! any parts or the text of the Versailles
Urge. Admission of Germany.
Immediate admission OF Germany
and the other former enemy states to
I the league Of nations wa6 urged be
fore the assembly Of the league today
by George Nicoll Barnes. OF the Brit
| ish delegation. Representing as he
did the !aboring people OF Great Brit
ain. said Mr.. Barnes, he knew the
great majority OF them demanded that
all the enemy states be admitted
without delay.
'.'rhc people OF Great Britain. whom
! represent here" he said. do not
forget tha. the central empires
plunged the world into war. They do
not forget the misery and devastation
caused Bat the question now is to
rescue the world from ruin, and the
cooperation of the former enemy
states is needed.
Mny Modify Other Obligations.
NEW YORK. Nov. 19.-Germany's
protest is designed TO bring about re-
turn of her colonies and possibly
modification of other obligations i'm
posed upon her by the peace treaty.
such are the ramifications of her
move that it may hasten determine
at
on the face it would appear that
Germany was seeking merely to re-
gain control over her colonies, seized
during the war and turned over to
mandatories after tho peace OF Ver-
sailies. But such is the false premise
upon which Germany has based her
protest to the league-that the treaty
provision for distributing the man
datories was not fulhlled-that de-
velopments beyond the mere sub
iects Of her colonies would seem to
have been in the minds OF her states
men when they planned the objection.
Possible Objectivea.
Germany may pc using the threat
as a club to secure entrance into the
league. But her action looks more
like "a carefully developed scheme to
force the league into a shattering
impassc not only over the question OF
returning her colonies. about which
there has been renewed discussion
of late, but also over the future qucs-
tion of reparations and other pro-
posed notifications OF the treaty
Such is the direction OF her attack
that sooner or later, It would seem
Inevitable that tho United States
would be drawn into the situation.
Once Germany is able to render the
league impotent by getting 1t hope
lessly involved over questions re-
garding her fulfllment of one obli-
CATION, there would be ever-increas-
ing likelihood of her escaping many
of the other penalties she contracted
to pay when she signed the treaty.
Strikes mt Pathological Time.
In noting German reaction to re-
cent world developments. II is not
difficult to understand that Germany
felt she was striking now at time
and in place where It would hurt
her former enemies and help herself.
Following the American election.
German statesmen, notably Count
Won Bernstorff. Immediately set up
the cry that the United States had
shown 1t would have nothing of the
league Of nations and hence would
not be n party to the enforcement
OF those provisions of tho treaty
bound up in the league. Then fol-
lowed the crushing defeat adminis-
tered to the allied cause In the
Greeks defeat OF Premier venIzelos
Turkey has not yet established a
government whose signature to the
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