New-York tribune., 1920-02-05
Names Sent Directly to
German Government
When Won Lersner Re.
signs Rather Than Act
Paris Would Waive
Revenge for Coal
Allies Explain Firmness
Is Necessary to Hold the
IetltOns to Peace Pact

BERLIN Feb. 4 (By The Associated
Press) ).-Dcspite the refusal of Baron
Kurt Won Lclsner, German representa-
tive at Paris, to transmit to Berlin the
list of Germans whose extradition is
demanded by the Allies, the list BEGAN
TO arrive here over the official wire
from the French capital at II o'clock
this morning The first name licked
off was that of Duke Albrecht of
Wurtemberg who is charged with
massacres at Namur.
meeting of the Cabinet was called
Tor early this afternoon. Meanwhile
no official declarations on the subject
Oh the extraditions will be made. The
list will not be published in the nress
1eiore tomorrow, but the government
VIII make public at once the text of
It's last note to the Allies on the ex-
tradition issue.
Baron Won Lersncr. it is stated had
received explicit orders to transmit
the expected Allied note on extradition
demands to his government. He WAS
feIlcved OF his Office to-day at his own
request
Returned List to Mllerand
ihe Entente note was handed Won
lcrsner yesterday, and the German
representative. although he mad re-
ceivcd on Saturday last formal in
structloNs simply to transmit it to the
Minister for Foreign Affairs. returned
1t to Premier Millerand. declaring his
! conscience would not permit him to
De participant in the surrender OF
Germans to the Allies Won Lcrsner's
demand that he be relieved of his office
followed.
= PARIS, Feb BY The Associated
Press Kurt Won Lersner, head oc tho
German peace delegation here, has re-
turned to Premier Millerand the list
containing the names Of Germans whose
cXtraditlon is demanded by the Allies,
which was handed to him last night. and
Uniformed the Premier day that he
has resigned. He departed for Berlin
to-n ght.
Immediately after receiving the list
Won Lersncr addressed the following
letter 10 Premier Milerand:
Your eXcellcncy has transmitted to
me note containing the names of
Germans whose eNtradition is demand
ed by the Allied powers In the
course OF the last three months | have
most seriously laid before representa-
tives Of the Allied and assocated e''t@
governments, ten times in writing and
thirteen times orally, the reasons if
was impossible to comply with such
request, no matter what the social
rank of the accused persons might be.
remind your eXcellcncy of my
constantly peated declarations that
no German tunctionarv would be dis
posed to be in any way whatever
'nstrumental in the realiza ton of the
demand for their cxtradtion
should be instrumental in it if |
were TO forward to the German gov
ernmeut the note of your oxcellency.
therefore send it back herewith.
~ have made it known to my gov
ernment th9t ! cannot remain in Of
fee. and that shall leave Paris by
the next train
"FRhIlERR Won LERSNER."
Non Lersner Explains Attitude
Baron Won Lersncr told the CORE
spondcnt his decision was in line with
the attitude he had maintained
tl-IOuGnOul ftEUTu'US lnt question: OF
eXtradition. IIe declared he had held
that no German official could be in
strumcntal in carrying out the extradi-
tlon clauses Of the treaty, and consc-
qucntlv the matter having come up in
a definite. final form there was nothing
left for him to do but to resign and
go home.
The Allied Council of Ambassadors
was called into extraordinary session
this morning to discuss the situation
created by the res ignation of Kurt Won
Lersner, and the following statement
later was issued:
THE list of war criminals having
been presented to Baron Won Lersner
for transmission by him to his gov
crNment. the president of the German
delegation returned the list with an
intimation to the president of the
conference that he had submitted his
resignation to his government and
was leaving Paris. The decision of
the Allies will be communicated di-
rect to the government at Berlin"
Wallace Present in Council
Hugh c. Wallace, the American
Ambassador, attended the council
meeting, but he declined to make a
statement after adjournment.
In connection with the persistent de-
termination of the Allies to require the
surrender of the Germans on the ex-
tradition list, it was explained in
official circles that the feeling was
that despite the general Indifference
on the extradition question manifested
by the public there was an important
reason why the Allies should insist
upon the execution of the clause in
the treaty relating to the accused Ger
mans The impression is strong in
official French quarters, it was de-
clared, that the Germans are disposed
to make use of every possible pretext
to avoid the execution not only of this
but of other clauses of the treaty, and
if the Allies gave way on this point
it would be considered in Berlin as a
precedent on which to found demands
for further notifications.
Premier Millerand declared to-day
to the Foreign Affairs Commission Of
the Chamber of Deputies that the YER
sailes treaty gave the authority to
compel the Germans to fulfill, the
treaty requirements and that all meas
ures would be taken to insure the
execution Of the demands
Extradition of 896 Germans accused
of violations of the laws of war is de-
manded in the list handed Won Lers-
ner. England demands 81 for trial,
France and Belgium 334 each, Italy 20,
Poland 81, Rumania Al and Serbia 4.
/