Evening star., 1920-01-29
GERMANS TO RESIST
GIVING Up GUILTY
into ALLIES HANDS
Government Officials Fearful
for SeIveS-No One Will
Make Arrests, Is Claim.

BERLIN. January 2S (by the Asso-
ciated Press).-Indication of the gov
ernment's growing concern over the
extradition of Germans accused of war
offenses was given in the note sent to
the allies today asking revision of
clauses of the Versailles treaty. The
attempted assassination OF Matthias
Erzberger. minister of finance, last
Monday is viewed in official circles as
precursor of what is likely to hap
pen on a larger scale If the govern
ment. yielding to the allies, appeals
to force in arreSting men on the list
submitted by the entente powers. Edi-
torial and partisan recriminations.
provoked by the attack on the finance
minister have already reached the
white-hot stage.
Cabinet Apprehensive.
While it has been commonly known
that WilhelmSrrasse would use all its
persuasive power in an effort to In
duce the allies to desist in their
avowed purpose of demanding the
surrender of Germans. the shots aimed
at ErzberEer have made the cabinet
more apprehensive than it has been
at any other time relative to the en-
forcement of the extradition clauses.
The note to the allies. which will
not be published in Germany. warns
lhc eultnlc po"erS tildl IffItldNN
cannot assume she is able to COM
pei ether national or local agencies
of the law to lay hands on the men
wanted and transfer them to Ger
man frontiers. The Associated Press
is informed that even responsible Of
ficials of the foreign office have an
nounced point blank they will refuse
to execute any work connected with
extradition formalities. and they
threaten to strike or indulge in pas
sive resistance"
Widespread Sentiment.
A leading official OF the foreign Of
fee expressed doubt today that
man could be found in Germany,
from an army or navy commander
down to an humble village deputy,
who would lend himself to the work
of executing warrant for the ar
rest or detention of fellow country
men to be dragged before foreign
tribunal"
Suggestion is made in the note that
the men wanted be tried by the su-
preme court at Leipzig, and in this
part of the communication the cab
met has indicated it's belief that the
nations highest tribunal caL guar
antee an exhaustive and impartial
trial. 1t is pointed out that the al
lies are given representation on IN.
bench of the supreme court, whien
should further tend to guarantee
fair trial.
Situation Held PrecarIOus.
The economic situation in Germany
is precarious at present. and this Is
an unsuitable period to invite trouble.
the note indicates, continuing TO
point out that trouble, il 1t comes,
will not be confined to any single
party.
"The whole nation is likely to go
on general strike" an official de
clared today while discussing the
governments plight, if it is coerced
into even making feint In the dl-
wanted. 1t is definitely stated that
no list of names of men whose extra
dition will be demanded has az yet
been received. and that the govern
ment has no hint of when it is COM
ing or who Is wanted
ErxberEer's Condition.
BERLIN. January 2s.-An exam
ination of the wound of Matthias Err
berger. vice premier and minister or
finance. who was shot Monday by Olt-
wig Won Hirschfeld, shows the wound
little changed, with no inflammation.
There is some swelling, however, and
the wound is causing him pain. The
patients temperature is normal, but
his pulse still continues at 120.
In consequence of his setback yes
terday. he is suffering from exhaus-
ton and requires great care. While
there is no immediate danger. Herr
Erzberger may deal only with the
most important state affairs.
kaiser Letter "Invention."
THE HAGUE, January 29.-Tele
graphing to the Amsterdam Handels-
blad, Gen. Won Gontand. adjutant to
former Emperor William of Germany,
declares that the widely printed let
/ ter purporting TO have been sent by
William Hohenzollern from Ameron-
gen to Prince Furstenberg, saying
that the former emperor had no desire
to return to Germany, as he felt he
had been deceived even by officers of
the German high command. was an in
vention in its entirety.