The Washington herald., 1921-02-02
Gruff, Fighting German
Count Sees U. S. Sym
pathy for Fatherland.
CLAIMS HIS ACTIONS
AT PARIS JUSTIFIED
Former Minister Declares
American War Ideals
At Stake.
BY KARL II. Won WIEGAND.
Special Cable Dispatch to
The Washington HerAld.)


The Washington Herald }
BERLIN. Feb. Count Brock
dorff Won Rantzau considers that
present events have completely jus
Titled his action in refusing to sign
the peace treaty at Versailles.
Eantzau, who as foreign minister
headed the German peace delegation
at Versailles, and who created a
sensation by remaining seated when
he answered CIemenceaus presenta-
ton Of the treaty terms, asserts
that the allied demands now prove
the correctness of his views regard
ing the impossibility Of complying
with the treaty.
That is the gist of a statement
made to me by the former foreign
minister.
Stands His Ground.
Rantzau is the only German
statesman so far who has had the
courage to say no" to the allied
demands. This is now being recall
ed. and his friends predict that he
may again play an important role
in German politics.
RantZu contends that the moment
mas again come for the German peO-
pie in one voice to answer no" 10
the reparatiOn demands as fixed by
the allies. Like every other prOmi-
nent German statesman. former
statesman, political leader or in
that Americas attitude on the aC-
tion of the supreme council can be
as decisive as was Americas 5 inter
ventiOn in the war.
AS long as I was foreign minis
ter" he said. Il believe l fully un-
derstOOd Americas attitude. Amer
ica entered the war principally for
ideal aims and the whole world
knows that America and not Eng
land and France decided the war,
Speaks of America.
Il am not pleading for Germany
hut l should think that after Amer
i,a's great achie vement, the Ameri-
can people would become convinced
that this very achievement and vic
tory for American ideals in the in
t2rest of the whole world, placed a
new obligation upon them.
American should realize the pO-
Htical and economic obi legation upon
her finally to reach the goal America
had in view when she went into the
war in the interest, as she believed,
Of all humanity.
L quite understand that after the
experiences of the last two years
the great statesmen of America are
inclined to disinterest themselves in
the special questions of Europe.
Not Europe Alone.
If as it appears in reports from
Paris, developments continue to
drive in this dangerous direction,
the leading Statesmen of America
will have to convince themselves
that today it is no longer an exclU-
siveIy Eurspean question with which
We are dealing. They must decide
that the interests of all peoples who.
for thr progress of humanity, are
dependent upon mutual co-Opera-
TOD are at stake.
Coming negotiations between
America and Germany will give the
,-nited States an opportunity to play
the role which it is entitled as de
ci~ivc factor in the outcome of the
war. to assure the world peace
the sons Of America fought and
bIed.
Justified by Events.
As to my personal views on the
present situation l must say today
that ! hoped I was mistaken when
retired from my post as foreign
minister. Unfortunately, however.
the course of the last eighteen
months has demonstrated that 7
was right and justified when l re-
fused to sign the name of Brock
dorff Rantzau to a scrap of paper
The imprasticability of the Yer
saiIles treaty was written on its
face even at that time and the at
tftude of the allies now makes the
treaty more impossible to carry out
every day. I have hoped that rea-
son would be victorious.
Despite all that, however, I have
not given up hope. Therefore 1
would like to conclude my talk
with you with these words:
Reason is dead; long live rea-
son"