Evening star., 1927-09-19
GERMANY RESENTS
TREATY VERDICT
President Hindenburg Repu-
dates Charge in Versailles
Pact of War Responsibility.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
BERLIN, September 19.--Germany's
challenge to her late enemies on the
subject of war guilt. as broadcast by
President Won Hindenburg at the dedi.
cation of the Tannenberg Battle Me-
mortal was received generally TODAY
as prelude to more vigorous cam
paign for the moral rehabilitation of
the Reich in the eyes of the world.
Time has not softened the sting of
paragraph 231 of the treaty of Var.
sailles, which declares that the war
was forced on the allied powers by
Germany and her allies, and which
has been ever since denounced from
public platform. press and pulpit here
as an untruth to which the German
signatories were forced to subscribe
under duress.
Hindenburg's Challenge.
The President in his speech yester.
day declared that Germany had uu.
sheathed the sword with a pure con.
science and in self-defense. The mem.
ory of those Germans who fell fight
ing for the freedom of their country"
and the honor of those still living, he
said, "enjoin me here and now to de-
clare solemnly: The accusation that
Germany was responsible for this
greatest of all wars we hereby repudi.
ate. Germany is ready at anv
moment TO prove this fact before i'm
partial judges"
His declaration was frantically an.
plauded. The speech was preceded bv
dramatic reunion with Gen. Luden-
dorff, the Nationalist whOsn the Presi.
dent had not received at any previous
function since his elevation to the
head of the republic.
The comment was heard today that
it may be more than mere coincidence
that Won Hindenburg's reputation Of
Germany's war guilt comedies with
the presence on European soil of 20 900
or more American war veterans.
Statement Viewed as Significant.
Even without this, the Presidents 3
pronouncement would be important,
but the fact that it was made at the
moment when the Franco-American n
comradeship in arms is being revived
by the American Legion visit to Paris
adds significance to an act which,
Germans say, is likely to provoke a
spirited controversy among the Reich's
erstwhile enemies as well as the neu-
trail countries.
The nationwide movement directed
against perpetuation of the war guilt
stigma received additional impetus
when the Nationalists entered the
MarX-StresSeman cabinet last Winter.
1t was commonly reported then that
one of the conditions of their accept
ance of responsibility in the govern.
ment was that formal and official steps
should be taken to wipe out forever
the indictment contained in paragraph
231 of the peace treaty.
Held Ideal Spokesman"
1t was universally agreed that the
personality and prestige of President
Won Hindenburg suggested that he
was the ideal spokesman for Ger
many in a solemn refutation of Ger
many's responsibility, and that the
dedication of the Tannenberg Memo
rial furnished an ideal opportunity in
view of the fact that it was largely a
compliment to his military genius.
Won Hindenburg directed the Germans
in their victory at Tannenberg against
the Russians in August. 1914.
The memorial is one of the most
unusual of all the postwar monu.
ments, both in respect to size and con.
ception. 1t occupies an area of about
40 acres and comprises series OF
eight huge towers, joined by CALLER.
les. One Of the towers will constitute
a memorial to Won Hindenburg, while
the others are devoted to war
museums and homes for war invalids
and veterans.
The memorial was paid for by popu.
lar subscription, and most of the
funds came from East Prussia, which
sponsored a nationwide drive for
worthy recognition of Won Hinden-
burg's defeat of the Russians.
Tribute to French Dead.
An ossuary. built as a memorial to
the French soldiers who fell in the
great struggle for the defense of Yer.
dun was dedicated on the battlefield
there yesterday.
A light in the tower, to be main.
tanned in perpetuity, was kindled by