Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-11-11
G Underwood & Underwood.

Germany had to accept these as they
were or reject them. The only con-
cession Erzberger was able to obtain
was that there might be non-oficial
meetings between the German dele
gates and Marshal Foch'S colleagues
during the afternoon.
Before the end of the session, which
lasted three-quarterS of an hour, 1t
was agreed that the time for accept
ance or rejection of the armiStice would
expire on the 18th of November at IL
in the morning.
1t soon became apparent to the
Germans that the representatives of
the allies did not believe them. In
fact, Erzberger states that one of
these representatives asserted openly
that Germany was seeking to draw the
allies into a trap and merely wished to
gain time in which to reform her dis
organized troops and then to renew
hoStilitieS, and that the protestation by
the Germans of their honesty and sin
certify in the negotiations could not
diSSipate the suspicious with which
they and their government were re-
garded by the negotiators for the
allies.
ceived a radio from the chan
cellor informing the delegates that the
Emperor had abdicated, the Crown
Prince had renowned the throne and
that the question of the regency was
being settled, the chancellor remaining
in Office. About midnight Saturday
the French staff advised Erzberger that,
according to a press report, a new
popular government had been formed,
to which the Berlin garrison had adj
hered, under the leadership of the So
cial Democrat Ebert, and a cabinet
composed exclusively of Social Demo-
Gratis and Independent Socialists.
The difficulty was finally got over
by both delegations agreeing that II a
German government authorized its
delegates to sign the arrniStice, 1t would
the power to fulfill its engagements
The British added to this declaration
that the allies reserved the right, in
case the conditions of the armiStice
were not fulfilled, to compel their exc
cution by force and even to occupv
Heligoland. During this same evening
Marshal Foch sent his reply to the So
called counter-propositions Of the Ger
mans.
FIldlly dDOuJ lUsOU OuI1Qdy evening
came an open dispatch. You are au-
thorized to sign the terms of the ar
mistice. ReichkanZler, Schluss.''
AS matter of fact, this telegram
was not sent by the chancellor at all,
but by the German general staff. Com
with Berlin were badly in
terrupted and time was passing, so
that the headquarters believed itself I'M
der the circumstances not only au-
thOrized to approve signing the arni-
't1ce, but that 1t was an imperative duty
to do so. After this telegram was sent
all the measures taken, as did
all the other secretaries of state. who
were in Berlin. and as subsequent rati-
flcation is equivalent to prior authority
In all codes of law, no questions as to
the legality of the execution of the ar
mistice could be raised.
At SIP am. short recess was taken,
during which the conclusion OF the
armistice was announced to German
headquarters by radio. At $50 the
signing of the agreement in duplicate
began. At the proposition of Marshal
Foch the last page only was signed. be-
cause the preparation of the other
pages and Of the copies would take sew
eral hours.
The moment was historic, and all
present, with the solitary exception of
Erzberger, realized its far-reaching
Erzberger seemed to be so
pleased with the concessions from the
original text, which he had obtained,
that this satisfaction apparently over.
balanced any other feeling.