PEACE OF JUSTICE

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 142, 18 June 1919, Page 5

PEACE OF JUSTICE

REPLY TO GERMANY

THE ALLIES' FINAL WORD

TREATY MUST BE SIGNED WITHIN FIVE DAYS

MUST PAY THE CONSEQUENCES

OF HER DEEDS.

KAISER TO BE ARRAIGNED,

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATIOH.—COPSRIOHT.)

\ABS. AND H.Z. CAILI ASSN. AND KEDTBIt.)

LONDON", 14th June.

An official summary of the Allied reply to the German, counter-proposals has been issued. In a covering letter the Allies, referring to the German protest against a " peace of violence," emphasise the point that the war \va6 the greatest crime against humanity ever consciously committed by a nation calling itself civilised. The Allies also emphasise Germany's responsibility for planning and starting the war, in which seven million men died, and over twenty million men were wounded and suffered. The letter also points to the savage and inhuman manner in which the war was conducted by the German troops. The Allies express the belief that they would be false to those who had given their all to save the freedom of the. world if they consented to treat the war as anything hut a crime against humanity.

" Right and Justice" is the only possible basis of peace, but it must be justice for all —for the dea-d, the wounded, the orphaned, and the be reaved, for the peoples now struggling ;.inder war debts exceeding thirty thou-,-nnd millions sterling, and for millions whose property German savagery has spoliated and destroyed. This is why the Allies insist, as a cardinal feature of the Treaty, that Germany must undertake to make reparation to the very uttermost of her power; that the individuals responsible for German aggression and outrages during the war must be handed over to justice; • and that Germany must submit for a few years to certain special disabilities and arrangements. If these things are hardships for Germany, she has brought them on herself. Somebody must suffer the consequences of the <war. Is it to be Germany, or the peoples she has wronged? The German revolution represents a great hope for peace and the new European order in the future, but it cannot affect a settlement of the war. The revolution was stayed until the German armies had been defeated and all hope of profiting by a war of conquest had vanished. The German people throughout the war supported the war and shared the responsibility with their Government, and they cannot now pretend to s having changed their rulers after the war was lost, or that it is just that they should escape the consequences of their deeds. The peace the Allies propose is fundamentally a peace of justice. The Allies are satisfied that their territorial proposals accord with the agreed basis of peace, and are necessary to the maintenance of the future peace of Europe. The Allies, therefore, are not prepared to modify them except in the respects. hereinafter laid dov/n.

FAIR ECONOMIC TREATMENT

With regard to the economic and financial proposals, the Allies have do intention of strangling Germany, or preventing her from taking her proper place in international trade and commerce, provided she abides by the Treaty of I'eace and abandons her aggressive and exclusive traditions in business. The Allies intend that Germany shall havo fair treatment in the purchase of raw materials and half the goods, subject to the temporary provisions mentioned in the interest of the nations which were ravaged by Germany. The Allies desire that the passions of war shall die as soon as possible, and that all the nations, including Germany, shall share in the prosperity that shall come from the honest supply of material needs. In order to make this intention clear, a number of modifications have been made in the financial and economic clauses of the Treaty, but the principles on which the Treaty was drawn up must stand.

REPARATION PROPOSALS STAND,

The Allies are not prepared to modify the reparation proposals, which were designed to make the payment of reparation as easy and convenient as possible, and to be interpreted in that Bonse, but with a view to arriving as soon as possible at a fixed and definite sum to be payable by Germany they are willing to accord Germany all reasonable facilities to enable her to survey the devastated regions and make proposals for the settlement of claims.

IMPORTANT MODIFICATIONS MADE.

The Allies emphasise the point that this covering .letter and the attached Memorandum constitute their last word. They have examined the German counterproposals earnestly and carefully, and consequently have made important modifications in the Draft Treaty, but in ite .fundamental outlines they stand by the Treaty, which must be accepted or rejected in its present form. Fail-rig a declaration by the German delegation within five days that they are prepared to sign the Treaty as amended, the armistice will immediately terminate, and the Allies will take steps as they think nee'/ful to enforce the terms.

SUMMARY OF POINTS

PUNISHMENT OF AUTHORS OF

WAR ESSENTIAL

In tho summarised reports of their reply, the Allies, referring to the responsibility for the war, emphasise the fact that their views a-re not merely based on the events between July,-1914,. and the outbreak of the wax. Autocratic Germany under her rulers' inspiration had been Jong bent on domination, aggression, and war. The essential truth of the Allied charges is admitted by the German revolution. The Allies consider that tho punishment of those* principally responsible for so much world-wide misery .md goffering is essential to justice, and i-o act as a deterrent to other rulers. The Allies cannot agree to the trial of the a^iiity by their own accomplices. Tho Kajser is &rraigne.d as a. matter of high international policy. The accused will be ensured full rights and liberties regarding his defence, in order that the judgment will bo o f a most solemn and judicial character.

The Allies refute the German Delegation's endeavour to prove that the Peace Treaty constitutes a breach of the-^basis f»f peace in accordance with the Wilsnnian principles.

The Allies see no reason why Germany cannot become a member of the League of Nations in the early future if her acts promise the necessary conditions. They are prepared to accord guarantees of protection to the German minorities in the ceded territories.

The German acceptance of the disarmament terms will hasten the general reduction of armaments.

As regards the European political clauses, it is pointed out that the G-er-man Note misconstrued the Saar Basin provisions. The delegation's refusal to carry out a reparation which will have the character of punishment appeal's to exclude the conception that justice is essential in any settlement. The Allies will not admit a plebiscite for Alsace-Lorraine. THE FRONTIER QUESTION. After defending the cardinal guiding principles regarding the eastern frontiers of Germany, the Allies express their readiness, in order to eliminate any possible injustice, to reconsider the ques- j tion that the historical frontier between Pomerania and West Prussia shall be respected, and that no part of Germany, outside the jformer Kingdom of Poland, shall be included in restored Poland. The Allies also point out that the isolation of East Prussia, which Germany refuses to accept, has existed for centuries. Is is not original German land, but a colony. Danzig was not included in Poland, because it is German. The Allies have decided that Upper Silesia shall not immediately be ceded to Poland. This will not be done till after a plebiscite is taken under Allied control. The main point of the wholo settlement is the genuine interest of the inhabitants, not the satisfaction of national pride. Germans transferred to Poland, are expressly safeguarded. The Memel district shall be transferred to the Allies, as the status of the Lithuanian territories has not yet been established.

The two articles regarding Heligoland must be accepted unconditionally, and they will be executed under the supervision of an Allied Commission.

COLONIES WILL NOT BE GIVEN

BACK

Regarding the ex-German colonies, the Allies state that they have placed the native populations' interests before every other consideration. Germany's subordination of native interests to her own ambitions has been revealed too completely to admit of the Allies consenting to make a second experiment and risking the fate of thirteen or fourteen millions of natives. Moreover, the Allies were bound to safeguard their security against the establishment of bases from which the world's trade could be threatened. The loss of Germany's colonies need not hinder her development. The trade of the German colonies has never represented more tha.n a very small fraction of her total trade—one-half per cent, of her imports and exports in 1913. Of the total colonial products imported by Germany only 3 per cent, came from he* own colonies, and for natural reasons the German colonies were not capable of accommodating more than a very small proportion of German emigrants. The conditions laid down had been determined upon in accordance with international law and the natives' interests.

The same applies to the regulation of German property in China.

ENFORCEMENT OF MILITARY

CONDITIONS,

The Allies cannot agree to the alteration of the main military conditions. Nevertheless they are willing to reduce the German Army more gradually than is at present stipulated, namely, to a maximum of two hundred thousand within three months, and at the end of three months and every subsequent three months the Allied military experts shall fix the strength of the German Army for the ensuing period, in order to reduce it to the stipulated hundred thousand at the soonest possible date, anyhow by Slst March, 1920. The reductian of officers and guns shall be similarly pro31st March, 1920. The reduction "of ofiisatipn of the fortifications is modified.

The German naval proposals cannot be entertained. The naval articles, having been carefully framed, must be accepted unconditionally. No negotiations are necessary on this point.

REPARATION COMMISSION SUGGESTED.

The Allies state that the German delegates have misunderstood or misinterpreted the reparation proposals. The Allies will welcome a German proposal to create a commission to co-operate with the Allied Commission. Germany will be invited to present evidence and submit special reparation proposals within four months from the signature of the Peace Treaty. The proposals . particularly acceptable shall be those specifying a German offer of a lump sum in settlement of the whole or part of the liability, or an offer to repair part or the whole of any damaged district, or the offer of the use of labour for- that purpose. Therefore,' inspection facilities will be granted. On these matters the German offers must be precise, and devoid of any ambiguity, but the categories and reparation 'clauses are indisputable. The Allies, without in any way committing themselves now, will within two months reply to any proposals.

GERMANY'S VAGUE OFFER CRITICISED. (Received June 18, 8 a.m.)

LONDON, 14th June. The, Allies criticise Germany's vague mention of £5,000,000,000 sterling in connection with reparation, and point out that no interest and ho substantial payment are offered until 1927, after which time undefined instalments continue for half a century. The present value of such prospect is small The Allies, however, recognising the mutual desirableness of the resumption of German industry, are prepared to afford Germany commercial facilities for that purpose on conditions which cannot be laid down in advance, and subject to the special economic situation created for the Allies by German aggression. Meanwhile the draft treaty must be accepted as definitive and signed. The Allies cannot longer delay to assure ■ their security. Germany cannot afford to deny her population the offer of peace, and the Reparation Commission must begin its work. The only question open now is how best to execute the provisions. of the treaty. The Allies maintain the right to obtain payment for reparation, etc., in priority of settlement of all. other German debts, but will approve exceptions. Germany must bear the cost of the military occupation of Rhineland, which is an essential guarantee. Germany cannot be credited with the value of captured war material, but an important concession will be the recognition as a prior charge upon German assets of the payment for food supplies and raw materials. . Germany's pre-war debt will bo divided in due proportion between Germany and the ceded territories, but France'cannot be required to assume part of the public debt for Alsace-Lorraine. Poland was also exempted, and the Gorman colonies, which have not paid their way, cannot possibly assume part of the German debt, nor can a mandatory State be required to do so. Germany will bo compelled to alienate1 a greater part of her foreign securities,- and no longer continue intimately involved in the financial and economic life of the Allies or of Russia. Owing to Germany's illegal acts many of the Allies are ill a state of economic inferiority, and therefore certain non-reciprocal conditions in tha matter of commercial exchanges have been imposed for the minimum of five years. Reciprocity, however,, will be applied whenever possible. The Allies accept a few changes regarding ports, waterways, and railways^ For example, free transit through Poland between East Prussia and the rest of Germany,