GERMAN LIABILITIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17167, 22 May 1919, Page 7

GERMAN LIABILITIES.

CLAIMS FOR REPARATION.

i PROTESTS DISALLOWED.

NATION HELD RESPONSIBLE.

I Australian and N. 7. Cable Association. A. and ,N.Z. PARIS. May CO. I A German Note, while admitting j liability to make reparation in accordance with Mr. Wilson's Note of 'November 5 disclaims liability for lan indemnity for war losses. The allied reply adheres to the claim pointing out that Mr. Wilson's Note I included reparation for damage i arising from Germany's aggression | bv land, air, and sea. I Another reply to the German re- ! presentations is a refusal to admit 1 that the German people can disclaim 1 responsibility for the actions of the former German Government. ' I Count Brockdorff - Rantzau declares that nothing is farther from ! his thoughts than to attempt per- • sonal negotiations with Mr. Wilson.

PROTESTS IN ASSEMBLY.

CHANCELLOR'S RHETORIC.

(Received 5.20 p.m.) Renter. LONDON'. May 20. According to Berlin advices the 1 German Chancellor, Herr Scheidemann, speaking at a meeting of the J National Assembly held in Berlin to | 1 discuss the peace terms, dramatically j ' declared: " This is tho turning point j in the life of the German people, i iWe must stand together. Wo have Ino duty other than to keep the I nation alive. Germany pursues no ' nationalistic dreams. There is 110 question of prestige or thirst for power. Life, bare life, is what we must save for Germany to-day when j everyone feels the throttling hand at 'his throat." I Seheidemann spoke of the German ' disappointment at Mr. Wilson's atti- 1 1 tude, and complained at great length ' of the peace conditions, which he de--1 clared were such that no honest man ! could sign them, as they meant the I strangling •of Germany. He de- ! clared that the Vienna Government j was standing with the Germans in j paving the way to negotiations, not. only for themselves, but for the society of nations. Scheidemann concluded: The dignity of humanity is placed in your hands to preserve. We shall make more counter-proposals to the treaty which the Government views as unacceptable. The voices of Italy, Britain, and France arc now heard protesting.'' The whole speech was characterised by laboured rhetoric, and was obviously addressed to the gallery. 1 It was punctuated throughout with ! applause, and when Scheidemann de--1 clared the treaty unacceptable, the ; j House, rose to its feet and confirmed his words by tremendous applause in 1 j which the galleries participated.