GERMANY MUST SIGN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17337, 8 December 1919, Page 7

GERMANY MUST SIGN.

CONSEQUENCE OF REFUSAL. ALLIED MILITARY ACTION. GERMAN PLEA FOR DELAY. ; By Telegraph Press Association Copyright. (Received 9.30 p.m.) A. and N.Z. PARIS. Dec. 6. Th© Allies have notified Germany i,. it she must sign the protocol to ■ the Versailles Treaty, otherwise military measures will be taken im- j ] mediately. ! ■ It is understood that Germany is making secret overtures to the , Allies, asking them to withhold ex- " treme measures pending the despatch of new negotiators to Paris. The Allies are considering the imme- I diate reapplication of the blockade. i FOCH MEETS THE GERMANS. "A VERY FIRM INTERVIEW." (Received 8.30 p.m.) Reuter. PARIS, Doc. 5. The decision of the United States delegation to remain in Paris has been emphasised by a visit of Marshal Foch to the chief of the German . delegation, with whom he had a very firm interview. A CONTENTIOUS CLAUSE. ENFORCEMENT OF TERMS. (Received 8 p.m.) j Router. PARIS. Dec. 3. Herr von Lersner, head of the German peace, delegation at Paris, in an interview, said that he authorised to sign the protocol to the Versailles Treaty if the last senj tence was eliminated. This reserves ! the right for foreign armed forces to enter Germany after peace is effectuated if the terms of the treaty are infringed. Herr von Lersner admitted that the wording of the protocol showed that it was only intended to apply to important matters, but he contended that when put to the test, it might be applied to insignificant points. He said that Germany's suggestion, to invite a decision by the Hague Convention regarding the Scapa Flow sinkings, was based on the argument that • Germany was i not responsible, and, therefore, desired impartial judgment. Germany was prepared to sign the protocol immediately the Allies agreed to that proposal. He contended that the Baltic question was already settled by the complete evacuation of German troops from Lithuania,