THE OLD AND THE NEW

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12021, 26 December 1924, Page 8

THE OLD AND THE NEW

I HINDENBURC AND EBERT “FATE OF THE NATION IS IN YOUR HANDS.” AN ECHO OE 1913. I By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright L Australian and N.Z Cab'a Association. (Received December 24, 9 p.m.) 3 LONDON, December 24. The “Morning Poet" correspondent in 3 Berlin reports that a case at Magde--5 burg, in which an obscure journalist 3 was tried for libelling Herr Ebert, the 3 President, in a little-known periodical, 3 is assuming great political importance. 3 The Nationalists have used the case throughout in a most cunning manner 5 to carry out their regular policy of discrediting the Socialists; The decision in the case was most ‘ curious. The journalist was imprisoned for insulting the highest official in the Reich, hut the libel was held to be par- , tially yin (Tie ground that [ Herr Ebert’e connection with the muni- . tion workers’ strike in January, 1918, , wag technically treasonable. ’ The most remarkable evidence ten- . dered was a letter written to Herr . Ebert in December, 1918, in which , Marshal Hindenburg paid a tribute to Herr Ebert as a loyal German, and said: ‘ ‘The fate of the nation is in your hands. I and the whole army are ready to support you unreservedly.” Herr RotHardt, editor of ft provincial newspaper, for libelling Dr Ebert, whom . he accused of helping to prolong ihe munition workers’ strike in 1918, and ’ of publicly urging the workers not to : respond to the military order to join the army, was sentenced to three ’ months’ imprisonment. GERMANY AND LEAGUE CONDITION OF MEMBERSHIP. OLD CLAIMS REITERATED. Reuter’s Telegram. LONDON, December 23. Germany, iu reply to the Council of , the League of Nations, regarding her entry into the League, makes her ad- , herence condition on the concession to Germany of the right to decide regarding active participation in the League in the event of punitive undertakings, in view of the disproportionate state of the armaments of the European Powers. An annex to the Note reiterates Germany’s claims regarding equality of status regarding the guilt for the war. It adds that Germany expects to ter admitted to the mandatory system of the League in regard to the ex-German colonies. PLEA OF WEAKNESS ARMY ONLY 100,000 STRONG. Reuter’s Telegram. 1 BERLIN, December 23. The German Government’s Note to the Secretary-General of tho League of I Nations, supporting the contention that in the event of Germany joining the League she should he excused from the obligation involved by Article 16 of the Covenant, laying down the procedure of ! members of the League against any State breaking the Covenant, dwells on the disarmament of Germany, whose army is now only 100,000, while neighbouring States of much smaller populations than Germany possess much larger armies.' An example is given o? one such a State whose population is under 40,000.000, hut which has an army of 700,000. ALLIES NOT SATISFIED ! GERMANY’S DISARMAMENT. i Australian and N.Z. Cab’s Association. I PARIS, December 23." Advices from Berlin state that the inter-Allied Military Control Commission has forwarded to Paris a further fortnightly report, stating that Germany has not fulfilled: any of the five goints laid down at the Ambassadors’ onference regarding disarmament.