GERMANY

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16421, 23 April 1919, Page 3

GERMANY

GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTERSHOWS HIS SKILL AS DIPLOMAT. By Telegraph—Press Assn, —Copjright. (Received April 23, 11.40 a.m.) BERLIN. April 19. Count Rantzau, interviewed by the Kgue Freie Presse, deprecated the sr.gN gestion tiiat Germany should take advantage of the Entente dissensions. Tho interviewer remarked that the dissensions at the Peace Conference must be very serious. Count Rantzau rejoined: So you are bent on making me play the role of a Talleyrand at the preliminary Peace Conference. But things are very different from a hundred years ago. To-day tho peoples themselves take an active" part in directing the course oi history and that gives a completely different background 1 to tho peace negotiations. It would moreover bo foolish to attempt to play off one of our enemies against the others. Iheir relations are s 6 close that such an attempt would soon bo disclosed. ’ Count Rantzau thought it would be worthier of a nation of 70 millions tc convince all her enemies openly and straightforwardly of the justice toi which she was striving _ rather than by descending to paltry intrigues _ to fib with fresh explosives the political atmosphere which is still poisoned with the effects of war propaganda. He added that Germany and the whole world had received such severe wounds in tho past four years that all were interested that the healing process should work smoothly.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. . . , Count Rantzau continued: Especially in the matter of the world’s economic recovery our enemies are as much concerned that we should retain the ability to meet our obligations as we are interested that in future commercial relations we should be dealing with contractors on whoso solidarity wo can rely. So many mutual interests are involved, affecting all tho participants in _the final peace discussions that, provided there is a certain amount of goodwill, a- basis is afforded for an honest understanding which to us means a peace of justice.”—Reuter. GERMAN CLAIMS. FOR AIR RAID DAMAGE. (Received April 23, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, April 19. The Frankfurt Gazette states that the German delegates are formulating claims against the Entente for compensation for air raids and tho expenses incurred owing to tho delay in the conclusion of peace and the prolongation of the blockade.—Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GENERAL STRIKE OVER. BERLIN, April 21. ' The general strike has ended. Germany has officially accepted all the Allies’ conditions respecting tho Versailles Conference.—Reuter. INTERESTING FORECAST. OF GERMAN SCHEMES. (Received April 23. 10.35 a.m.) LOND< >N. Apni 22. The 'Geneva correspondent of the Daily Telegraph learns on reliable autuonty that the German Government is determined to continue the policy of bluff and intimidation.

A former Entente diplomat from Berlin, where he interviewed loading statesmen, is of opinion that the German delegates will either refuse to sign tho treaty or that the Government will resign in consequence of tiie military party’s pressure. Either course would indefinitely postpone tho peace indemnities.

What has caused the most alarm is that Herr Scbioller has resigned, because he has refused to consider the acceptance of the terms. Herr Schieffer told an informant that the Entente was powerless to force them by military and economic measures into financial slavery, therefore they did not see why they should sign away their wealth and liberty for the next twenty or thirty l years. It appears that the Berlin Cabinet was divided on the question of the acceptance of the terms. The younger Ministers urged the refusal of the terras, accompanied by an ironical invitation to the Allies to occupy Germany. They argue that occupation is impossible and that the Allies dare not continue the blockade fearing the spread of Bolshevism. they also calculate that t\e Allied Socialists will support Germany’s passive resistance. On the other hand Counts Rantzau and Bernstorff and Herr Dsrnberg advocate obtaining all possible concessions by bluff and then accepting the terms, trusting that future developments will enable a modification or avoidance of the fulfilment of the obligations.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.