PEACE TREATY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16817, 12 May 1919, Page 7

PEACE TREATY.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Assh. RANTZAU'S IMPUDENT SPEECH. CONDEMNED BY ALLLES. WILL THE GERMANS SIGN? Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. Received 5.5 p.m., May i'Lth. PARIS, May 8. '"What a stupid speech!" remarked President AVilson when Count Rantzau (German Foreign Minister) had finished. Mr Lloyd George said the speech represented German stupidity. The French Foreign Office believes that the identical terms, except for minor technical alterations, will be signed in two or three weeks. Travellers from Germany do declare that Herr Scheidemann cannot sign tho terms. He would prefer the Allies tio occupy Germany. Most of;, tho delegates are reconciled to several weeks negotiation. MR MASSEY^S"OPINIONS. PARIS, May 8. ' Mr Massey declared that the Germans' attitude was one of brazen effrontery. He expected' them to display independence, perhaps defiance Judging Germany by their action there was no sign of any.regeneration of the spirit of the people of Germany. On the contrary ho apprehended serious trouble from them 'before 'the terms were finally agreed upon. He believed however, that the Allies would stand by the terms in every important particular. "THE' MOST TACTLESS PEOPLE." The impression among British' delegates is that the speech was insolent and calls for strong action. All of them were surprised at its tone. Mr Wilson also said that the speoch proved the Germans the most tactless people on the face of the earth. They misunderstood human nature. Count Rantzau's speech was on a parity with their action throughout the war. They always did the wrong thing. THE JUNKER SPIRIT. • LONDON, May SThe "Daily Mail" describes Count Rantzau as an incarnation oombining the canctimonious, and truculent spirit of the Junker. His speech showed that Germany is wholly unrepentant and blatantly unconscious cf the horror in which she is held among civilised peoples. "A STUPID INSULT." PARIS, May 8. The insolence and rudeness of the Germans is strongly condemned by the Allied delegates generally. Count Rantzau's speech is regarded as a studied insult. British delegates, including Mr Lloyd George and Mr Bonar Law, admit that they were surprised and anger flashed through them, ,but they now agree that M. Clemenceau was wise in refraining from, ordering Rantzau to stand while he was speaking, as a physical reason prevented the German from standing. "If he felt unwell," said a leading delegate, "his Words did not show it. Anyhow he should have asked permission to remain seated." SLAVS WELCOME TREATY. The Czeoho-Slovaks and Poles heartily acclaim the Treaty as a real liberation. _ - STOCK FOR DEVASTATED COUNTRIES. One clause in the Treaty provides that 500 stallions, 30,000 filies, 1000 bulls, 90,000- cows and" 100,000 rams, sheep and goats shall be handed over by Germany to France, also a great number to Belgium. "A GOOD PEACE." M. CLEMENCEAU'S OPINION., ALLIANCE WITH BRITAIN AND AMERICA. PARIS, May 5. M. Clemenceau. interviewed, said: "I think it is a good peace. France has derived immense benefits from her association 'with England and America.. The Peace is the more satisfactory liecause it meajis an alliance with the two most powerful nations in the world. RECEPTION IN GERMANY. "TERMS A DEATH SENTENCE." COUNTER-PROPOSALS TO BE MADE. BERLIN, May 9. After Cabinet had discussed the Treaty for five hours Herr Scheidemanii, Pres'-dent of the Ministry, addressed the Parliamentary Committees appointed to consider the Treaty, Ha said: "The terms are' the death sentence of i Germany. Wo must discuss this document of hatred and madness with poli- ! tical sobriety." I Ho added that the Government had ! instructed the Paris Delegation to sub- : mit a Note to the Allies pointing out the difference 'between the Treaty and Mr 'Wilson's fourteen points, also to submit detailed counter-proposals and attempt to start an oral discussion. Herr Fehrenbach, chairman of the Assembly, speaking oui behalf of the leaders of all parties, said: "Herr Scheidemann has rightly declared that the terms are unacceptable. Discussions with the Allies and the Delegation at Paris will possibly result 'in a Peace- acceptable to tho German people. A AA T EEK OF MOURNING. PROTESTS AND APPEALS.' . The Government has. decided 1 op public mourning throughout the next week owing to the Peace terms. Theatres uill be closed. The Government is inundated with !. protests, especially fro.m eastern Germany, demanding alterations of tin? .tfclTOS.,

A German Not o to tlie Allies further insists on the release of German, prisoners.. The idea of joining -with Russia is gaining strength. The Russo-German frontier is partially open, and a great exchange of commodities is proceeding. Two thousand residents of Berlin have addressed! a letter to Mr Wilson, asking; him to. afford tlio ex-Kaiser his protection. It is expected that the German Government will refuse extrai dition. i President Ebert has issued a procla- . mat'ion violently denouncing the peace ■ terms as utterly impracticable. They are intended, it'states, to destroy Ger- : many, reduce her to slavery, and soiw! tho seed of future enmities spelling' s doom to any League professing to se-, cure world peace. Ebert urges the '' publio to support the Government. i which by counter-proposals is deterl' 1 mined to secure the victory of riwht. ' Germany's reply to the Peace terms will be a demand for a Peace of right as ' the only basis for a lasting peace of nations. COPENHAGEN, May 10. German newspapers state that Count ■ Rantzau's first Note in reply declares ■ that the Peace terms do nab accord • with Mr Wilson';-! fourteen points, and | ! adds that delegates desire to negotiate 1 with Mr Wilson direct. 1 A campaign has been opened in Germany denouncing the terms. Thou- ■ sands of mass meetings were arranged ! to protest. PARIS, May 10. Count Rantzau is contemplating an earljvreturn to Germany to confer with the Government. THE FIUME DISPUTE. < MR WILSON INFLEXIBLE. WASHINGTON, .May 10. The State Department unofficially anj hounees that Mr Wilson has not de- ■ viated a hair's breadth from his posi- , tion regarding tfa e Fiume dispute. Lord French's Book. IjArup THE KETREAT FROM MONS. LORD KITCHENER'S INTERPOSITION. •Received 5.5 p.m., May 11th. LONDON, May 8. Lord French, continuing his story cf \ the retreat from Mons in the "Daily Telegraph," shows that the Fifth Franch army commenced to retreat • from the Sam-are twenty-four hours be- . for© he (Lord French) received official intimation that Joffre's offensive had been abandoned. Lord French says: "My duty to my country demanded that I should not risk a recurrence, so I wrote to Lord Kitchener urging the i necessity of my retaining complete in- . dependence of action. General Joffre, . M. Pomcai'e, Lord Kitchener and' the [ British Government all sent messages, . which were urgently repeated, demand- . ing that I should stand and fight, yet • General Lanrezao was still being thrown ' back on the left flank of the Fifth i Army, widening the gap between the . French and British. I retain the pro. foundest belief that if I had yielded to these violent solicitations tho ' whols Allied! army would have been thrown ; hack in disorder oyer the Marne and . Paris would have fallen- an easy prey . to the Germans. "My refusal brought Lord Kitchener to Paris, where I met him on September -lsfty though I deeply resented being called from Headquarters when a critical action was going on." CONFLICT OF EVIDENCE. Mr George Arthur, Lord Kitchener's b'-'ographer, writes to the Press pointing out that Lord French's account of Kit- j chener's conduct in Paris in 1914 is not borne out by the telegrams and cori respondence between them. • Military members of the House of Commons resent Lord French's attack. ■ and intend to ask the Government if it . proposes to take disciplinary action against him. GERMAN DELEGATES' CON- - - FUSION. ■ Received 11.10 p.m., May 11th. PARIS, May 8. ■When the Gormans left the Conference room "they forgot to take the Treaty, and sent thoir secretary baejj' [ for it". FRENCH SATISFIED WITH TREATY, On the whole the French view tha J Treaty with satisfaction, though, the ? Socialists ara likely to think that the terms ar© not mild enough and the extreme Right tharfa they are not severe enough. -All aver agreed that the Treaty will require careful watching to see that its demands are complied with. The French take much the same view, of Count Rantzau's ebullition as the British. 3 AUTHORITATIVE BRITISH VIEW. A British authoritative statement oxj presses great satisfaction with' the Treaty, which is the sibornest in modern . history, yet contains nothing vindic* f. tiye. It is more than a peace. It is ,_ the first step towards a world Consti- . tution. d AUSTRIAN DELEGATES ARRIVE. The Austrian Peace delegates have , arrived at Saint Germa'ins, headed by , Dr Klein, a German-Austrian lawyer. ° A GERMAN NOTE. Count Rantzau presented a Note to M. Olemenceau stating that it was impossible for. Germany to fulfil tlie terms of peace. r '— ..- IJ - W " "T -. '