RANTZAU'S SPEECH.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17569, 13 May 1919, Page 5

RANTZAU'S SPEECH.

DICTATOR RATHER THAN SUP-

PLIANT

A CYNICAL AND ARROGANT

PHONO UNCEMENT.

Received May 12, 5.5 p.m

PARIS, May 10

Rantzau, in his speech at the Peace Conference, said: .We are refcdy to face any wrongs done, and do not wish to belittle the responsibility of the men who made the war, political, economic, and military. We repeat the pledge made at the beginning of the war with regard to wrong done to Belgium; but Germany is not the only criminal. If you think of guilt and punishment, the measure of guilt can only be decided by a neutral commission, ah* we repeat our demand for such an inquest. In this Conference where we stand we are not quite without protection. You have shown no fine art yourselves. You took six weeks to fix the armistice terms and six months ,to present the . peace terms. Hundreds of thousands havedied of cold and hunger since November through the blockade. Think of that when you think of guilt and punishment. Since November you have inscribed a peace of violence on your banner. In October we were prepared to accept peace on President Wilson's terms, and the Allies agreed to this basis. In. this matter the conscience of the world is behind us. No nation could violate it without punishment. The task of reparation could not be undertaken without our adversaries' co-opera-tion, and you cannot execute it without us."

Rantzau continued by saying reconstruction would possibly proceed rapidly if they had an understanding as to the best methods, He thought it wrong to utilise German war prisoners, as art would engender hatred among the people whose husbands and brothers were kept at penal work. Both victor aa.d vanquished must take into account the danger of Germany succumbing under the burden, with its incalculable consequences. He saw hope in the solidarity of the League of Nations pnly when its portals were thrown open to all nations. Then those who died in the war would not have died in vain. He concluded by urging such a peace as would not lead to future resistance.

The tone of the speech throughout was cynical, at times arrogant and even' insolent, and the manner of it left a wrathful feeling among many -of the listeners.