THE RECKONING WITH GERMANY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 252, 18 July 1919, Page 13

THE RECKONING WITH GERMANY

, TREATY OF VERSAILLES (, ... _J— l MAIN POINTS OF THE ALLIES' DECISIONS I — • The Peace Congress assembled at Versailles in -February, and the text of the Peace terms to Germany was published in May, when the German delegates were summoned to the bar of the nations. Then fol- > lowed a period of negotiations and bargaining which lasted till the middle of June, when the Allies delivered a final Note conceding certain modifications in the financial and economic clauses of the original . draft Treaty, but insisting that the principles on which thch Treaty was drawn up-must stand. The main points of the- draft Treaty as presented to the Germans are as follow:— i " REPARATION. ; Germany accepts responsibility for all loss and damage suffered by ' the Allied and Associated Governments. Within two years she will pay £1,000,000,000; and after 1921 £2,600,'f)00,000, bearing f> per cent; interest after 1926; finally she will give an undertaking to deliver £2,000,000,000 bearing .interest at 5 per cent, on terms to be fixed by an International Commission. This Commission will fix the total obligations of Germany m the matter of damages before May 1, 1921. Shipping losses; are to be replaced ton for ton, Germany handing ora all her ships over 1600 tons arid undertaking to build 200,000.t0ns annually for the 'Allies for five years ;.' • * France, in recovering Alsace-Lo rraincy accepts no share of Germany's pre-war debt. The .cost of the .Armies of Occupation will bo a first charge oh German resources. '> , Germany is forbidden for five years to discriminate by tariff against the trade of the Allies.' Note.—The amended clause , provides that Germany will be invited to present evidenco and submit special reparation proposals within four mouths from the signature- of the Peace Treaty. The proposals particularly acceptable shall be those specifying a German offer of a lump sum in settlement of tho whole or part of the liability, bran offer to repair part or the whole of any damaged <lis-■ trict, or the offer of the use of labour for, that purpose. Therefore, inspection facilities will 'be granted. On these matters-tho German oilers must be precise, and devoid of ambiguity, but the categories and reparation clauses are indisputable. The Allies, without in any way committing themselves now, will within two ' months Teply to any proposals. ' OVERSEAS POSSESS lONS RENOUNCED. Germany renounces all her overseas possessions to the Allied and 'Associated Powers. She renounces in favour of China all rights conceded under the Boxer Protocol of 1901, accepts the abrogation of the Hankow .and Tientsin concessions, and surrenders all public property, except diplomatic and Consular establishments, in Chinese territory. ' She cedes to Japan all her rights in Shantung. Germany recognises the British Protectorate over Egypt, and.renounces all rights secured in Morocco under the Act. of Algeciras and • ' other treaties. Note!—No modifications -were conceded in reply to the German counter- '. proposals. The. point made by the Allies was that the rights of the native peoples came before, the interests of Germany. i • GERMAN MILITARY AND NAVAL FORCES. ' i .'_■■ ■■• _ Compulsory military service is to be abolished. ...The effectives the n<"v German Army are fixed at 100,000 men, enlisted for a period of not 1, .•■•;> than twelve yeai s. The General Staff is abolished. The production ■ ol war material is limited according to'the size of the Army. Tanks, poison gas, and liquid fire'are disallowed. _ The German Navy limited to six'battleships of a small and old type, six light cruisers, twelves destroyers, and twelve torpedoboats. The personnel is not to exceed 15,000. : No submarines will be allowed. ' ■■'■..■' ' . i The fortifications of Heligoland and all fortifications commandI ing maritime routes between the North Sea and the Baltic are to be de- . molished. The, Kiel Canal is to remain open to ships'of war and merchant shipping'.of all nations at peace with Germany. No fortifications or armed forces may be maintained by Germany less, than 50. v kilometres (abc.t 30 miles) east of thfe Rhine. A, violation 'of this '• article will be'Vgardcd as a hostile act. . ■ Germany is.' not to possess any military or naval air forces. German prisoners and interned civilians arc to be returned without delay at the cost of Germany. /'..'■■■'' Note.—The modifications conceded a more gradual reduction of tho German Army, namely, to a maximum of two hundred thousand within three. months, and at tho end of three months and every subsequent- threo: months the Allied military experts shall fix the strength of the German: ■Army for the ensuing period, in order to Tedtice it to the stipulated hundred thousand at the soonest possible date, anyhow by March 31, 1920. The period .for the demobilisation of the fortifications was also modified. The German naval proposals were not entertained. ' ■ , ARMIES OF OCCUPATION. •; ' The left bank of the Rhine and the bridgeheads will be occupied by 'Allied and Associated troops for fifteen years, certain districts being evacuated at the end of five and ten years if Germany faithfully fulfils ' her obligations.. . • Germany undertakes in advance to consent to the Treaties and Conventions to be concluded with her allies. Germany accepts the findings ' of all Allied Prize.Courts,■.'while the Allies reserve the right of examining German Prize Court decisions. i: THE WAR CRIMINALS. ' The ex-Kaiser, is to be arraigned for a supreme offence against international morality. The German Government will hand over all persons accused of violation of the laws and customs of war to be tried by military tribunals set up by the' Allies. '...'. Note—No modification conceded. "The Allies consider that the punishment of those principally .responsible for so much world-wide, misery and suffering is essential to justice, and to act as a deterrent to other rulers." ' CONCESSIONS TO; BELGIUM. Germany is to consent to the abrogation of the Treaties of 1839, . which established Belgium as a neutral) State. She is to recognise the full sovereignty of Belgium over the hitherto neutral territory of Morvesnet and part of PrussianMore'snet, and. renounce all rights over the - 'Eupen andMalmedy districts pending final decision by the League of . Nations. ■..,.' ,■ ,Germany renounces all her tre'aties with;and rights in the Grand Duchy of .'Luxemburg. > THE SARRE VALLEY.' \Germany cedes to France full ownership of the coal mines of the Sarre basin. The territory will be governed by a Commission of five appointed by the League of Nations. After fifteen years a plebiscite will be held- to decide the ultimate sovereignty of the region. . The restoration of any portion to Germany is conditional on Germany buying out the French*'mines. ■ALSACE-LORRAINE. Alsace-Lorraine is restored to France with its frontiers of before' 1871. The' Rhine bridges pass into French hands. Note—Plebiscite asked for and refused. " POLAND AND DANZIG. Germany is to cede to Poland the greater part of West Prussia. Danzig is to be a free city, but Poland is to have, port facilities and control.of the Vistula and the railway system. The frontiers between Poland and.East-Prussia are to be. decided by plebiscite. The Memel district of East Prussia is ceded to the Associated Powers. Poland obtains the province of Poscnand the greater part of Upper Silesia. Note.—ln a modifying clause tho Allies express their readiness, in order to eliminate any possible injustice, to reconsider the question that, tho , historical frontier between Pomerania and West Prussia shall bo respected, and that no part of Germany, outsido tho former Kingdom of Poland, shall be included in restored Poland. With regard to Silesia, «. plebiscite has been conceded ; DENMARK AND RUSSIA. The frontier between Denmark and Germany is to be decided by a plebiscite in Northern Schleswig 'and a vote by communes in parts of Central Schleswig. . ; ' Germany is to recognise• the independence of the territories of the former Russian Empire. The Brest-Litovsk Treaty is annulled. Germany recognises the independence of German-Austria and Czecho-Slovakia. , WATERWAYS AND RAILWAYS. . Germany is to grant facilities for international transport Portions of the Elbe, Oder, Niemen, and Danube are declared international. Provision is made for a Rhine-Danube Canal. The Allied States arc entitled to the most'favourable conditions available as concern railway transport. THE LABOUR CONVENTION. . Among the principles which the high contracting parties affirm, subject to special circumstances in the various industrial communities, arc the following:— That Labour should not be regarded merely as a. commodity or / article of commerce. The right of association for all lawful purposes for, the employer as *- well as for the employed. The "payment to the employed of a wage implying a reasonable stan- , • dard of life, as understood in their time and country. The adoption of an eight-hour day or a forty-cighHiour week, where it has not already been attained. . 1 , The*adoption of a weekly rest of at least twenty-four hours, including Sunday where practicable. The abolition of child labour and the limitation of the labour of the young, to as to permit the continuance of tlnir education and proper physical development. The principle of equal pay for men and women for equal work. Any legal standard for conditions of labour to li.ave regard in each country to the equitable economic treatment of all workers resident therein. The provision by each State of a system of inspection for the protection of the employed, in which women should take part.