PEACE TREATY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10284, 20 May 1919, Page 5

PEACE TREATY

RANTZAU GOES TO SPA

BELIEVED HE WILL SIGN

TREATY

By Telegraph— Press Association— Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. PARIS, May lti.

' Count Rantzau has been granted a passport to visit Spa, for the purpose of meeting German financiers and other important personages from Berlin. There is a- strong impression in Paris that Rantzau has decided to sign the Treaty, and it is expected that negotiations "will conclude between June Stn and 10th.

DIFFERENCES AMONG GERMAN

DELEGATES.

(Received May 20, 12.10 a.m.) PARIS, May 18. The "Matin" says that acute differences exist among the German delegates. Count Rantzau is willing, but his colleagues are unwilling, to sign the Treaty. Rantzau and his staff have gone to Spa to meet financial experts from Berlin. Possibly Scheidemann and the plenipotentiaries will return on Monday. The Saar Not© offers alternative compensations to France for the destruction of the mines.

(Received May 19, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, May 18,

As the twenty-first is the last day allowed the Germans to consider the Treaty, it is realised that Count Rantzau's visit to Spa will probably settle the question by 6igning or refusing to sign it. It is understood that Rantzau meets Scheideniann, and it is generally expected that Rantzau will intimate his readiness to sign, at the same time indicating minor changes in ethics which tihe Entente may concede. it is thought there will be no change in the main principles of the Treaty. (Received May 19, 5.5 p.m.) COPENHAGEN, May 18. The German Government has received from Paris the preamble of the German reply. It is doubtful if ttte complete reply will be ready by mo twenty-first. i GERMANY IN MOURNING. WEARS HER HEART UPON HEK SLEEVE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. BERLIN, May II (delayed). A week of official mourning has commenced in Germany. It is intended to demonstrate to the world that Germany is disconsolate. Nevertheless, it is expected that a Socialist Government would sign the Treaty, if small modifications are made to save the Government's face. * ; ' '"•': "TRICKS OF BLUFF CON TIN I) E." BERLIN, N May 11 (delayed). Herr Maximilien Harden states that the conditions arc nob harder than was expected. "The Government press," ho says, "continues to use the same tricks of bluff as under the old regime, and the Government's proclamations are only bad copies, of; those; of. the Kaiser's time. The whole press is violently inciting the Germans against the Allies, and agitating for a refusal to sign the Treaty; but all must know that if the Allie 3 occupy the coal districts they can force Germany to sign anything within a week. I believe the Allies havo made the conditions harder because they are suspicious." ANGER ACCOMPANIES DOLOUR, "A PEACE COUPLED WITH MISERY." Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, May 17. After the first paralysing impression of the Treaty, Germany is giving way to anger. The newspapers continue to make the most bitter comments. The "Frankfurter Zeitung" says: "Wo stand on the tomb of hope. The only question is whether it will be also the tomb of the German nation. Never was murder accomplished in a moro hateful form, or with more cynical equanimity." The "Deutsche Tagcszeitung" says: "We expected the alternatives of refusal and hunger, or peace and bread; but the best we can now hope for is a peace coupled with misery for an indefinite period, and involving world slavery." A BRITISH PAPER'S CRITICISM. "PEACE WITH A VENGEANCE." Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, May 11. The "Observer" publishes a slashing criticism of the Peace Treaty, which it describes as "peace with a vengeance," instead of being a settlement with security. It is a patchwork that hints at trouble in every seam. The terms raise more dangers than they lay, and scatter dragons' teeth across Europe. Tho only hope lies in strengthening the League of Nations; otherwise, tho Treaty will not last five years. The English-speaking democracies will never mobilise again on behalf of the proposed arrangements. TJie victorious democracies had a just quarrel, and they will demand a real and sane Eeace. The world now suggested is ased upon militarism. After tho receipt of the first thousand millions sterling, nothing about the indemnities will be sure, but the vanquished raco is vaguely expected to keep working for others decade after decade. This is against human nature. The Peace must be altered by a revisory council, or general disarmament must .bo indefinitely postponed. The Treaty opens up a hopeless vendetta between the Poles and the Germans, while the Russians, the Magyars, the Bulgars, the German-Aus-trians, and the Jugo-Slavs will also have new feuds. The root of the vice of the Treaty is that it leaves tho Geimans no hope but revenge. DUTOH"PRESS OPINION. AMSTERDAM, May 10. Dutch newspapers consider the Treaty one of unimnginod severity, which Germany cannot accept. They prediot that the German delegation will withdraw from Versailles if tho Allies reject the counter-proposals. WHAT PRUSSIAN PREMIER SAYS. BERLIN, May 10. The Prussian Primo Minister states that the, Ponco Treaty contains no trace of justice. It is a peace of violence, from which will result further bloodshed and team.

GERMANY'S GL'ILT FOR WAR. COMMISSION TO PREPARE HER DEFENCE OF CHARGE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received May 19, 10.50 p.m.) LONDON, May 16. According to Berlin messages, Count Kantzau's Note disputing Germany's sole guilt for causing the «'ar was dictated by the German Government, irhich desires all charges, together with supporting evidence, to be brought forward openly, examined fuliy, and Germany's defence heard. Germany would atrongiy support referring the question to a neutral tribunal. She is ready to produce every available document, and is determined to bring the guilty to ! justice. The Government has appointed a Commission to prepare Germany's defence. [LIBBKNECHT AND LUXEMBOURG. ! two officerlTconcerned IN THEIR MURDER. [ Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. Received May 19, 10.30 p.m.) AMSTERDAM,' May 15. In connection with the deaths of Liebknecht and Rosa Luxembourg, two officers have been sentenced to two years' imprisonment. TRIPLE OFFENSIVE ENTENTE. (Received May 20, 12.30 a.m:) PARIS, May 18. The American delegates expect the" Senate will approve of the triple defensive entente. GERMAN TREATY WITH FINLAND AND THE UKRAINE. (Received May 20, 12.30 a.m.) PARIS, May 18. The "Lokal Anzeiger's" Versailles' correspondent says the Allies will not insist on the abrogation of German treaties with Finland and the Ukraine.