PEACE TREATY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10288, 24 May 1919, Page 7

PEACE TREATY

"RATHER DEAD THAN SLAVES.'

PHRASE OF THE PRUSSIAN

PREMIER

Hy Telesraph—Press Association— Copyright Australian ana N.Z. CaDle Association.

LONDON, May 21,

The "Daily Chronicle's" Berlin correspondent states that the newspapers claim that the Entente cannot fail to be impressed by the unanimity expressed in the National Assembly. Prominence is given to the vehement phrase of the Prussian Prime Minister, Herr Hirsch, that the Germans would rather be dead than, slaves. ■ Tho women delegates have appealed to their sisters in tho Entente countries to realise that the terms tor Germany smother all hop© that their children will ever have a better life than now. This could never bring peace. _ The Mayor of a West Prussian town has advised the citizens to "Go home and pack up vour belongings, and close your shops, because fighting will start immediately." ~ Many others make similar predictions. RANTZAU'S FURTHER OBJECTIONS. LONDON, May 21. Count Rantzau intends to present, sis additional Notes —the first on Eastern territorial questions, tho second relating to Alsace-Lorraine, the third to the occupied regions, rtilio fourth-to reparation, the fifth to labour legislation, and the sixth to the treatment of German property in enemy countries. It is believed that Count Rantzau proposes a joint committee under a neutral president, to decide the economic controversies, and another committee to determine the damage in France and Belgium. Count Rantzau protests that no consideration is to be given to the damage Germany has sustained;, and he urges that Austria-Hungary must be held equally responsible with Germany. ERZBERGER AND THE TREATY. "GARROTTED, BOUND, GAGGED, AND BLINDED." LONDON, May 14 (delayed;. The "Daily Chronicle's" Berlin correspondent interviewed Herr llrzberger, who described the Treaty, as ''Devil's work," but said ho hopes still that Germany will achisvo a treaty based on right, instead of Jsaving Germany garrotted, bound haSfland foot, gagged, and blinded, and with less freedom than o-gypt. , "The German Government is absolutely united in the decision not to sign the Treaty unless it is radically altered. There is no question of threatening anybody with Bolshevism. .The position, is much too serious for that. Germany now stands condemned to death. If she must go under, let it be quickly. Our only Eope is a bearable peace." WILL SUFFER FOREIGN OCCUPA- . TION. RATHER THAN SIGN TREATY. Australian and- ' PARIS, May 21. Official: Germany has been granted an extension until the 29th to sign the Treaty. b ROTTERDAM, May 21. • Herr Ebert (President), in an interview, said that Germany would rather suffer foreign occupation than sign the Treaty. She would not offer armed resistance at present owing to the smallness of the army, and would rely on passive resistance. "?:'"■-. '"■' ■■•,•■•■:-• . GERMANY IN MOURNING. LONDON. May i*l. A week of humiliation began at Cologne on the 12th. in deep gloom. Cardinal Hartmann conrpares the Germans to the Babylonian Jews. Cabarets and amusement places have been closed. CZECHS READY TO INVADE GERMANY. IF SHE REFUSES TO SIGN TREATY. LONDON. May 21. The Exchange Telegraph's correspondent at Berlin states that the Czechs are concentrating at Taus, in Bohemia (near the German frontior, southward cf Prague), and are available to invade Germany if she refuses tn sign the Peace Treaty. wilson and ci/emencau. BERLIN, May 14 (delayed). Great demonstrations thronged the Wilhelmstrasso on Monday, denouncing President Wilson and M. Clemenceau as robbers and traitors. One speaker declared that Germany's confidence in Wilson was utterly broken. I Herr Scheidemann addressed the deI monstrators, and then soldiers cleared the street*. transgression of fourteen points. nine members of u.s.a. mission resign. LONDON. May 23. The "Daily Herald's" Paris correspondent states that nine members of the American Mission have resigned because they consider that tho Peace terms transgress the spirit of the (Fourteen Points. BOLSHEVIK MESSAGE OF SYMPATHY WITH GERMANS. LONDON, May 14. The Bolsheviks in Russia have sent a. message of sympathy with the Germans in their hard trial "Under tho blows of the Entente. AN EXPLANATION" WANTED. ITALY'S ACTION~"RBGARI>IN<* TURKEY. LONDON, May 22.. Britain, France, and the United States have requested an explanation from Italy as to why Italian troops have been dispatched to Turkey. POLAND WANTS GERMAN WARSHIPS. PARIS, May 14 (delayod). Poland is claiming part of tho German fleet for dofensivo purposes.