WAR CRIMINALS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3404, 7 February 1920, Page 6

WAR CRIMINALS.

GERMAN GOVERNMENT’.-S

INTENTIONS.

PARIS, Feb, 4‘

Metins’ Berlin correspondent states that it is rumoured that the Government will ask the National Assembly to take a. plebiscite authorising the abrogation of the article in’ the coustitution prohibiting handing German citizens to a. foreign Power for trial. It is believed. the great mass of the people are indifferent and will abstain from voting.' I ' '

VON LERSNER’S CONTENTION.

ALLIES CONSIDERING THE

V ' CRISIS. ‘ PARIS, Feb. 5. Von Lersner declared that he would not accept responsi-bility for transmjtting the list of Germans wanted for trial, and doubted if any German would do so. He -acted on his,‘ own initiative and the Goverllfnent had 110-‘ thing to do with‘ his 2f.3t1011- He says‘ he warned the Allies repeatedly that surrender was impossible‘ The Al‘ lied Ambassadors’ C 0000“ has -""°'“ ed hurriedly to consider the Sn-ml-non+ ‘ imderstood the list s”‘ (71:11: Scheinen Chmged with c u e

cruelty to \\‘Olllell prisoners. 81-i;*.:l’u‘l‘ demands the surrender of ninety persons, France 334 ,and Belgium 334. OFT REPEATED REASONS. ' PARIS, Feb. 5. Von Lers-ner, in a letter to M. Millefand, points out that he explained ten times in writing and thirteen times verbally why it was impossible to deliver up the war criminals. He returned the list becausethe could not be instrumental in assisting the extradition.

Berlin reports the accepstance of Von Le:-sner’s resignation. It is understood Her: Meyer, Charge ')'Affairs, has been sent back to P-uris.

ALLIES SEND SERIOUS NOTE TO GERMANY._

PARIS, Feb. 4

The Council of Ambassadors decided to immediately telegraph the Black List of war criminals, with 3. cov-.-r----ing letter ,to the Berlin legation, by which it will be handed direct co. the German Government. The Allies take a grave view of Von Lel‘sa«:rS action, and are inclined to regard it

as an attempt on Germ-any’s part to escape- Treaty obligations. Germany will ‘be informed that Von Lersner’s resignation does not affect the countr_y’s responsibilities, and that; f:1iI1u~e to comply -371111 the "Allied demamls will involve serious perils. _