BERLIN'S DECISION.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 15087, 2 June 1919, Page 5

BERLIN'S DECISION.

CATEGORICAL REFUSAL TO

DECLARATION BY- RANTZAU

FIRE OF SEVOLT IN SILESIA

r'Austr&lizn and N.Z. Cable Association)

(Received June 1, 11.5 p.m.) ■ .London, May 31. The German Foreign Office categorically declined to sign tho Peace Treaty. _ Rnntzau, addressing sovoral departing colleagues at Vervaillea, declared: "Tell Berlin that I will never sign the peace preliminaries unless they are seriously modified. Someone else may sign: I won't. 5'

Possibly Erzberger will replace -Rantzau.

A Berlin wireless message states that the Ukrainian Central "Executive at Iviefr adopted a" resolution protesting against tho Entente's .severity towards Germany.

The "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent visited Silesia and found a fire of revolt burning among one and a, half millions out of two millions of population. _ Despite rain and cold demonstrations were being made- against the proposal to give the Silesian mines to Poland. It is pointed out that the people's sentiments overwhelmingly support this-attitude.

A German leader declared that the entire working class were preparing to defend their home soil. A thousand with upheld hands swore in unison, "We will remain free till death rather than enter into Polish slavery." The corresßondent adds that the people are in deadly earnest. They will not submit to control by people of a lower culture. A Polish "attempt at ■the occupation of Silesia will precipitacc a bitter and bloody war.