GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 May 1919, Page 5

GERMANY.

TREATY UNACCEPTABLE, TERMS INHUMANLY HARSH. Copenhagen, May 13. Herr Scheidemann, addressing representatives of the foreign press, outlined the 6peech which he later delivered in the National Assembly. He said it would be possible to form a Government which would sign the terms, but was doubtful whether such a Government would be acceptable to the Allies. The manifesto of the Independents showed a willingness to sign, but, personally, he thought the present coalition the only possible Government. A reactionary Government was impossible, while an Independent Socialist administration would be equally unable to fulfil the conditions as the existing one. They would do all they could to modify and make the terms acceptable, but it was unthinkable that the Government could accept the terms in their present form. — Aue.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

A manifesto of the Independent Socialists charges the German Government with inspiring Allied distrust by the reconstruction of the German army, which is an insult to the proletariat, whom, the manifesto urges, should overthrow the Government. The manifesto adds: "The peace terms are inhumanly harsh, but ft refusal to sign them would entail a reinforcement of the hunger blockade.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. London, May 12, Herr Scheidemann, addressing the National Assembly, described the treaty as unacceptable, and protested against the violence it would involve against the German people. The Social Democrats opposed a definite refusal to sign the treaty.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.