“The Government of the German Republic has, from the moment
when the Peace Conditions of the Allied and Associated
Governments were made known to it, left no doubt to subsist
as to the fact that the Government in harmony with the whole
German people, must regard these conditions as being in
sharp contrast with the principle which was accepted by the
Allied and Associated Powers on the one hand, and Germany on
the other hand, as being binding in accordance with the laws
of nations for the peace before the conclusion of the
armistice.
“Relying upon this principle of justice which was agreed upon
between the parties to the negotiations, and assisted by a
clear exposition of conditions in Germany, the Government
has left no stone unturned in order to arrive at direct
verbal exchange of opinions, and thus to obtain some
mitigation of the unbearably harsh conditions which might
render it possible for the Government of the German Republic
to sign the Treaty of Peace without reservations, and to
guarantee its execution.
“These endeavours of the Government of the German Republic,
which were undertaken in the interest of the peace of the
world, and the reconciliation of peoples, have failed owing
to rigorous insistence on the conditions of peace.
Far-reaching counter-proposals of the German Delegation have
only in certain points received any acceptance. The
concessions made only reduce the severity of the conditions
in a small degree. The Allied and Associated Governments
have in an ultimatum which expires on June 23rd, confronted
the Government of the German Republic, with the decision
either to sign the Treaty of Peace presented by them or to
refuse to sign. In the latter case a completely defenceless
people has been threatened with the forcible imposition of
the conditions of peace already presented and with the
increase of the heavy burdens.
“The German people does not wish for the resumption of the
bloody war, it honestly wishes for a lasting peace. In view
of the attitude of the Allied and Associated Governments,
the German people has no other force in its hands save to
appeal to the eternally inalienable right to an independent
life which belongs to the German people as to all peoples.
The Government of the German Republic can lend no support to
this sacred right of the German people by the application of
force. The Government can only hope for support through the
conscience of mankind. No people, including those of the
Allied and Associated Powers, could expect the German people
to agree with thorough conviction to an instrument of peace,
whereby living members of the very body of the German people
are to be cut off without consultation of the population
concerned, whereby the dignity of the German State is to be
permanently impaired, and whereby unendurable [Page 610] economic and
financial burdens are to be laid upon the German people.
“The German Government has received passionate expressions of
opinion from the population in the districts to be cut off
in the East, to the effect that they (the population) will
oppose themselves to the separation of these districts which
have for the greater part been German for many centuries by
all means they possess. The German Government therefore
finds itself compelled to decline all responsibility for any
difficulties which may arise from the resistance of the
inhabitants against their separation from Germany.
“If the Government of the German Republic is nevertheless
ready to sign the conditions of the Allies with the
above-mentioned reservation, yet this is not done of its
free will. The Government of the German Republic solemnly
declares that its attitude is to be understood in the sense
that it yields to force, being resolved to spare the German
people, whose sufferings are unspeakable, a new war, the
shattering of its national unity by further occupation of
German territories, terrible famine for women and children,
and mercilessly prolonged retention of the prisoners of war.
The German people expects in view of the grievous burdens
which it is to take upon itself that all German military and
civilian prisoners beginning on July 1, and thereafter in
uninterrupted succession, and within a short period shall be
restored. Germany gave back her enemies’ prisoners of war
within two months.
“The Government of the German Republic engages to fulfil the
conditions of peace imposed upon Germany. It desires,
however, in this solemn moment to express itself with
unreserved clearness, in order to meet in advance any
accusation of untruthfulness that may now or later be made
against Germany. The conditions imposed exceed the measure
of that which Germany can in fact perform. The Government of
the German Republic therefore feels itself bound to announce
that it makes all reservations and declines all
responsibility as regards the consequences which may be
threatened against Germany when, as is bound to happen the
impossibility of carrying out the conditions comes to light
even though German capacity to fulfil is stretched to the
utmost.
“Germany further lays the greatest emphasis on the
declaration that she cannot accept article 231 of the Treaty
of Peace which requires Germany to admit herself to be the
sole and only author of the war, and does not cover this
article by her signature. It consequently follows without
further argument that Germany must also decline to recognise
that the burdens should be placed upon her on the score of
the responsibility for the war which has unjustly been laid
at her door.
“Likewise, it is equally impossible for a German to reconcile
it with his dignity and honour to accept and execute
Articles 227 to 230, by which Germany is required to give up
to the Allied and Associated Powers for trial individuals
among the German people who are accused by the Allied and
Associated Powers of the breach of international laws and of
committing acts contrary to the customs of war.
“Further, the Government of the German Republic makes a
distinct protest against the taking away of all the colonial
possessions [Page 611] of
Germany, and against the reasons given therefor which
permanently deny to Germany fitness for colonial activity,
although the contrary is clearly established and irrefutable
evidence to this effect is contained in the observations of
the German Peace Delegation on the conditions of Peace.
“The Government of the German Republic assumes that it is in
accordance with the desires of the Allied and Associated
Governments that it has spoken openly, both as regards what
concerns its goodwill and also as regards its reservations.
Therefore, in view of the condition of constraint into which
the German people are forced by the requirements of the
Allies—a condition of constraint such as has never been
inflicted on any people in any manner more crushing and more
disastrous in its consequences—and relying on the express
undertaking of the Allied and Associated Governments in
their memorandum of June 16, 1919, the German Government
believes itself to be entitled to address the following
modest request to the Allied and Associated Governments in
the expectation that the Allied and Associated Governments
will consider the following declaration as an integral
portion of the Treaty:—
‘Within two years counting from the day when the
Treaty is signed, the Allied and Associated
Governments will submit the present Treaty to the
High Council of the Powers, as constituted by the
League of Nations according to Article 4, for the
purpose of subsequent examination. Before this High
Council the German plenipotentiaries are to enjoy
the same rights and privileges as the
representatives of the other contracting Powers of
the present Treaty. This Council shall decide in
regard to those conditions of the present Treaty
which impair the rights of self-determination of the
German people, and also in regard to the stipulation
whereby the free economic development of Germany on
a footing of equal rights is impeded.’
“The Government of the German Republic
accordingly gives the declaration of its consent, as
required by the Note of June 16th, 1919, in the following
form:—
‘The Government of the German Republic is ready to
sign the Treaty of Peace without, however,
recognising thereby that the German people was the
author of the War, and without undertaking any
responsibility for delivering persons in accordance
with Articles 227 to 230 of the Treaty of
Peace.’
Weimar, June 21st, 1919.
(Signed) Bauer, President of the Imperial
Ministry.”
