Page 38 - WW1 - 1919

Remembering Redditch Residents & WW1 Redditch Local History Society

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The Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Redditch Messenger – Saturday 28 June
1919

Appeal for More time Refused – Yielding to “Sheer force.” – The Germans decided
on Monday to sign the Peace Treaty, unconditionally and without reservation. This decision
was taken at Weimar, after a refusal of the council of Three to grant more time for
consideration.
The following is the text of the German note of acceptance:
The Government of the German Republic has seen with consternation, from the last
communication of the allied and Associated Governments, that the latter are resolved to
wrest from Germany, by sheer force, even the acceptance of those conditions of peace
which, though devoid of material significance, pursue the object of taking away its honour
from the German people.
The honour of the German people will remain untouched by any act of violence.
The German people, after the frightful sufferings of the last few years, lacks all means of
defending its honour by external action.
Yielding to overwhelming force but without on that account abandoning its view in regard to
the unheard of injustice of the conditions of peace, the Government of the German Republic
therefore declares that it is ready to accept and sign the conditions of peace imposed by the
allied and associated Governments.

Page: 38 © RLHS 2014