Salt Lake Tribune | 1919-06-03 | Page 2 | German ''Citizen" Protest Terms as Unfair to Teutons

GERMAN "CITIZENS" PROTEST TERMS AS UNFAIR TO TEUTONS (Chicago Tribune Special Service.) WASHINGTON. June 2. Senators and representatives received from the German-American CUizens' league of Chicago today a fervid appeal to reject tho peace treaty on.. tho ground that it violates the president's promise to build peace on his fourteen points. TQ league Complains that Germany was buncoed by the president presi-dent into surrendering and chasing out the k al s e r The letter Is signed by Ferdinand Valthor, president of the league, and Dr. II. Gerhard, secretary. The text of the letter follows: "Chicago, 111., May 20, 1919. "Protest resolution: "The German-American Citizens' league, comprlalns over seventy organizations of voters, adopted the following resolution: " 'America entered the war to make the world safe for democracy and decent to live In,' as President Wilson and the congress con-gress of the United Stat.es declared. "Furthermore, President Wilson sol-' erqnly declared to combat the Prussian militarism and the imperial autocracy, but had the most friendly feeling for the German people. The declaration of the fourteen points by our president, which has been praised as the acme of highest statesmanship, was thought to be the foundation of the world's peace. "Conscious of fighting for those high Ideate and proud of it, our American youth went to war, Trusting strongly in those fourteen points, and believing that a presidential promise should not be twisted, much less doubted, the German people laid down their arms after dismissing dis-missing the Imperial autocracy. "The peace treaty Is now published. It Is the exact reverse from what President Wilson has promised to the world. The confidence In President Wilson and his word by the starving German people has been deceived In the most shameful manner man-ner through the spirit of revenge and desire de-sire of annihilation by our allies. The principles of true democracy have been trampled upon. The American people appear ap-pear before the world as hypocrites and Its honor Is at stake, should it consent to this barbarian peace treaty, which certainly cer-tainly hears the germ for a new war and bloodshed. "Therefore we American citizens protest pro-test most emphatically against this peace treatv and ask our congress at Washington Washing-ton to refuse to sanction or to approve this act of wild spirit of revenge and avarice. "Furthermore, we ask all true American Ameri-can citizens to Join this protest resolution protecting the honor of our country before be-fore the world."