146 A REVISION OF THE TREATY chap.

overwhelmed by the speeches made on behalf ofthe American delegates by Mr. John Foster Dulles .The following are extracts from what he said : "Ifit is in accordance with our sentiment that the prin-ciples of reparation be severe, and in accord with ourmaterial interest that these principles be all inclusive,why, in defiance of these motives, have we proposedreparation in certain limited ways only ? It is be-cause, gentlemen, we do not regard ourselves as free.We are not here to consider as a novel proposalwhat reparation the enemy should in justice pay;we have not before us a blank page upon which weare free to write what we will. We have before usa page, it is true; but one which is already filledwith writing, and at the bottom are the signaturesof Mr. Wilson, of Mr. Orlando , of M. Clemenceau,and of Mr. Lloyd George . You are all aware, I amsure, of the writing to which I refer : it is the agreedbasis of peace with Germany." Mr. Dulles thenrecapitulated the relevant passages and continued:" Can there be any question that this agreement doesconstitute a limitation ? It is perfectly obvious thatit was recognised at the time of the negotiations inOctober and November 1918 that the reparationthen specified for would limit the Associated Govern-ments as to the reparation which they could demandof the enemy as a condition of peace. The wholepurpose of Germany was to ascertain the maximumwhich would be demanded of her in the terms of