The Allies on Thursday, May 5th, presented their ultimatum
to Germany, giving her a week in which to accept their proposals for carrying out the terms of the Peace. Treaty. The German Ministry, headed by Herr. Fehrenbach and Dr. Simons, had already resigned rather than face the responsibility of accepting the ultimatum. After some days of hesitation Dr. Wirth, the late Finance Minister, courageously undertook the task. On Tuesday he formed a new Coalition Ministry, composed of Roman Catholics, Socialists, and Democrats. In the evening he informed the Reichstag that his Government would bow to the Allies' demands. " If they did not sign, they would be slaves under enemy bayonets." " They knew what the result would be, and the responsibility lay with their opponents." The reactionaries in the debate which followed criticized Dr, Wirth for party reasons, but they know as well as he that Germany could not endure the occupation of her chief industrial district. The Reichstag agreed to the Chancellor's decision by 221 votes to 175. The pity of it is that Germany has made no serious effort to fulfil her chief obligations, but has had to be driven by force to do what she should have done willingly.
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