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This is a portion of a news article written in Londons The Times Newspaper. Germanys Count Rantzaus accepted the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, but conducted a speech before signing the treaty. Analyze the introduction of the speech and answer the guided question at the bottom of the page.

The Speeches at the Treaty of Versailles Count Rantzaus Speech The Times, Thursday, May 08, 1919 pg 11 issue 42094; col A Gentlemen, we are deeply impressed with the sublime task which has brought is hither to give a durable peace to the world. We are under no illusion as to the extent of out defeat and the decree of our want of power. We know the power of the German arms is broken. We know the power of the hatred which we encounter here, and we have heard the passionate demand that the victors shall make us pay as the vanquished and shall punish those who are worthy of being punished. It is demanded of us that we shall confess ourselves to be the only ones guilty of the war. Such a confession in my mouth will be a lie. We are far from declining any responsibility for this great world war having come to pass and for its having been made in the way in which it was made. The attitude of the former German Government at the Hagne Peace Conference, its actions and omissions in the tragic 12 days of July, certainly contributed to the disaster, but we energetically dent that Germany and its people, who were convinced that they were making a war of defense, were alone guilty. Nobody will want to contend that the disaster took its course only in the disastrous moment when the heir to the Throne of Austria-Hungary fell victim of murderous hands

What is the date of the document? What is the source of the document? Who was the target audience of the document? What is the main idea of the document? What is the purpose of the introduction of his speech? What implications are Count Rantzau making? Who else is Count Rantzau blaming for the war?

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