Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1918-10-24

President Wilson Makes 1t Plain That
Ample Provision VIII Be Made To
Protect The Allied Victories Ia Peace
NEGOTIATIONS.

"fIaving received the solemn and exp.ic-
il assurance Of the German government
that it unreservedly accepts the terms Of
peace laid down IN his address 10 the con
ere.S of the United States on january :
last and the principles of settlement
enumerated in hi~ subsequent addresses.
particularly the address of September q.
and that ii desires 70 discuss the details
purpose emanates not from those who
have hitherto dictated the German DO icv
and conducted the present war on Ger
many'S behalf. bur from ministers who
speak for majority of the reichStag and
for an overwhelming majority " the Ger
man people. and having received also the
erplict promise of the present German
government that the humane rules ~ civ
lized warfare will be observed both on
land and -ea by the German armed forces.
the president 81 the United States feels
that NJ cannot decline "a take up with the
governments with which the government
of the United States l. associated. the
question ~ an armiStire. lie deems ii his
duty 10 ~ay agam. however. that the only
arm>tire he would feel justified IN sub
niittng for consideration would De one
which should leave the United States and
ton 10 enforce any arrangements that
may be entered into and To make renew
nj of hostilities on the part OF Germany
impossible.
The president has therefore transmit
ted his correspondence with the present
German authorities TO the governments
with which the government Of the United
States J. a baligerent. with the Sugecs-
tion that III those governments are dis
posed 10 effect peace on terms Indicated
their military advisers and the military
advisers of the Pnited States will submit
many the necessary terms of such an ar
m;stice as viii fully protect the interests
Of the peoples involved and insure 10 the
associated governments the unrestricted
details of the peace TO which the German
government has agreed provided they
deem such an armstlce possible from
military point of view.
''Should such an armistice be suggested
their acceptance BY Germany VII afford
the best concrete evidence of their une-
qulvocal acceptance OF the terms and
principles Of peace from which the whole
action proceeds.
THE president would deem himself lack
ing IN candor did he not point out in the
franke~t possible terms the reason why
extraordinary safeguards must be de de-
manded. Significant and important a. the
constituted changes seem 10 be which are
poken of by the German foreign secretary
il does not appear that government re-
sponsble 60 the German people has yet
been fully worked out or that any guar
anteeS either are N contemplation that the
alterations Of the principles and of prac-
tice now partially agreed upon would be
permanent.
Moreover, it does not appear that the
heart of the present difficulty has been
reached. Ii may be that future wars
have been brought under the control of
the German people, but the present war
has not been, and II is with the present
war we are dealing. Ii j. evident that the
German people have no means of com
manding the acquiesceiice Of the military
authorities Of the empire. The determining
initiative still remains with those who have
hitherto been the masters Of Germany.
Feeling that the whole peace of the
wor d demands now on plain speaking and
straightforward action, the president
deems it his duty ID say without any at
tempt to soften what may seem harsh
words that the nations Of the world do
not and cannot trust the word of those
that have hitherto been masters of the
German policy and to point out once more
that in concluding peace and attempting
10 undo the infinite injuries that injustices
of this war, the government of the United
States cannot deal with any but veritable
representatives Of the German people, who