The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1918-10-17


The text of the Presidents answer
follows:
"The unqualified acceptance by the
present German government and by
large majority of the reichstag Of the
terms laid down by the president of
the United States of America in his
address to the congress of the United
States on the 8th of January, 1918,
and in his subsequent addresses, justi-
fies' the president in making frank
and direct statement Of his decision
with regard to the communications of
the German government of the 9Th and
18th Of October, 1918.
Confident He Speaks for Allies.
"He feels confident that he can as.
sume that this will also be the judg-
ment and decision Of the allied govern
ments.
'"The president feels that 1t 10 also
his duty to add that neither the gov
ernment Of the United States nor, he
is quite sure, the governments with
which the government of the United
States Is associated Sas a belligerent
will consent to consider an armistice
so long as the armed forces of Ger.
many continue the illegal and inhu.
name practices which they still per-
:sist in.
"At the very time that the German
government approaches the govern
ment Of the United States with pro-
posals of peace its submarines are en-.
gagged in sinking passenger ships at
sea, and not the ships alone, but the
very boats in which their passengers
and crews seek to make their way to
safety; and in their present enforced
withdrawal from Flanders and France
the German armies are pursuing a
course of wanton destruction which
has always been regarded as in direct
violation Of the rules and practices Of
civilized warfare. Cities and villages,
II not destroyed, are being stripped Of
all they contain, not only, but often Of
their very inhabitants.
"The nations associated against
Germany cannot be expected to agree
to cessation Of arms while acts Of
inhumanity, spoilation and desolation
are being continued which they justly
look upon with horror and with burn.
ing hearts.
Must Be No Mistake About Autocracy.
1T is necessary, also, in order that
there may be no possibility Of mis-
understanding, that the president
should very solemnly call the attention
Of the government Of Germany to the
language and plain intent of one of
the terms of,peace which the German
government has now accepted. It ID
contained in the address Of the presi.
dent delivered at Mount Vernon on the
Fourth Of July last.
1T is as follows:
"'The destruction Of every arbitrary
power anywhere that can separately.
secretly and Of its single choice dis.
turb the peace Of the world; or, IL II
cannot be presently destroyed, at
least its reduction to virtual impo.
tency.'
"The power which has hitherto con.
trolled the German nation is of the
sort here described. It is within the
choice Of the German nation to alter
1t. The presidents words just quoted
naturally constitute condition prece-
dent to peace, IL peace is to come by
the action Of the German people them.
selves. =
"The president feels bound to say
that the whole process of peace will,
in his judgment depend on the def
niteness and the satisfactory character
Of the guarantees which can be given
in this fundamental matter.
1T is indispensable that the govern.
ments aligned against Germany should
know beyond a peradventure with
whom they are dealing.
accept, sir, the renewed assur-
& iances Of my high consideration.
(Signed) ROBERT LANSING.
.aTo Mr.. Frederick, Oederlin, chargs
dsnairs I'D interim in charge Of Gess
man interests In the United States. !"