Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-10-11
Wilson Applies Acid Test To Ger
man Peace Proposal.

Last Tuesday President Wilson informed
the German Government that before the
United States can discuss an armistice,
German troops must withdraw from all
invaded territory
He asked Chancellor Macmillan whether
he represented the German people or the
authorities of the Empire who are continu-
ing the war
The Presidents message was not reply,
but in the form Of an inquiry. The Impe-
rial German Government is asked whether
1t accepts the terms laid down by the
President in his address to Congress Janu-
airy and subsequent addresses.
No answer to the Austrian peace propo-
sal is contemplated for the present. This
was made known officially.
The text of the communication handed
to the Charge of Switzerland in Washing
ton in connection with Germanys peace
proposal follows:
Sir: have the honor to acknowledge,
on behalf of the President, your note of
October 6, enclosing the communication
from the German Government to the Presi-
dent and am instructed by the Presi-
dent to request you to make the following
communication to the Imperial German
Chancellor:
Before making reply to the request of
the Imperial German Government, and in
order that that reply shall be as candid
and straightforward as the momentous
interests involved require, the President of
the United States deems it necessary to
assure himself of the exact meaning of the
note of the Imperial Chancellor. Does the
Imperial Chancellor mean that the Impe-
rial German Government accepts the terms
laid down by the President in his address
to the Congress Of the United States on the
9Th Of January last, and in subsequent
addresses and that its object in entering
into discussions would be only to agree
upon the practical details of their applica-
toni
1.-THE President feels bound to say with
regard to the suggestion of an armistice
that he would not feel at liberty to propose
a cessation of arms to the Governments
with which the Government of the United
States is. associated against the Central
Powers so long as the armies of those
Powers are upon their soil. The good faith
of any discussion would manifestly depend
upon the consent of the Central Powers
Immediately to withdraw their forces every
where from invaded territory.
1.-The President also feels that he is justi-
fed in asking whether the Imperial Chan
cellor is speaking merely for the constituted
authorities of the Empire who have so far
conducted the war. He deems the answer
to these questions vital from every point
Of view
Accept sir. the renewed assurance Of
my high consideration.
ROBERT LANSING"
GERMANY's PROPOSITION.
Translation from German Government to
the President of the United States as trans
mitted by the Charge d'Affairs a. /. Of
Switzerland on October 6. 1918.
The German Government requests the
President of the United States of America
to take steps for the restoration of peace
to notify all beliserents of this request
and to invite them to delegate plenipoten-
tiaries for the purpose of taking up nego-
tiations. The German Government accepts
as basis for the peace negotiations the
program laid down by the President of the
United States in his message to Congress
Of January 8. 1918, and in his subsequent
announcements particularly in his address
Of September 28. 1918 In order to avoid
further bIoodshed the German Government
requests to bring about the immediate
conclusion of general armistice on land
on water and in the air.
MAX,
Prince Of Baden. Imperial Chancellor.
From the Secretary Of State to the Charge
d'Affairs of Switzerland