Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1918-10-15
FOE Keeling UNDER BIC Gi1VE
PRESIDENT MAKES REPLY
TO GERMAN PEACE NOTE


Washington Oct 15.-Following is the text of Pres
dent Wilson's reply to Germanys peace profer, sent
through the Swedish Charge d'Afaires:
Sir: In reply to the communication of the German
Government dated the 18th instant which you handed
today have the honor to request you to transmit the
following answer:
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 Unit
ed States on the 9th of January 1918 and in his subse
quent addresses ustfes the President in making frank
and direct statement of his decision with regard to the
communications Of the German Government Of the 8th
and 18th Of October, 1913.
1T must be clearly understood that the conditions of
an arstce matters which must be left to the udg
ment and advice Of the military advisers of the Govern
ment OF the United States and the Allied Governments
and the President feels his duty to say that arrange
nent be accepted by the Government OF the United
States which does not provide absolutely satisfactory
safeguards and guarantees of the maintenance OF the
present military supremacy OF the armies OF the United
States and the Allies in the field
HE feels confident that he can safely assume that
this will also be the Judgment and decision OF the Allied
governments
The President feels that it is also his duty to add
that neither the Government of the United States nor
he quite the governments with which the Govern
ment Of the United States is associated belligerens
willconsent consider arnistce long the arm
ed forces Of Germany continue the Illegal and inhuman
practices which they still persist in
"At the very time that the German Government APP
proaches the Government of the United States with pro-
posals of peace its submarines engaged in sinking
passenger ships at 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
pursuing Of wanton destruction which has
always been regarded direct violation OF the rules
and practices of civilized warfare Cities and villages II
not destroyed being stripped of all they contain not
only but often of their very inhabitants The nations as
ISOLATED against Germany cannot be expected to agree to
cessation of arms while acts of inhumanity spolation
and desoaton being continued which they justly look
upon with horror and with burning hearts.
1T is necessary ALSO in order that there may be no
possibility of misunderstanding that the President should
very solmeny call the attention of the Government or
Germany to the language and plain intent Of one OF the
terms of peace which the German Government has now
accepted 1t is contained in the address of the President
delivered at Mount Vernon July last 1t is as fol-
lows:
"'The destruction of every arbitrary power
anywhere that can separately, secretaly and of
its single choice disturb the peace OF the world;
or if it cannot be presently destroyed at least
its reduction to virtual mpotency.
"The power which has hitherto controlled the Ger
nation is of the sort here described 1t WITHIN the
choice of the German nation to alter it. The Presidents
words just quoted naturally constitute condition prece
dent to peace peace is to come by the action OF the
German people themselves The President feels bound to
say that the whole process of peace WILL IN his judgment
depend pon the deniteness and the satisfactory char
acter of the guarantee which be given in this nda
mental matter is Indispensable that the governments
associated against Germany should know beyond per-
adventure with whom they are dealing.
"The President will make separate reply TO tne
royal and Imperial Government OF Austria hungary
Accept sir, the renewed assurance OF my nigh con-
sideration.
"Mr Frederick Oederlin,
sCharge d'Affaires ad interim, in charge OF
German interests in the United States