The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1918-10-18
GREAT EVENTS ARE CASTING
SHADOWS BEFORE THEM
Autocracy Must Go
Declares President
WILSON'S ANSWER FULFILLS
EXPECTATIONS OF SUPPORT
ERS AND DOUBTERS.

L
son has answered Germany's peace
proposal with a decision which no
only fulfills the expectations of sup
porters of his diplomacy but also dis
pels the fears of those who predicted
he would substitute victories at arm:
with feats at diplomacy.
No peace with kaiserism, autocra
cy must go, no armistice can ever
be thought of while Germany con
tinues her atrocities on land and sea
one can not be considered unless it is
fully dictated by the allied command.
ers in the field in such terms as alb.
solutely provide safeguards and guar.
antees that Germany's part will not
be scrap of paper.
This in a few words is the Presi-
dents answer.
If it does not bring capitulation
which may be more than an uncondi.
tional surrender allied diplomats and
American officials believe it may
cause a revolution in Germany.
Beyond question it speaks for the
entente allies as we'll as the United
States.
The dispatch of the presidents
reply was followed by the issue of
this formal statement at the White
House by Secretary Tumulty:
"The government will continue to
send over 25o,000 men with their
supplies every month and there will
be no. relaxation of any kind"
Quite outside of the formal phrases
of a diplomatic document, that was
President Wilson's word to the world
that he had no thought Of stopping
the fighting at this stage.
The senate chamber rang with the
applause of senators as the presi.
dents answer was read a few min.
utes after it had been announced al
the state department. Senator Lodge
the presidents chief critic in his
course, until today, issued state
ment expressing his qualification al
the presidents decision. Opinion al
the capitol and throughout officia
Washington was unanimously in ap
proval.
The official note which will convey
the presidents answer to the Ger
man government and more import
ant, the German people, was deliv'
cred today by Secretary Lansing tc
the charge of the Swiss legation who
has been acting as the intermediary
1t was given out publicly by Mr.
Lansing at the state department al
6 o'clock this afternoon in full. Il
follows:
"Sir: In reply to the communica
tion of the German government dat
ed the 18th instant, which you hand
ed me today, I have the honor to re-
quest you to transmit the following
answer:
/. The text of the presidents answe,
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 ir
his address to the congress of the
United States on the 9Th of January
1918, and in his subsequent address
es justifies the president in making
d frank and direct statement of hi:
decision. with regard to the com
munications of the German govern
ment Of the Sth and 18th of October
1918.
cit must be clearly understood
that the process of evacuation ant
the conditions of an armistice are
matters which must be left to thu
judgment and advice Of the military
advisers of the government of the
United States and the allies govern
ments and the president feels it hi:
duty to say that no arrangements car
be accepted by the government o:
the United States which does no
Continued on Page Two.