South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-24

be left TO the judgment Of the mill
tary advisers and that the actual
standard Of power on both sides ia
the field has TO form the basis fol
arrangements safeguarding and
guaranteeing this standard. The
German government suggests to the
president 70 bring about an oppor-
tunity for fixing the details. II
trusts that the president Of the Unit.
ed States will approve Of no demand
which would be irrecoE cilable with
the honor of the German people and
with opening a way 10 a peace OF
Justice.
Protest Cruelty RcprOach.
The German government protests
against the reproach OF illegal and
inhumane actions made against the
German land and sea forces and
thereby against the German people.
For the covering Of a retreat, de-
structions will always be necessary
and are in so far permitted by in
ternational Law. The German troops
are under the strictest instructions
I
ercise care for the population to the
best Of their ability. Where trans
gressions occur in spite Of these in
structions the guilty are being pun
| ished.
Call or Submarines.
The German government further
denies that the German navy in
sinking ships has ever purposely
/ destroyed life boats with their pas
! sengers.. The German government
proposes with regard 10 all these
| charges that the facts be cleared up
| by neutral commissions In order
/ 20 avoid anything that might hamp-
! er the work Of peace, the German
/ government has caused order 20 be
| despatched 10 all submarine com
manders precluding the torpedoing
! of passenger ships, without how
4 ever. for technical reasons, being
will reach every single submarine at
sea before its return.
RchabiIitated Government.
AS the fundamental conditions for
peace. the president characterizes
! the destruction of every arbitrary
/ power that can separately, secretly
! and OF It's own single choice disturb
! the peace of the world To this the
/ German government replies: Hither-
10 the representation of the people
! In the German empire has not been
endowed with an influence on the
formation Of the government. The
! constitution did not provide for a
concurrence Of the representation
Of the people in decisions on peace
and war. These conditions have just
now undergone fundamental
change. The new government has
been formed in complete accord with
the wishes of the representation of
I the people, based on the equal. uni
versal. secret, direct franchise. The
leaders of the great parties of the
reichstag are members Of this gov
eminent In future no government
can take or continue in office with
out possessing the confidence of the
majority of the reichstag.
Make Chancellor Responsible.
The responsibility Of the chancel-
Tor of the empire TO the representa-
ton OF the people is being legally
developed and safeguarded The
first act Of the new government has
been 10 lay before the reichstag a
bill 10 alter the constitution of the
empire so that the consent Of the
representation of the people is re-
qUired for decisions on war and
peace. The permanence Of the new
system is. however, guaranteed moi
only by constitutional safeguards
but also by the unshakable determ-
ination Of the German people. whose
vast majority stands behind these
reforms and demands their energetic
C ntinuance.
People Approve New Attitude.
The question of the president
with whom he and the government,
associated against Germany are
dealing. is therefore answered in a
clear and unequivocal manner by the
statement that the offer of peace and
an armistice has come from a gov
eminent which, free from arbitrary
and irresponsible influence, Is sup
ported by the approval Of the over
whelming majority Of the German
PEOPLE.
Berlin. Oct. 90. 1918.
Csigned) Solf, state secretary OF
foreign affairs.