Putnam County herald. (Cookeville, Tenn.) 1903-1922, 1918-10-17

IN reply 10 the questions OF the
president of the United States of
America, the German Government
thereby declares:
''The German Government has ac-
cepted the terms laid down by Pres
ident Wilson in his address of Jann-
ary and in his subsequent address
es on the foundation of a permanent
peace of justice. Consequently, it's
object in entering into discussions
would be only to agree upon practi.
cal details of the application of these
terms. The German Government be-
lieves that the governments if the
powers associated with the Govern
ment of the United States also take
the position taken by President Will
son in his address. The German
Government. in accordance with the
Austro- Hungarian Government, for
/ the purpose of bringing about an ar
mistice, declares itself ready to COM
ply with the propositions of the Pres
ident in regard to evacuation. The
German Government suggests that
the President may occasions the
meeting of mixed commission for
making the necessary arrangements
concerning the evacuation. The
present German Government, which
has undertaken the responsibility for
this step towards peace, has been
formed by conferences and in agree
ment with the great majority of the
Reichstag. The Chancellor. sup
ported by the will of this majority,
speaks in the name of the German
Government ond of the German peo-
ple.''
Berlin, October 18th, 1918"
"SOLF, State Secreary of FOREIGN
Office"
To which our government replied:
''Sir: In reply to the communica-
ton of the German Government.
dated the 18th instant, which you
handed me today, have the honor
lowing answer.
the present German Government aud
by large majority of the Reichstag
of the terms laid down by the Presi-
dent of the United States of America
in his address to the Congress of the
United States on the 9Th of January.
1918, and in his subsequent address,
es JustifieIs the President in making
a frank and direct statement of his
decision with regard to the commu-
nications of the German Government
of the 9Th and 18th of October. 1918
1t must be clearly understood that
the process of evacuation and the
conditions of an armistice are mat
ters which must be left to the judg-
ment and advice of the military ad-
visers of the Government of the Unit
ed States and the Allied Govern
ments, and the President feels it his
duty to say that no arrangement can
be accepted by the Government Of
the United States which does not
provide absolute satisfactory safe
guards and guarantees of the main
tenance of the present military SUI
premacy 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 Al |
lied Governments.
1.-THE President feels that it is 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 as belligerent |
will consent to consider an armistice |
so long as the armed forces of Ger |
many continue the Illegal and inhu |
man practices which they still per-
sist in.
cat the very time that the German |
approaches the Govern
ment of the United States with pro-
posals of peace its submarines are
in sinking passenger ships
at sea, and not the ships alone. but |
he very boats in which their pas
sengers and crews seek to make
heir way to safety; and in their pres
ant enforced withdrawal from Elan
lers and France the German armies
ire purs uing course of wanton de-
;truction which has always been re-
garded ais in direct violation of the
.ules and practices of civilized war
are. Cities and villages, if not de-
,troyed, are being stripped of all
hey contain, not only. but often, of
heir very inhabitants. The nations
associated against Germany cannot
)e expected to agree to cessation
If arms while acts of inhumanity.
,poliation and desolation are being
continued which they justly look up
N with horror and with burning
learts.
''It lis necessary, also, in order that
here may be no possibility of MIS-
that the President
hould very solemnly call the atten-
ion of the Government Of Germany I
O the language and plain intent of
ne of the terms of peace which the
serman Goverment has now ac- !
epted. It is contained in the ad-
Iress of the President delivered at ;
dount Vernon on the Fourth Of July
asst. 1t is as follows:
The destruction of every arbitra-
v power anywhere that can sepa-