, 1918-10-31
Wilson's Reply to Last Hun Note
Says Surrender
THROUGH WITH AUTocRATs
Tells Berlin Nothing Can Be Gained
Leaving This Essential Thing
Unsaid-chiefs Of Allied Arm
les Must Dictate Any
Armistice Terms.

or the world do not and cannot trust
the word of those who have hitherto
been the masters of German policy"
This Is the answer of the president
of the United States to Germany's
latest bid for peace. while notifying
her that on her acceptance of his
terms, the question of an armistice,
which Germany seeks, is to be present
ed to the governments of the nations
associated with the United States.
The president goes on to say with
out equivocation that II 1t (the Unit
ed States) must deal with the military
masters and the monarchial autocrats
of Germany now, or If 1t is likely to
have to deal with them later in regard
TO the international obligations of the
German empire, it must demand not
peace negotiations but surrender"
The president says that nothing can
be gained by leaving that essential
thing unsaid.
Hum Must Disarm.
The presidents reply, which was
made public at nine o'clock Wednes-
day night, serves notice on Germany
that on her solemn assurance of ac-
ceptance of the terms laid down by
him in his recent addresses, he cannot
decline to take up with the govern
ments associated with the United
States In the war the question of an
armistice.
However, he forcefully serves notice
on Germany that only an armistice
which will amount to the practical dis
arming of her forces in the field will
be considered at all.
Points Way to Peace.
The presidents message clearly
points the way for Germany to obtain
peace and at the same time 1t strips
the Germa note of every vestige of
hypocrisy that camoufaged 1t. The
president reiterates that there can be
no peace with autocracy save the
peace that comes on the heels of un.
conditional surrender. That point is
made perfectly plain.
Furthermore. the president does, as
he said he would. refers the question of
an armistice to the military advisers
of those governments associated with
h United States in the war. Their
word will be final on hat subject,
and his very words strengthen the
word they will give If the question goes
that far.
The distrust that every one felt at
the German note is expressed openly
by the president, so openly, in fact,
that there can no longer be any aues-
ton in the minds of the American peo-
pie as to how the president looks upon
the peace reforms which the German
government so glibly said it had ac-
complished.
More Than 1000, 900 Yanks Over There
He says that 'ft may be" that future
wars have been brought under the con-
troll of the German people, but he adds
that the present war-the one with
which n entire world is concerned
has not, and he adds hat it is evident
that the German people today are
without the power of commanding
acquiescence of the military authori-
ties.
In addition to the reply of the presi-
Dent, there was made public by Joseph
p. Tumulty, the presidents secretary.
a letter from the president to Secre-
tar of War Baker, congratuIating
both the war and navy departments on
the successful transportation of more
than 100000 soldiers overseas.
Text of Reply.
President Wilson's reply to the lat
est German note follows:
Department of State, Oct. o..
"Sir-I have the honor to acknowl-
edge the receipt of your note of the
I'D, transmitting a communication I'M
de- date of the Goth from the Ger
man government. and to advise Won
that the president has instructed me
to reply thereto as follows:
Having received the solemn and ex-
plicit assurance of the German govern
ment that 1t un~reservedly accepts the
terms of peace laid down in his ad-
dress TO the congress of the United
States on the Sth of January, 1918.
and the principles of settlement enun-
ciated in his subsequent addresses.
particularly the address of the 9th
of September, and that it desires to
discuss the details of their application.
and that this wish and purpose eman-
ate not from those who have hitherto
dictated the policy n conducted the
present war on Germany's behalf, but
from ministers who speak for the ma
jority of the reichstag and for an over
whelming majority of the German peo-
pie, and having received also the ex-
plicit promise of the present German
government that the humane rules of
civilized warfare will be observed
both on land and sea by the German
armed forces, the president of the
United States feels that he cannot de-
cline to take up with the governments
with which the government of the