Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-10-15
THE NOTE AND ITS TREATMENT

While we are considering the action OF PRESIDENT
Wilson, and Of the representatives Of the foreign govern.
ments associated with the United States in the war, with
reference to the peace proposals OF Germany, it may be
well to clear our minds of some misconceptions which
appear to have grown up with reference to these propos-
ais and their treatment by the Allied nations.
Germany's note of a week ago was not addressed to
her adversaries in general. 1t was addressed to the pres
ident Of the United States, who was asked to transmit to
the other belligerents Eermany's request for an armis-
tice. and her expressed acceptance of the conditions Of
peace laid down in the presidents ddress- of June 8 and
subsequent addresses. The terms of the note were am
biguous. 1t was not clear from its language whether
the acceptance OF the terms Of peace meant their accept
ance Of the conditions as something to be talked about
or something to be done. Germany was notified that this
element Of doubt must be removed before TIL, president
would even transmit the message to his associates. she
was notified, further. that before the message would be
forwarded as requested except upon the definite under
standing that any armistice granted must be-. proceed
ed by the withdrawal of German troops from invaded
territory. There is the further inquiry which is intended
to establish the status of the German chancellor in the
conduct Of negotiations.
To this came the reply that Germany accepted the
conditions of peace as conditions to be put into effect;
that she agreed to the requirement for the evacuation
of invaded territory; and that the chancellor spoke for
both the German government and the German people.
In developing opinion on the German proposal and
its treatment it is to be remembered that the United
States is not an independent party in this war. This ma
ton is the associate of other, powers. all of whom are
committed to their very last ounce Of effort to the COM
mon cause. They are making war together. and together
they will make peace. There will be no separate action,
nor has there been any indication Of a disposition on. the
part Of one which would be likely to embarrass the 9TH
ers. On the contrary, these powers are cooperating in
the use of their men, their transportation, their food,
their money. and all their resources Of every kind.
1t is inconceivable that when there has been such
close harmony in the use Of everything that goes to con
tribute to military success, there should be failure to ob-
operate in the equally important field Of craftsmanship.
And there are abundant evidences Of the existence of
this cooperation, close and constant. Last January Pres
ident Wilson enunciated fourteen main principles as es-
sential conditions OF peace Since then that list has been
augmented and interpreted by further statements from
its author. And on each occasion there have come from
our associates abroad declarations Of their acceptance of
the principles laid down, and Of their approval Of the
lines of policy indicated.
Has all this been accidental? Has It been merely by
a strange and fortunate coincidence that the president Of
the United States has been able, of his own motion, to
formulate the common opinion and to state the common
purpose, and to do this 50 accurately as to leave no room
for amendment by those whose sentiments he spoke SO
wonderfully? Is it not much more reasonable to suppose
that the Allied governments have been in the closest
touch with each other with reference to every import
ant statement before 1t was made
The German proposal for an armistice was sent. and
its text was made known in Washington on the evening
Of Saturday, Oct. s. The official text was not received
for some time thereafter. France, Great Britain and
Italy have their representatives in washington. We are
represented in the foreign capitals. The cables and the
wireless are open to al Of us. tAre We to suppose that
during that interval all those carefully prepared facilf-
ties for communication were permitted to lie idle and
unused. or is it reasonable to gness that before the let
ter Of inquiry sent by President Wilson was sent the
whole subject had besn discussed by all the major Allied
governments and 9 substantial agreement on the line Of
procedure reached?