Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-14
Righteous Peace or a Snare?

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Righteous Peace or a Snare?
The German request to President
Wilson for an armistice and peace is
being so clarified and perfected in its
wording that it may, perhaps, be sub
mitted through the medium of the Uni
ted States to the allies for consideration.
There is as yet no agreement that its
verbiage has been thus clarified. It
has not yet been thus submitted. The
allies, who acting jointly and not sep
arately will reply concerning armistice
and peace, have not yet received Off
,cially and directly any peace request,
Invitation or plea from Germany.
On October Germany said to Presi-
demt Wilson in effect: II request you
70 take in hand the restoration of peace
and to invite all the belligerents to
participate in peace negotiations. ac-
cept your peace terms as basis for
such negotiations. request the i'm
mediate conclusion of an armistice."
On October 8 President Wilson SUBJ
mitted to Germany questions designed
to fix the exact meaning of the words
Of the German note. He asked in eff
feet: o. "Do you mean that you accept
my peace terms as the terms of peace,
the only discussion to be to agree upon
the practical details of their appica-
toni (2) Do you speak merely for
tho constituted authorities Of the en-
pire who have so far conducted the
war with whom the allies will have
no deaIngs)s (3) I do not feel at
liberty to propose to the allies an ar
mistice so long as your armies are upon
their soil.'
The German government now replies
to President Wilson's questions in eff
feet as follows: "() Your peace terms
sre accepted in exact accordance with
tho wor ling Of your question. (2) The
present German government has been
formed by conferences and in agree
ment with the great majority of the
1eiehstag. The chancellor, supported
in an Of his actions by the will of the
mjority, speaks in the name of the
German government and of the GeI-
man people. (S) For the purpose of
bringing about an armistice this gov
eminent declares itself ready to COM
ply with your propositions in regard
to evacuation. A mixed commission to
make the necessary arrangements con-
corning the evacuation is suggested"
<
The original German peace request,
df amended in accordance with its re-
cent note, will read as follows:
~The German government requests
6e President of the United States to
take in hand the restoration of peace,
sequaint all the belligerent states of
this request and invite them to send
plemipotentiaries for the purpose of
, opening negotiations.
ut has accepted the terms laid down
BY President Wilson in his address of
January 8, and in his subsequent ad-
dresses on the foundation of a per-
lnanent peace of justice. Consequent
~ its object in entering into discus
sions would be only to agree upon
practical details of the application of
these terms. The German government
believes that the governments of the
powers associated with the government
of the United States also take the
position taken by President Wilson in
his address.
"With a view to avoiding further
bloodshed the German government re-
quests the immediate conclusion of an
ezmistice on land and water and in
fho air. For the purpose Of bringing
absut an aTmistice this government
declares itself ready to comply with
the propositions of the President in
regard to evacuation. The German
government suggests that the Presi-
dent may occasion a mixed commits
sion for making the necessary ar
rangements concerning the evacuation.
"The present German government
which Eas undertaken the responsible
ity for this step toward peace has
been formed by conferences and in
agreement with the great majority of
the reichstag. The chancellor, sup
ported in all of his actions by the will
Of this majority, speaks in the name
Of the German government and of the
8emsn people"
Ehfs, then, Is now the German re-
Quest 70 which President Wilson is
% mako reply. He is asked to bring
about peace negotiations, ON the basis
Of acceptance Of his own expressed
peace terms, subject to discussion of
the details Of their practical applica-
ton. He is asked to bring about an
immediate armistice on the promise of
evacuation by Germany Of invaded
territory, and q mixed commission is
suggested to mako the necessary ar-
Iangements concerning the evacuation.
President Wilson win first perhaps
sRlJss not only the words Of the note,
"a A.