The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1918-10-10
Presidents Answer viii Develop
Whether Berlin Officials
Are Sincere.
QUESTIONS ARE ASKED
United States Declines to Propose on
Armistice While the Armies of
the Central Powers Remain
on Invaded Soil.

Washington, Oct 8. - Germany's
peace note has been met by President
Wilson with a reply which will at one
stroke develop whether her proposal
is sincere or merely pretention, and
if pretention it be, fully justify for
all time before the world the prolong-
ing of the war with "a force to the
utmost, force without stint or limit. /"
At. the same time the President has
left the door to peace wide OPEN
Declining to propose an armistice
while the armies of the Central powers
remain on invaded soil, the President
called on the German chancellor to
state, as an absolutely necessary pre-
liminary to reply from the Allies
and the United States, whether Ger
many accepts the principles of peace
as repeatedly laid down or merely pro-
poses to accept them "as the basis of
negotiation" and whether the chan
cellor merely speaks for the military
masters conducting the war or the
whole German people.
The text of the Presidents commune
cation was made public by Secretary
Lansing, together with the official text
of Prince MaXimilian's note now pub
lished in America for the first time.
At the same time officials let it be
known that there would be no reply
at present to the Austrian note sim
liar to that of the German chancellor
1t is not considered necessary to deal
with Austria until the time comes for
reply to her dominating ally.
The text of the communication
handed to the charge of Switzerland
here follows:
President Wilson's Note.
Sir have the honor to acknowl-
edge, on behalf of the President, your
note of Oct g. enclosing the commune
cation from the German government
by the President to request you to
make the following communication to
the imperial chancellor:
Before making reply to the request
of the imperial German government,
and in order that that reply shall be
candid and straightforward as the
momentous interests involved require,
the President of the United States
deems it necessary to assure himself
of the exact meaning of the note of the
imperial chancellor. Does the imperial
chancellor mean that the imperial
German government accepts the terms
laid down by the President in his adj
dress to the Congress of the United
States on the Sth of January last, and
in subsequent addresses, and that its
object in entering into discussions
would be only to agree upon the prac-
tical details of their application
''The President feels bound to say
with regard to the suggestion of an
armistice that he would not feel at
liberty to propose cessation of arms
to the governments with which the
government of the United States is
associated against the Teutonic pow.
ers, so long as the armies of those
powers are upon their soil. The good
faith of any discussion would mani
testify depend upon the consent Of the
Teutonic powers Immediately to with.
draw their forces everywhere from in.
vaded territory.
"The President also feels that he is
justified in asking whether the imper.
ial chancellor is speaking merely for
the constituted authorities of the
empire who have so far conducted the
war He deems the answer to these
questions vital from every point of
view. t.
Accept, sir, the renewed assurances
Of my high consideration.