The Red Cloud chief. [volume] (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923, 1918-10-17
WILSON'S REPLY TO GERMAN
REQUEST FOR ARMIsTIcE SAYS
HUNS MUST FIRST GET OUT
DOUBTS IF GERMAN CHAM
CELLOR SPOKE FOR PEOPLE
Not Disposed to Propose cessasion
Of Arms to Allied Nations While
Armies of Central Powers Hold
Conquered Ground


dressed to Germany an inquiry design.
ed to test the sincerity Of Germany
In her peace offrs. He serves notice
on Germany that no armistice Is pos
eible while the armies OF the central
powers are upon allied soil. And, he
added the good faith of any discussion
would depend upon the willingness OF
the Teutons to withdraw their forces
ut once from invaded territory. The
message was officially designed as an
INQUIRY, not a reply 10 the German
poace note. II asked the German
Chancellor for the exact meaning, and
questioned whether NE meant Ger
many was ready to accept the fourteen
isrms and discuss only practical de-
tails OF their application.
The president also made a subtle
maneuver when in his message he in
CURED whether Prince Max spoke for
Germany's war lords or was the peo-
pies mouthpiece as well. II as gen
orally believed here. Germany's peace
offer was hypocritical, the presidents
answer is designed to put the masters
of Germany into a diplomatic hole.
Whey must now accept President Will
sons peace terms as q whole in good
faith or stand before the world con.
wisted of deceit.
His query as to the exact meaning of
Prince Aiax's proposal was inter.
preted as leaving the way open to
further Teuton concessions. His next
paragraph-the predicted refusal to
deal Nth the Germans while still on
allied soil--was the distinctive Amer.
loan response to the German offer.
Authorities believe that Germany can
not answer the queries satisfactorily,
and hence there will be no peace ne.
gotiations at this time.
Ohe presidents reply was taken as
fully sQuaring with advanced predic-
lions Of refusal to accept the Teu-
ton offer now. But the fact that the
president left an opening for further
dealings came as more or less of a
surprise. 1t was generally hailed,
however, as an ingenious means of
discrediting the kaiser and his asso.
oiates.
The text Of the presidents message,
a. Incorporated In a message Secre.
tary of State Lansing delivered to the
Swiss charge d'affaires, follows.
"Sir: have the honor to acknowl.
edge on behalf Of the president your
note OF October 6, inclosing a commu.
nication from the German government
to the president, and, am instructed
by the president to request you to
make the following communication
to the imperial German chancellor:
Before making reply to the resuest
OF the imperial German government
and In order that the reply shall be al
candid and straightforward as the mo
mentous interests involved resuire
the president Of the United State.
deems II necessary to assure himself
OF the exact meaning of the note o.
the imperial chancellor Does the i'm
perial chancellor mean that the i'm
perial German government accepts tn,
terms laid down by the president II
his address to the congress OF tn,
United States on the Sth Of Januar,
last and in subsequent addresses an,
that its object in entering into discus
sions would be only to agree upon tn
practical details OF their application
"The president feels bound to sa
with regard to the suggestion OF a
armistice that he would not feel a
liberty to propose cessation OF arm
TO the government with which the go,
eminent OF the United States is asst
ciated against the central powers 5
long as the armies OF those powers ar
upon their soil. The good faith OF an
discussion would manifestly DEEPEN
upon the consent OF the central poy
ers Immediately to withdraw the
forces everywhere from invaded te
ritory.
THE president also feels that he
justified In asking whether the imp
rial chancellor is speaking merely Il
the constituted authorities of the er
pire who have so far conducted Il
war. He deems the answer to thes
questions vital from every point
view"