The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-10-22
Official Text Was Received
At Swiss Legation
Early Today.
WILL CLEAR SOME
OBSCURE PASSAGES
Possible That No Reply
Will Be Sent; Must Con-
fer With Allies

Washington, Oct. 22.-The official
text of Germany's latest note to
President Wilson was received by
cable today at the Swiss legation.
Frederick Oederlin, the Swiss charge,
arranged to deliver it to Secretary
Lansing as soon as it could be de-
coded.
President Wilson is expected to act
promptly on the new German note,
the official text of which probably
will be delivered today through the
Swiss legation. The unofficial version
as received yesterday by wireless
from Germany, was discussed by the
President and Secretary Lansing Tor
several hours last night but there
has been no intimation as to Mr..
Wilson's answer.
IL the President decides the note
calls for an answer, his reply is ex-
pected to- go forward within a few
days at most, while il no reply is to
be sent, that fact probably will be
made known promptly.
The charges appearance at the
state department was delayed for
several hours as the task Of decod-
ing and translating proved to be
long and tedious. Considerable diff
ferences in verbiage may be shown
and it is understood that the offlc1al
text will clear up certain obscure pas
sages in the wireless version received
yesterday.
ment of a decision by the President
could be expected before tomorrow:
Secretary Lansing was with him
until near midnight last night
discussing the wireless version but
there now must be further confer
ences and it is assumed there viii be
exchanges with the. allied capitals.
Comment Withheld.
Official comment continued to be
withheld. awaiting an indication OF
the Presidents views. Everyone ex-
pected him to decide quickly wheth-
er the note with its promises in sup
port of the plea for an armistice and
, it's assertion that the government
at Berlin no longer is responsible TO
an arbitrary power. creates = new
situation requiring action. .sst
Informal opinion as to the probable
attitude of the President did not diff
fer on the great point that immediate
neane is not at hand and that, how
ever. sincere the German overtures
may be. no armistice will be agreed
TO except upon conditions of sur
render that will destroy forever the
power of the kaiser's war machine
for harm.
Some observers thought no answer
would be made and the German ar
mics left to complete their enforced
evacuation OF occupied territory as
best they might with the allied ar
mics on their heels. Others believed
the next step, in agreement with the
allies. would be a suggestion that
the German military commanders, ,s'if
ready to accspt dictated terms,
should approach General Foch on the
subject OF an arInistice.
Those who are convinced that the
enemy is beaten into submission and
that efforts at bargaining now are
merely a prelude to complete sur
render in the near future if the al
lies hold firm to the determination to
ACCEPT nothing less, are guided by
confidential diplomatic advices pur-
porting to show that there has been
a real political revolution in Germany
and that the people in power are
ready to throw out the kaiser and
all his war lords to get peace.
was learned today that private
dispatch from Germany has been
published in a Copenhagen news
paper stating that certain officers on
leave are receiving secret orders not
to return to the front and to this
extent demobilization has begun.
Military men here, however, regard
Is as inconceivable that such orders
would be given while desperate eff
forts are being made to hold the Am
erican and allied troops at bay.