Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-10-15
Wilson'S Peace Reply

blows:
In reply to the communication Of
the German government dated the
18th instant which you handed me
today. | have the honor 10 request
you to transmit the following answer :
The unqualified acceptance by the
present German government and by n
large majority Of the Reichstag Of
the terms laid down by the President
Of the United States Of America in
his address 10 the Congress Of the
United States on the 9Th Of January,
1918. and in his subsequent adj
dresses, justifies the President in
making a frank and direct statement
Of his decision with regard to the
communications of the German
government Of the sth and 18th Of
October. 1918.
Ii must be clearly understood that
the process of evacuation and the
conditions of an armistice are mat
ters which must be left 10 the iudg-
ment and advice Of the military adj
visers of the government Of the
United States and the Allied govern
ments, and the President feels IL his
duty TO say that no arrangement can
be accepted by the government Of the
United States which does not provide
absolutely satisfactory safeguards
and guarantees of the maintenance
Of the present military supremacy OF
the armies Of the United States and
the Allies i'm the field He feels con-
fident that he can safely assume that
this will also be the judgment and
decision of the Allied governments.
CALLS HALT ON SAyAGERY.
The President feels that il is also
his duty 10 add that neither the
government of the United States nor.
he is quite sure, the governments
with which the government of the
United States is associated as bel
ligerent, will consent to consider an
armistice so long as the armed forces
of Germany continue the Illegal and
inhumaue practices which they will
persist in.
At the very time that the German
government approaches the govern
ment Of the United States with pro-
posaIs of peace its submarines are
engaged in sinking passenger ships
at sea. and not the ships alone, but
the very boats in which their pas
sengers and crews seek TO make their
way to safety. and in their present
enforced withdrawal from Flanders
and France the German armies are
pursuing course OF wanton de-
struction which has always been re-
aarded as in direct violation Of the
rules and practices of civilized war
fare. Cities and villages, If not de-
stroyed. are being stripped Of all they
contain not only but often oil their
inhabitants.
The nations associated against
Germany cannot be expected to agree
to a cessation Of arms while acts OF
inhumanity, spoliaiion and desolation
are being continued which they Justly
look upon with horror and with burn
ing hearts.
NO PEACE WITH PRESENT HUN
POWERS. -sst e
II is necessary, also. in order that
there may be no possibility of mis-
understanding that the President
should very solemnly call the atten-
ton Of the government of Germany
TO the language and plain intent OF
one of the terms of peace which the
German government has now ac-
cepted. II is contained in the address
of the President delivered at Mount
Vernon on the Fourth Of July last.
II is as follows: THE destruction
of every arbitrary power anywhere
that can separately. secretly and OF
its single choice disturb the peace of
the world: or, if it cannot be presently
DESTROYED, al least its reduction 10
virtual impotency.'
The power which has hitherto con-
trolled the German nation is of the
sort here described Ii is within the
choice Of the German nation 10 alter
il. The Presidents words just quoted
naturally constitute a condition pre-
cedent to peace, if peace II to come
by the action of the German people
themselves. The President feels
bound 10 say that the whole process
of peace will, in his judgment, de-
pend upon the defniieness and the
satisfactory character of the guaran-
tees which can be given In this funda-
mental matter. Ii is Indispensable
that the governments associated
against Germany should know be-
yond a peradventure with whom they
are dealing.
The President will make a separate
reply to the Royal and Imperial
government of Austria Hungary.
Accept, Sir, the renewed assurances
of my high consideration.
Signed ROBERT LANSiNG.
MIR. Frederick Oederlin,
Charge d'Afiaires. ad interim. in
charge of German interests i'm the
United States.