Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1918-10-17
WILSON MAKES REPLY
To GERMAN GOVERNMENT

Soi0ShC w lSou NuOuudy I'LL
swered Germany's peace proffer with
a note declaring anew that there can
be no peace with a German govern
ment controlled by military autoc-
racy and no thought of an armistice
while German atrocities continue on
land and sea.
The official Interpretation of the
note, as openly expressed, was "Au-
tocracy, must CO."
The text of the presidents answer
follows:
"Sir: In reply to the communica-
tion of the German government
dated the 18th instant, which you
handed me today, l have the honor
to request you to transmit the follow
ing answer:
THE unqualified acceptance by the
present German government and by a
large majority of the reichstag of the
terms laid down by the President Of
the United States of America in his
address to the congress of the United
States on the Sth of January, 1918,
and in his subsequent address justi-
flies the president in making a
frank and direct statement of his
decision with regard to the communi-
cations Of the German government of
the Sth and 18th of October, 1918.
1t must be clearly understood
that the process of evacuation and
the conditions OF an armistice are
matters which must be left to the
Judgment and advice of the military
advisers Of the government of the
United States and the allied govern
ments, and the president feels it 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 in the field.
HE feels confident that he can
safely assume that this will also be
the Judgment and decision of the al
lied governments.
THE president feels that it is also
his duty to add that neither the gov
eminent of the United States, nor,
he is quite sure, the governments
with which the government of the
United States is associated as a bel
ligerent will consent to consider an
armistice so long as the armed
force, of Germany continue the il
legal and inhumane practices which
they persist in.
AT the very time that the Ger
man government approaches the gov
eminent of the United States with
proposals 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 destruc-
ton which has always been regarded
as in direct violation of the rules and
practices of civilized warfare.
Cities and villages, if not de-
stroyed, are being stripped of all they
contain not only. but often of the !
very inhabitants. The nations asso-
ciated against Germany cannot be ex-
pected TO agree to a cessation of arms |
while acts of inhumanity and DESC
lation are being continued which |
they justly look upon with horror |
and with burning hearts.
1T is necessary, also in order that |
there may be no possibility of misun-
that the president should |
very solemnly call the attention of |
the government of Germany to the !
language and plain intent of one OF |
the terms of peace which the Ger
man government has now accepted. II |
is contained in the address of the |
president delivered at Mount Vernon |
on the Fourth of July last
1T 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 pres
emily destroyed. at least its reduction
10 virtual impotency.'
"The power which has hitherto
the German nation is of |
The sort here described. 1t is within |
the choice of the German nation to |
alter it, The presidents words just |
quoted naturally constitute a condi-
lion precedent to peace. The presi- |
dent feels bound to say that the |
whole process of peace will in his |
judgment depend upon the definite
ness and the satisfactory character |
Of the guarantees which can be given |
in this fundamental matter
1T is indispensable that the gov
ernment associated against Germany
should know beyond peradventure |
with whom they are dealing.
THE president will make a sep |
arate reply to the royal and imperial |
government of Austria-Hungary.
Accept, sir. the renewed assur-
ance of my high consideration
tSignedb Robert Lansing"
Mr.. Frederick Oederlin,
Charge d'affairos. ad interim. in
charge of German in