New-York tribune., 1918-10-14
Unconditional Surrender
Still the Only Way
Bv Frank II. Simonds
co,yr,r,t 1918 Now Yorh Tribune Inc.

their request Tor an arinlSClCe 10 HIS
allies. The Germans have complied by
declaring that they accept tho Presi-
peace. The next step, then, provided the
President is satisfied with the German
response, is to transmit the request to
our allies.
When the governments of France,
.5rtan and Italy have received that
request, then, in company with our own,
they will frame an answer. That an
swer will specify the conditions upon
which Germany can obtain an armistice.
preliminary and personal between the
President and the Observation-Disclosures
Germany and the United States.
But it is Of utmost Importance for all
of us to recognize that what is to come
will have different character. German
acceptance of Mr.. Wilson's fourteen
points" is Of only academic interest to
invaded France, to Britain suffering
daily from new German outragcs, to
Italy with half of Venetia in Austro-
German hands. 1t is of no more than
academic interest to Marshal Foch, who
is winning the war at the business end
Of the game while the Germans are ne
gotiating at the other.
We may consider it as settled in ad-
vance that when the German request for
an armistice is presented to our allies
it will be acted upon in conformity with
the situation as seen by Foch and as
existing in the military field. We may
take it for granted that the Allied con-
ditions will include a demand for the
demobilization of the German army fol-
lowing the evacuation of French, Belgian
and Russian territory and the surrender
of Metz and Strassburg fortresses with
the outlying territories Of Alsace-Lor-
raine
Nor is it less certain that the condi-
tions will include the occupation of the
left bank OF the Rhine from Holland to
Switzerland under proper guarantees
that. save for Alsace- Lorraine, German
territory will not be permanently an
nexed. TO ask anything less is to per-
nit the Germans to escape from the
fatal consequences of their present
defeats and organize a new defence on
their side of the old frontier.
Up to the present time the German
peace proposal is nothing more than
another scrap of paper" 1t is unen-
forceable and will be unenforceabe unit!
we have taken proper guarantees for
German compliance with the will Of
civilized mankind. These guarantees can
be Of but one sort. Invariably the
defeated nation consents to the occupa-
ton of territory pending the fulflment
of treaty obligations; German troops
stayed in France for two years after the
Franco-P Prussian War. At the outset of
the present war Germany demanded TO
be permitted to occupy Verdun and
Epinal as a guarantee of French neu-
trahty.
We cannot negotiate with Germany
about peace. President Wilson has said
this. We cannot accept the pledges Of
men who have been responsible for the
past German crimes. We cannot sur
render the prospects Of decisive victory
in the field for the illusory promises Of
settlement around the green table. We
can receive Germany's proposal for an
armlstlce, we can submit it to the coun-
Gil Of our allies, but our conditions can
not be less than complete and urcon-
dltlonal surrender as expressed by the
evacuation Of the territory which the
Germans have conquered since 1911.
the territory which the Germans oud
the Austrians have stolen or wronefu]lv
withheld from France and Italv in the
past, and by the occupation of genuinely
German territory as surety for the full
fllment Of new obligations and as 2 QUAR-
antee against the transformation of the
latest German-signed agreement into
another scrap Of paper"
For myself, DO not believe the Ger
man is acting in good faith. While. like
every one else, recognize that his pro-
posal must be received and answered
believe he is aiming at double obiec-
tive. lie is seeking to divide his enc
mics by establishing the notion that the
French claim upon Alsace-Lorraine or
the Italian demands for Trieste are the
causes tor the prolongation of the war
If we fall into the trap then GERMANY
VIII escape and the sacrifice of four
years will go for nothing. We shall fall
into the trap if we consent to any dis