Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-11-01
DECLARES PEACE
MUST Be CERTAIN
PRESIDENTS REPLY SHOWS THAT
THE TEuToNs CAN NOT BE
ALLOWED TO FARLEY.
ARMISTICE PLEA DECLINED
Until People Rule In Germany War
Must Go On-No Further Peace
Negotiations Wanted-Surren-
der Is the Thing.

der Is the Thing.
Washington.-President Wilson has
submitted the German plea for an arm.
.istice and peace to the allies, and at
the same time has informed Berlin
that there can be no armistice except
upon terms that would make It impos.
s.ble for Germany to enew hostilities.
While consenting to deal further
with the present authorities in Ger
many, the president has given them
this warning:
IF it (the United States must deal
with the military masters and mon
archical autocrats of Germany now,
or if it is likely to have to deal with
them later in regard to the interna,
tional obligations Of the German EN-
pile, IL must demand not peace nego.
tiations, but surrender. Nothing can
be gained by leaving this essential
thing unsaid."
The text of President Wilson's reply
to Germany is as follows:
Department of State, oct. %.
Sir-I have the honor to acknowl-
edge the receipt Of your note OF the
tW enty-second transmitting Il commu'
nlcation under date of the twentieth
from the German government and TO
advise you that the president has In
structed me to reply thereto as fol
lows.
Having received the solemn and ex.
piicit assurance OF the German govern.
ment that II unreseryedly accepts the
terms of peace laid down in his ad'
dress TO the congress OF the United
States on the eighth Of January, 1918,
ard the principles of settlement enun'
ciated In his subsequent addresses.
particularly the address Of the twenty
seventh of September, and that 1t de-
aires to discuss the details Of their
application, and that this wish and
rurpose emanate not from those who
have hitherto dictated the policy and
conducted the present war on Ger
many's behalf, but from ministers who
speak for the majority OF the reichstag,
and for an overwhelming majority OF
the German people; and having re-
cesved also the explicit promise OF the
present German government that the
l4nane rules Of civilized warfare will
be observed, both on land and sea, by
The German armed forces, the presi'
l.lt of the United States feels that
Re cannot decline to take up with the
governments with which the govern.
ment of the United States is associated
the question of an armistice.
He deems 1t his duty to say again,
however, that the only armistice he
would feel justified in submitting for
consideration would be one which
should leave the United States and the
powers associated with her In a posi-
ton to enforce any arrangements that
may be entered into and to make a re-
newal of hostilities on the part Of Ger.
many impossible.
The president has. therefore, trans
mitted his correspondence with the
present German authorities to the gov
ernments with which the government
OF the United States Is associated as a
%belligerent, with the suggestion that
n those governments are disposed tC
effect peace upon the terms and prin
ciples Indicated, their military advisers
and the military advisers of the United
States bc asked to submit to the gov
ernmentg associated against Germany
the necessary terms Of such nm arms
tice as will fully protect the interests
Of the peoples involved and insure t
the associated governments the unre
stricted power to safeguard and Ell
force the details of the peace to whic'
the German government has agreed
provided they deem such an armistie
possible from the military point c
view. Should such terms of armistic
be suggested, their acceptance by Ge'
many will afford best concrete ev
dence of her uneQuivocal acceptance
the terms and principles of peace frol
which the whole action proceeds.
The president would deem himse
lacking in candor did he not point o,
IN the frankest possible terms the re
son why extraordinary safeguard
must be demanded. Significant an
important as the constitutional chang,
seem to be which are spoken Of by Il
German foreign secretary in his no
o. the twentieth OF October, it do'
not appear that the principle of a go
ornment responsible TO the Germa
people has yet been fully worked on
or that any guarantees either exist
are in contemplation that the alter
items OF principle and of practice no
partially agreed upon will be perm
nent. Moreover. it does not appe,
that the heart OF the present Difficult
has beeu reached. II may be that
tpre wars have been brought under Il
control of the German people, but &
present wal has not been, and 1t
with the present war that we are de;
ing. It is evident that the Germ'