The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-24
ENEMY TRANSLATES
NOTE TOPRESIDENT
Official English Text Is Pre-
pared in Berlin for
Presentation.
FEW DIFFERENCES NOTED
Wording Regarding Armistice
Still Yague-Wilson Holds
Conference.

-
wAsHINGroH. Oct 2s. - Germany's
new note to President Wilson in Official
text was delivered to Secretary Lansing
at 10 o'clock this morning by Frederick
Osdsrlin, Charge d'Affaires Of the Swiss
Legation.
Secretaries Lansing and Daniels and
Gen. March. Chief OF Star Of the army.
were called to the White House shortly
after noon, Just as State Department
messenger arrived to deliver the German
note to the President. They remained
only short time. leaving the President
and Mr.. Lansing In conference.
The English translation presented by
the Swiss Charge with the German text
was prepared at the German Foreign
Office. 1t arrived last night with In
structions that 1t be delivered with the
original. after Mr.. Oederlin had com-
pleted a careful translation OF his own.
1t does not differ materially from the
wireless version sent out from Germany
and falls to clear UP what were regarded
as vague phrases In that part OF the note
in which an armistice is discussed
OmciaI translation of Note.
The official document as made public
by the State Department follows:
Translation issued by the German
Government OF Its communication dated
October 20, 1913, transmitted to the Sec
rotary Of State by the Charge dAffaires
Of Switzerland October 22, 1918:
In accepting the proposal for an
evacuation Of the occupied territories
ha cnyarnnaanf hnQ RI ed
from the assumption that the proceed
ure OF this evacuation and OF the con-
ditions OF an armistice should be left
to the judgment OF the military ad-
vlsers and that tho actual standard of
power on both sides In the field has to
form the basis for arrangements safe
guarding and guaranteeing the stand
ard. Tho German Government sug-
gests to the President to bring about
an opportunity to fixing the details.
1t trusts that the President of the
United States will approve of no de-
mand which would be irreconcilable
with the honor OF the German people
and with opening way to peace OF
Justice.
The German Government protests
against the reproach Of illegal and in
humane actions made against the
oci"oh iAho anu ooo AotSoo enu
thereby against the German people.
For the covering Of a retreat destruc-
lions will always be necessary and
are IN 70 far permitted by interna-
tional law. The German troops are
under tho strictest instructions to
spare private property and to exercise
care for the population to the best OF
their ability. Where transgressions
occur in spite OF these instructions the
guilty are being punished.
The German Government further
denies that the German navy in sink
ing ships has ever purposely destroyed
lifeboats with their passengers. The
German Government proposes with
regard to all these charges that tho
facts be cleared up by neutral COM
missions. In order TO avoid anything
that might hamper the work OF peace
the German Government has caused
orders to be despatched to all subma-
rine commanders preclud!ng the tor
pedoinG Of passenger ships, without
however. for technical reasons, being
able to guarantee that these orders
will reach every single submarine at
sea before its return.
Az the fundamental conditions for
peace the President characterizes the
destruction Of every arbitrary power
eiut Chh separately, secretly ana Oh
its own single choice disturb the peace
OF the world. To this the German
Government replied Hitherto the rep
resentation Of the people in the Ger
man Empire has not been endowed
with an influence on the formation Of
the Government The Constitution did
not provide for concurrence Of the
representation of the people In deci-
sion on peace and war. These condl-
tions have just now undergone a fun
damental change.
The new Government has been
formed in complete accord with the
wishes of the representation Of the
people. based on the equal. universal,
secret, direct franchise. The leaders
OF the great parties In the Reichstag
are members OF this Government In
future no Government can take or con-
tinue in office without possessing the
confidence OF the majority Of the
Rsichstag. The responsibility OF the
Chancellor Of the Empire to the rep
resentation Of the people is being
legally developed and safeguarded.
The first act of the new Government
has been TO lay before the Reichstag a
bill to alter the constitution of the en-
pire 80 that the consent OF the repre-
eentation Of the people is required for
decisions on war and peace. The per-
manence OF the new system L. how
ever, guaranteed not only by constitu-
tional safeguards, but also by the I'M
shakabIe determination OF the German
people. whose vast majority stands be-
hind these reforms and demands their
energetic continuance.
The question OF the President with
whom he and the Governments assoc
ciated against Germany are dealing is
therefore answered in clear and I'M
equivocal manner by the statement
that the offer Of peace and an armistice
has come from a Government which,
free from arbitrary and irresponsible
influence. Ia supported by the approval
OF the overwhelming majority Of the
German people.
BERLIN, October 20. 1913.
SOIF