Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-11-12

/ peace negotiations, Jhere Delng
pressing danger of famine.
London, Nov 12-Dr. Solf, the
German foreign secretary, has ad-
dressed a message to Secretary Of
State Lansing requesting that Pres
! ident Wilson intervene to mitigate
the fearful conditions" existing in
Germany
The full text of the German wire
! less dispatch giving the message
| from Foreign Secretary SoIf to Sec
retary of State Lansing follows:
Convinced of the common aims
and ideals of democracy, the Ger
man government has addressed
itself to the president of the United
T States with the request to reestab-
! lish peace. This peace was meant
/ to correspond with the principles
the president always has maintain
/ ed. The aim was to be just solu-
/ ton of all questions in dispute, fol-
( lowed by a permanent reconcilia-
ton of all nations
/ Furthermore, the president de-
clared he did not wish to make war
on the German people and did not
wish to Nnpede its peaceful devel-
opment The German government
/ has received the conditions of the
armistice.
/ After the blockade, those condi-
/ tions, especially the surrender Of
means of transport and the sus-
/ tenance of troops of occupation
would make it impossible to pro-
/ vide Germany with food and would
cause the starvation of millions of
men, women and children, all the
more as the blockade is to con-
/ tinue
I "We had to accept tNS conditions,
but feel it is our duty to draw the
presidents attention most solemn
ly and in all earnestness to the fact
that enforcement of the conditions
must produce amongst the German
( people feelings contrary to those
upon which alone the reconstruc-
/ tion Of the community of nations
can rest, guaranteeing a just and
/ durable peace.
/ The German people, therefore,
/ in this fateful hour, address them
selves again to the president with
the request that he use his infiu-
ence with the allied powers in or
] der to mitigate these fearful condf-
/ tions."
| Washington, Nov. 1.-THE ap
peal of DR.. Solf. foreign secretary
at Berlin, for Intervention by Pres
| ident Wilson to mitigate the fear
! full conditions" OF the armistice,
which he says threatens starva-
, tion and ruin in Germany, had not
reached Washington today. in Of
/ fetal form The text of the mes
/ sage as picked up last night by
wireless however, was before the
president and it may be given i'm
mediate consideration.
Officials say Dr. Solft is needless
ly alarmed They point out that in
spite of Germany's treatment of
conquered peoples in her hour of
victory il has been made very plain
that the United States and the al
I lies have no intention of permitting
the German people to starve While
every stipulation of the armistice
terms must be kept in force to pre-
vent the possibility of treachery by
the beaten enemy, it is declared,
such rolling stock and ships as may
. be necessary to provide food and
{ other essentials will be put into use
in Germany and on the seas.
In view OF the situation in Ger
many, where outside aid may be
necessary to prevent anarchy. it is
possible that the president may see
I fit 10 take up with the allied gov
ernments the question giving some
kind of reinsurance as to the hu-
name purposes of the associated
/ powers.
The plan is to put the German
merchant marine into service as
soon as possible after the problem
created by the naval revolt is clear
ed up, and such vessels necessary
will be employed for sending sup
plies through German ports.
Due precaution will be taken, of
course. TO see that these supplies
are devoted to the purpose for
which they are intended. President
Wilson has already instructed Food
Administrator Hoover to proceed
to Europe and represent the United
States in dealing with the situa-
ton, which will include the care OF
the German population as well as
the victims of the war in France
and Belgium.
1t is suggested in some quarters
that DR. Solf's plea may be design
ed to lay the foundation for an at
tempt on the part of Germany TO
secure general modification Of the
armistice terms before the peace
conference.
The appeal of DR. Solf, foreign
secretary at Berlin for Intervention
by President Wilson for mitigation
of the armistice terms to save Ger
many from starvation was deliver
ed to Secretary Lansing today by
Minister Sulzer of Switzerland. II
was sent Immediately 70 the presi-
dent
3,764,677 IN ARMY;