River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-10-24
Wilson Refuses to Concede Ger
man Governments Request
for ArmiStiCe.
ALLIES ARE MORTIFIED
Cessation Of HostiIlties impossible
While Acts of Inhumanity, Spoil
alton and Desolation Shock
Civilized World.

Wilson answered Germany's peace
proHer with a note declaring anew
that there can be no peace with a
German government controlled by
military autocracy and no thought Of
an armistice while German atrocities
continue on land and sea.
This statement was made at the
White House: "'The government will
continue to send over 100000 men with
their supplies every month and there
will be no relaxation"
President Wilson's Answer.
The text of the Presidents answer
follows:
'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 9Th of January,
1918, and his subsequent addresses,
justifies the President in making
frank and direct statement of his de-
cision with regard to the communica-
tions of the German government of
the 2th and 18th of October, 1918.
HE feels confident that he can
safely assume that this will also be
the judgment and decision of the
Allied 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 belligerent,
will consent to consider an armistice
so long as the armed forces of Ger
many continue the illegal and inhu-
man practices which they still per
sist in.
~At the very time that the German
government approaches the govern
ment of the United States with pro-
posals of peace it's submarines are en-
gagged in sinking passenger ships at
sea and not the ships alone, but the
very boats in which their passengers
and crews seek to make their way to
safety; and in their present enforced
withdrawal from France and Flanders
the German armies are pursuing a
course of wanton destruction which
has always been regarded as in direct
violation of the rules and practices
of civilized warfare. Cities and vii
lagos, if not destroyed, are being
stripped not only of all they contain,
but often of their very inhabitants.
"The nations associated against
Germany cannot be expected to agree
to a cessation of arms while acts of
inhumanity, spoliation and desolation
are being continued which they justly
look upon with horror and with burn
ing hearts.
'It is necessary, also, in order that
there may be no possibility of misun-
derstanding, that the President should
very solemnly call the attention of the
government Of Germany to the lam
guage and plain intent of one of the
terms of peace which the German gov
eminent now has accepted. 1t is con-
tanned in the address of the President,
delivered at Mount Vernon, on the
Fourth of July last. 1t is as follows:
1.-THE destruction Of every arbitrary
power everywhere that can separate
ly, secretly and of it's single choice
disturb the peace of the world; or if
it cannot be presently destroyed, at
least it's reduction to virtual impo-
tency.'
1.-THE power which has hitherto con-
trolled 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 condition prece-
dent TO peace, If peace is to come by
the action of the German people them
selves.
''The President feels bound to say
that the whole process of peace will
in his judgment depend upon the def
initeness and satisfactory character Of
the guarantees which can be given in
this fundamental matter 1t is indis-
pensable that the governments asso-
ciated against Germany should know
beyond a peradventure with whom
they are dealing.
1.-THE President will make a separate
reply to the royal and imperial gov
eminent of Austria-Hungary.
Accept, sir, the renewed assurance
Of my high consideration
ROBERT LANSING"