Cheyenne record., 1918-10-17
WILSON'S REPLY
TOGERMANPLEA
FOR ARMISTICE
Western Newspaper Unto. News Service.

VIl 7llUv1IO11O6
Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Washington, Oct. 15.-The text sf
President Wilson's reply to Germany.
delivered to the charge of the Swiss
legation, follows:
In reply to tie communication
Of tho German government dated tn
18th inst, which you handed me tod.y.
! have the honor to request you to
tr:-nSmit the following answer:
The unqualified acceptance by the
present German government and by
large majority of the reichstag Of the
terms laid down by the President Of
the United States of America in his adr
dress to the Congress OF the United
States on Jan. 8. 1918. and in his sub
s,q2ent addresses ja:tifies the Presi-
dent In making a frank and direct
statement of his decision with regard
to the communication OF the German
government Of Oct 3 and IL. 1918.
1T must be clearly understood that
the process OF evacuation and the
conditions of an armistice are matters
which must be left to the judgment
and advice Of the military advisers of
the government Of the United States
and the allied governments, and the
President feels it his duty to say that
no arrangement can Be accepted BY
the government Of the United Sta
which does not provide absolutely sst
isfactory safeguards and guarantee
of the maintenance of the present mil
itary supremacy of the armies of
United States and the allies n the
field.
HE feels confident that he can safe
ly assume that this viii also es The
Judgment and decisiea of the AIMED
governments.
'The President feels that Il y also
his duty to add that neither TIE GOV.
ernmsnt Of the United States, nor. hs
10 quite sure, the governments with
which the government sf the United
States Is associated - . bethSers0e
will consent 10 consider aA armisttes
10 long az the armed forces Of Ger
many continue the Illegal and inhur
name practices which they stil persist
h
AT the very time that the German
government approaches the govern
meat OF the United States with proDos-
als OF peace it, submarines are On
gagged in sinking passenger ships at sea
and not the ships alone, but the vsry
boats in which their passengers snd
crews seek to mako their way to safe
ty: and In their present enforced with
drawal from Flanders and France tho
German armies are pursuing course
Of wanton destruction which has a.
ways been regarded ~ In direct vto-
lation of the rules and practices of
civilized warfare. Cities and villages.
II not destroyed, are being stripped os
all they contain not only. but often of
their very inhabitants. The nations
assc ciateA against Germany cannot be
expected 70 agree to a cessation OF
arms while acts Of inhumanity. spolia-
ton and desolation are being contin-
ued which they Justly look upon with
horror and with burning hearts.
1T is necessary. also. In order that
there may be no possibility Of misun-
derstanding. that the President should
government Of Germany to the Ian
guage and plain intent Of one OF the
terms of peace which the German gov
ernment has now accepted. It Is con-
tained in the address Of the President
delivered at Mount Vernon on the
Fourth OF July last.
1T is as follows: The destruction
OF every arbitrary power anywhere
that can separately. secretly and Of fts
single choice disturb the peace Of the
world: or, II it cannot be presently do
tual impotency.'
"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 a condition prece-
dent to peace, II peace 10 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
definiteness and the satisfactory char.
acter OF the guarantees which can BE-
given in this fundamental matter. n
is indispensable that the governments
associated against Germany should
know beyond a peradventure with
whom they are dealing.
THE President will make . separate
reply to the royal and imperial gov
ernment OF Austria-Hungary.
Accept. sir. the renewed assur-
ances of NV high consideration
(Signed.) ROBERT LANSING