The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-10-17
PRESIDENT PUTS
PEACE UP TO HUNS
No Armistice While the KaiseFs
Armies Occupy the Soil of
the Allied Nations.
MUST MAKE REQUEST CLEARER
Berlin Government Called Upon to
Supply Evidence of Good Faith
Text of Reply.

Washington, Oct 9.-President VII
son has met Germany's peace note
with move which viii, at one stroke
develop whether her proposal is sin
cere or merely a preteHsion, and, if a
pretension it be, fully justify for all
time before the world the prolonging
Of the war with force to the utmost,
force without stint or limit
At the same time, the President has
left wide open the door to peace.
Declining to propose an armistice
while the armies Of the Central Pow
ers remain on invaded soil, the Presi-
dent today called on the German
chancellor to state, as an absolutely
necessary preliminary to a reply from
the Entente Allies and the United
States, whether Germany accepts the
principles Of peace as repeatedly laid
down, or merely proposes to accept
them 'as the basis of negotiation -
and whether the chancellor merely
speaks for the German military mas
tiers conducting the war or the whole
German people.
The Presidents Answer.
The full text of the United States
reply to the German peace note, as
handed to the charge of Switzerland
in Washington, is as follows:
Sir, 1 have the honor to acEnoEI-
edge, on behalf of the President, your
note Of October s, inclosing the ccm-
munication from the German govern
ment to the President; and l am in
5tructed by the President TO request
you to make the following communi-
cation to the imperial German chan
ceIlor:
Before making reply to the request
Of the imperial German government
and in order that that reply shall be
as candid and straightforward as the
mOmentous interests involved re-
Quires, the President of the United
States deems il necessary TO assure
himself of the exact meaning Of the
note of the imperial chancellor.
Does the imperial chancellor mean
that the imperial German government
accepts the terms laid down by the
President in his address TO the Con-
gress of the United States on the Sth
Of January, last, and in subsequent
addresses and that its object in en-
tering into discussion would be only
10 agree upon the practical details
of their application?
No Armistice.
The President feels bound to say
with regard TO the suggestion OF an
armistice that he would not feel at
liberty to propose a cessation OF
arms to the governments with which
the government Of the United States
is associated against the Central
Powers, so long as the armies Of those
powers are upon their soil
1.-The good faith Of any discussion
would manifestly depend upon the
consent Of the Central Powers i'm
mediately to withdraw their forces
everywhere from invaded territory.
The President also feels that he IS
justified in asking whether the i'm
perial chancellor is speaking merely
for the constituted authorities OF the
empire who have so far conducted
the war. He deems the answer to
these questions vital from every point
Of view.
Accept, sir, the renewed assur-
ances of my high consideration
ROBERT LANSING"
The Macmillan Note.
Chancellor Maximilian's note deIiT-
cred TO secretary Lansing sunday
through Switzerland which the Presf-
dent answered today follows:
The German government requests
the President OF the United States OF
America to take steps for the restora-
ton Of peace, to notify all belliger-
ents Of this request, and to invite
them to delegate plenipotentiaries for
the purpose Of taking up negotiations.
The German government accepts, as
a basis for the peace negotiations,
the program laid down by the Presi-
dent OF the United States in his mes
sage to Congress Of January 8. 1913,
and in his subsequent pronounce
ments, particularly in his address OF
September 81, 1913. In order TO avoid
further blOodshed, the German govern
ment requests 70 bring about the i'm
mediate conclusion OF 2 general arm
istice on land. on water and in the
air"
London, Oct. Sin considering the