Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-15
Refusal Direct and Vigorous.

neIuSdl U1Tect anu SlSOIOuS.
President Wilson declines the Ger
man governments invitation that he
take in hand the restoration of peace;
that he propose to the allies an armis-
tice based on evacuation by the cen
trail powers of invaded territory, and
that he bring about pea 2 negotiations
through plenipotentiaries in which all
the belligerents shall participate.
He will not accept for the United
States or propose to the allies, and the
latter he feels confident will not ac-
cept, an armistice % except in ac-
cordance with the judgment and adj
vice of the military advisers of the
United States and the allied govern
ments; and (2) unless the arrange
ments of armistice and evacuation pro-
vide absolutely satisfactory safeguards
and guarantees of the maintenance of
the present military supremacy of the
armies of the United States and of the
allies in the field; and 60 so long
rs the armed forces of Germany con-
tinue the illegal and inhuman prac-
fees which they still persist in.
Finally he views as condition pre-
sedent to peace the destruction or the
reduction to virtual impotency Of the
arbitrary power, disturbing the peace
of the world, which has hitherto con-
trolled the German nation. This alter
alton of the controlling German power
is, he says, within the choice of the
German nation, and is condition pre-
eedent to peace, if peace is to come
by the action of the German people
themselves. 1t is Indispensable, he
adds, that the governments associated
against Germany should know beyond
a peradventure with whom in making
peace they are dealing, whether with
the German people or with the arbi-
trary power, hitherto controlling the
German nation, whose destruction or
impotency is one of President Wilson's
peace terms, accepted by the present
German government.
Before armistice and peace can come
the German people must discard kali
'serism, the German armies must abjure
atrocities, and a German government,
representing the German people, must
give safeguards of the maintenance of
allied military supremacy, as guaran-
tees of just reparation.
This direct, vigorous and sweeping
refusal of the German peace overture
is the answer which most people ex-
pected to the original German note,
and which they now heartily approve.
It is not weakened or affected in any
way by the interlocutory questions of
President Wilson and the German an
swers thereto, contained in the notes
of October and October 70. Very
wisely, the President will have nothing
to do with an armistice, whether the
Germans evacuate invaded territory or
not. Very wisely, the President disre-
CARDS absolutely what the present Ger
man government in response to his
question says of itself as to its power
to speak in a representative capacity
for the German people. Through ac-
ceptance of his peace terms in this cor
respondence, the President suggests,
tho present German government, I'M
less it differentiates itself vitality from
the constituted authorities of Germany
hitherto conducting the war, agrees to
destroy or to reduce to virtual impo-
teney itself. In asserting to certain
peace terms for the sake Of an ar
mistice it not only fails to gain ar
mistice but Inadvertently signs its own
death warrant.
In this note President Wilson goes
far beyond mere refusal to act as in
termediary with the allies, ~ proposed
by Germany. He goes beyond stating
the war and peace purposes Of the
United States. He speaks evidently by
authority of the allied conference for
all the allies, including the United
States. Though refusing to propose
armistice to the allies at Germany's
instance, the United States has clearly
by conference caused the decision con-
corning armistice to be that of all the
al1ies, and not of the United States
alone. There are no divided councils
among the allies ON this subject>)
President Wilson's historic note voices
tie united decision concerning war and
pesee Of an the powers eonfronting
Germany.
President Wilson's note sounds .