The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-10-25

ent with the suggestion that If those
governments are disposed to effect peace
upon the terms and principles indicated,
their military advisers and the military
advisers of the United States be asked
to submit to the governments associated
against Germany the necessary terms OF
such an armistiee as win fully protect
the interests of the peoples involved and
ensure to the associated governments the
unrestricted purpose to safeguard and to
enforce the details of the peace to which
the German government has agreed pro-
vided they deem such an armistice pos
sible from the military point Of view.
Should such terms of armistice be sug-
gested their acceptance by Germany will
afford the best concrete evidence of her
unequivocal acceptance of the terms and
principles of peace from which the whole
action proceeds.
1.-THE president would deem himself
lacking in candor did he not point out in
the frankest possible terms the reason
why extraordinary safeguards must be
demanded, Significant and important as
the constitutional changes seem to be,
which are spoken of by the German for
eign secretary in his note of the goth of
October, it does not appear that the prin-
ciple Of a government responsible to the
German people has yet been fully worked
out or that any guarantees either exist
or are in contemplation that the altera-
lions OF principle and Of practice now
partially agreed upon win be permanent.
Moreover, it does not appear that
the heart of the present difficulty has
been reached. 1t may be that future
wars have been brought under the con-
troll of the German people, but the pres
ent war has not BEEN and it is with the
present war that we are dealing. II is
evident that the German people have no
means OF commanding the acquiescence
of the military authorities Of the empire
in the popular will; that the power Of
the king Of Prussia to control the policy
of the empire is unimpaired; that the de-
termining initiative still remains with
those who have hitherto been the masters
of Germany.
Feeling that the whole peace of the
world depends now on plain speaking
and straightforward action, the president
deems it his duty to say, without any
attempt to soften what may seem harsh
words that the nations Of the world do
not and cannot trust the word Of those
who have hitherto been the masters OF
German policy and to point out once
more that in concluding peace and at
tempting to undo the infinite injuries
and iniustices of this war the govern
ment Of the United States cannot deal
with any but veritable representatives Of
the German people who have been as
sured Of a genuine constitutional stand
ing as the real rulers OF Germany.
IF it must deal with the military
masters and the monarchial authorities
of Germany now, or if it is likely to
have to deal with them later in regard
to the international obligations of the
German empire ii must demand not
peace negotiations, but surrender Moth.
ing can be gained by leaving this essen
tial thing unsaid
Accept, sir, the renewed assurances of
my high consideration.
tSigned) Robert Lansing.
Mr., Frederick oederlin, Charge DAT.
fairies of Switzerland, ad interim, in
charge of German interests in the
United States.p