The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1918-10-15
MUST co,
SAYS VII SON

The text Of President Wilson's re-
ply to Germanys acceptance Of the
peace propositions laid down by him
IL as follows:
! THE unqualified acceptance by
the present German government and
by a large majority Of the Reichs-
tag of the terms laid down by the
] President Of the United States of
America in his address TO the Con-
gress of the United States on the
9Th Of January. 1918, and in his sub
sequent addresses, justifies the
President in making a frank and di-
rect statement Of his decision with
regard 10 the communications of the
German government Of the 8th 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. Cities and viii
lagos, il not destroyed, are being
stripped of all they contain not only,
but often Of their very inhabitants.
"The President feels that il 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 United States is as
sociated as a belligerent will consent
to consider an armistice so long as
the armed forces of Germany con-
tinue the illegal and inhuman prac-
tees which they still persist in.
The nations associated against
Germany can not be expected to
agree to cessation of arms while
acts Of inhumanity, spoilation and
desolation are being continued which
thew justly look upon with horror
and with burning hearts.
at is necessary, also. in order that
there NAV be no possibility of mis-
understanding. that the President
should very solemnly call the atten-
ton Of the government of Germany
TO the language and plain intent of
one Of the terms of peace which the
German government has now ac-
cepted " is contained in the ad-
dress of the President delivered at
Mount Vernon on the 4th of July
last
at must be clearly understood that
the process of evacuation and the
conditions of an armistice are mat
tiers which must be left to the judg-
ment and advice of the military adj
visers of the United States and the
Allied Governments. and the Presi-
dent feels it his duty to say that no
arrangement can be accepted bv the
Government of the United States
which does not provide absolutely
satisfactory safeguards and guaran-
tees of the maintenance of the pres
ent military supremacy of the
armies of the United States and the
Allies in the field.
AT the very time that the Ger
man government approaches the
Government of the United States
with proposals of peace. its subma-
rines are engaged in sinking passen-
ger ships at sea and not the ships
alone but the very boats in which
their passengers and crews seek to
make their way to sefety; and in
their present enforced withdrawal
from Flanders and France the Ger
man armies are pursuing course of
wanton destruction which has al /
wavs been regarded as in direct vio- 7
lation of the rules and practices of
civilized warfare.
ut is as follows: The destruction |
# every arbitrary power anywhere .
that can separately. secretly and of .
its single choice disturb the peace .
Of the world; or, if it can not be pres
emily destroyed at least its reduc-
ton TO impotency.'
"The power which has hitherto
controlled the German nation is of
The sort here described. 1t is with
in the choice of the German nation
to alter IT, The Presidents words
Just quoted naturally constitute
precedent to peace, if
neace is to come by the action of the
German people themselves.
THE President feels bound to say
that the whole process of peace
will. in his judgment depend upon
the dcfinitencSs and the satisfactory
character of the guarantees which
ran be given in this fundamental
matter. II is indispensable that the
associated against Ger
many should know beyond a perad-
venture with whom they are dealing.
THE President will make a sepa-
rate reply to the Royal and Imperial
government Of Austria-Iungary."
Accept sir, the renewed assur-
,nce of my high consideration.
"ROBERT LANSING"