American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-10-18


Kaiser Has Abdicated or Been Over
thrown or Germany Capitulated-
FOch VIII Name Terms When ARM
istice Comes.
No official information has been re-
ceived in Washington that Germany
is about to accept the peace terms Of
President Wilson's note.
There is no official information that
the kaiser has abdicated: or that he
has been overthrown; or that Ger
many is ready to accept all of Pres
ident Wilson's terms.
Officials and diplomats. cautious
and conservative by nature and prac-
tice, regard with incredulity the in
timations that one or all of these
things has happened Of course. they
all hope they have; they all know that
one or all of them are inevitable.
The official opinion in the capitaT
is that the coming of these things is
timed only by the decree that German
military power has been broken.
When President Wilson's reply to
the German peace offer went forth
Monday night, it was predicted that
il it did not bring a complete and un-
autocracy the German people them
selves would force one. President
Wilson's words were a plain invita-
tion to the German people to take
such a step and an ultimatum that
there would be no peace with the
kaiser.
When the German reply to Presi-
dent Wilson's note comes this govern
I Sc 5Irr t..
the co-belligerents. Guarantees for
the interests of Germany and of the
German people, which may be asked.
will not intervene as an obstacle if
guarantees are sought in sincere terms
/ If they are put forth as another vehicle
/ for a bubble, an opportunity of dip
! lcmatic evasion and trickery, or a ne
gotiated peace, they will meet only
one reply.
If they mean guarantees for the in
tegrity and sovereignty of the Ger
many which is rightfully German, al
ways taking into consideration the de-
terminations of the human beings con-
cerned, no obstacle is discerned. If
they mean guarantees for the right of
the German people to live their lives
under a peaceful and responsible gov
ernment which does not menace the
life of the world. President Wilson's
utterances on the subject, officials be-
lieve, already have given the answer.
Guarantees for the interests of Ger
many, involving only Germans, it was
pointed out. are quite apart from the
seh-determination of the oppressed
nationalities in Austria for which
President Wilson has pledged the
peace to secure opportunity for an
autonomous development.
If the conditions for an armistice
are accepted, the arrangements VIII be
not by a mixed commission, but by
Marshal Foch and the co-beIligerent
commanders. These will be the mems
of taking from Germany every agency
with which she could break her word
if she would; the occupation by allied
forces of such places as Strassburg
Metz and COblenz, turning over to the
allies of her fleet and submarine
bases. and the surrender of munitions
of war undoubtedly also the agencies
by which others might be produced
and probably the employment of the
great war machine plants of Germany
TO repair the industrial damage done
III Belgium and France. Seeing is be-
lieving, one official declared, and there
will be no scraps of paper
In a military sense Germany would
, be treated as an individual prisoner OF
war-disarmed and guarded. Allied
forces placed in strategic positions
could then, by invasion of Germany if
necessary, enforce any terms. The al
lied war council. in which President
Wilson holds one vote, has agreed
upon these conditions as guarantees
for the supremacy of the allied armies
1t can be stated with official au-
thority that, should Germany agree to
such an armistice. the downfall of mil
itary oligarchy could be arranged cas-
lily at the peace conference. without
danger of accepting a negotiated
peace" Allied forces would be in a
position to enforce the decisions or
the peace council.