Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-10-24
SURRENDER IS FINAL
WORD OF PRESIDENT
TO HUN AUTOCRACY.

Text of President Wilson's Note.
Washington, Oct 23.-The statement of President
Wilson in reply to the German peace note follows:
Department of State, October %, 1918-"Sir
~ have the[h honor to acknowledge the receipt of
your note of the 22d, transmitting communication
der date of the 20h from the German government and
to advise you that the president has instructed to
ply thereto as follows:
"'Having received the solemn and explicit
of the German government that it unreservedy
cepts the terms of laid down in his address to the
congress of the United States the 9th of January,
1918, and the principles Of settlement enuncated in his
subsequent addresses particularly the address of the
9th of September and that desires to discuss the de-
tail of their application and that this wish and purpose
emanated not from those who have hitherto dictated
German policy and conducted the present Ger
manys behalf, but from ministers who speak for the
majority of the Rechstag and for overwhelming
ority of the German peoples and having received also
the explicit promise of the present German government
that the humane rules of civilized warfare will be OBJ
served both on land and sea by the German armed
forces the president of the United States feels that he
cannot decline to take up with the governments with
which the government of the United States associated
the question of armistice.
"He deems it his duty to say again, however, that
the only armistce he would feel justified in submitting
for consideration would be which should leave the
United States and the powers associated with it in
position to enforce any arrangements that may be
tered into and to make renewal of hostlities the
part of Germany impossible.
"The president has, therefore, transmitted his cor.
respondence with the German authorities to the
governments with which the of the United
States is associated belgerent with the suggestion
that if those disposed to effectp
upon the terms and principles indicated their military
advisers and the military advisers of the United States be
asked to submit to the associated against
Germany the necessary terms of such armistice
will fully protect the interests of the peoples involved,
and insure to the associated governments the unre-
strcted to safeguard and enforce the details of
the peace which the German has agreed
provided they deem such armstce possible from the
military point of view Should such terms of armistice
be suggested their acceptance by Germany will afford
best concrete evidence of her unequvoca acceptance of
the terms and principles of peace from which the whole
"The president would deem himself lacking in cam
dor did he point out in the frankes possible terms
the why extraordinary safeguards must be de-
manded Significant and important the constitutional
changes to be which spoken of by the German
foreign secretary in his note of the 10th of October it
does not appear that the principles Of
sponsble the German people has yet been fully work.
ed out that any guarantees either exist
temptation that the alterations of principle and of prac
tice partially agreed upon will be reached. More
it does not appear that the heart of the present
difficulty has been reached 1t may be that fu-
have been brought under the control of the
German people, but the present war has not been and
it is with the present war that dealing 1t is eyi
dent that the German people have no means of com.
mandng the acquescence of the military authorities of
the empire in the popular will that the power of the
king of Prussia control the policy of thesempre u
impaired; that the determining initiative still remains
with those who have hitherto been the of Ger
many.
"Feeling that the whole peace of the world de-
pends plain speaking And straightforward ac-
on the president deems it his duty to say without any
attempt to soften what may harsh words that the
nations of the world do and trust the word
of those who have hitherto been the masters of Ger.
man policy and to point out that in conclud
and attempting to undo the infinite injuries
and nustces of this the of the United
States cannot deal with any but veritabe representa-
ves of the German people who have been assured of
genuine constitutional standing the real rulers of
Germany.
"If it must deal with the military masters and the
monarchical autocras of Germany now, it is likely
to have to deal with them later regard to the nterna-
tonal obligations of the German empire, it must de.
mand, not peace negotiations but surrender. Nothing
can be gained by leaving this essential thing unsaid
Accept, siF, the renewed assurances of my high
consideration ROBERT LANSING"