The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-10-14
GERMAN ANSWER RECEIVED
-lContinued from page ID

Il
ing. to the evacuation of occupied
territories she will exact the evacu-
alton of German colonies occupied
by entente forces, German states
men have made another mistake.
A reference Ito, President Wilson's
inquiry shows that he spoke dis
tinctly in reference to invaded ter
ritory occupied by troops OF the CEN
trail powers.
When the American capital recov-
of Foreign Secretary Soils note,
it found it's unofficial opinion diyid-
ed into two distinct lines
One, shared largely by the Re-
publicans in congress-, is inclined to
the view that Senator Lodges pre-
diction of a situation which may
threaten the substitution of the de-
liberations Of diplomacy for victor
les at arms. has been fulfilled.
The other, confident in the success
of President Wilson's diplomacy, and
probably forming its conclusions
from a close knowledge of what the
government is planning, is very GER
tain that the president has created
situation where he now can de-
liver another stroke, which will
bring about an unconditional sur
render or throw the KAISER and the
German mllitarists completely out
Of any power they may retain
There is a general feeling that
the next move will confront the
military party. with the choice of
such an unconditional surrender as
will be acceptable to all the Allied
o-belligerents or a genuine politi-
cal revolution in Germany which
will bring ABOUT one.
No Peace With the Hun.
It has been pointed out that Presi-
dent Wilson'S inquiry to Chancellor
Macmillan to develop whether the
chancellor merely was speaking for
the German leaders who have been
conducting the war probably was
skillfully framed to pave the way for
an opportunity to confront the Ger
man people directly that no coven-
ants Of peace can be made with the
men who have betrayed the world.
The present German government,
which as Secretary Solf. says, was
formed by conferences and has the
support of the majority of the
reichstag, was formed through i'm
perial decree which permitted it.
There is nothing before any Of the
allied governments, so far as is
known, to show that there has been
any change in the German system
which would prevent the autocratic
power which uttered that decree to
revoke it. when it's purpose, has been
accomplished. In other words, an
allied diplomat considering the ar
Tangement of an armistice, or ar
rangement of the tactical details to
carry out the application of the
terms of peace President Wilson has
laid down might ask: #, what guar
arltee have we that those arrange
nents will not be regarded as a
scrap of paper?"
A close reading Of all Of Presi-
dent wilson's pronouncements ION
the subject, when all else has been
eliminated, shows him repeatedly
laying down the fundamental prin
ciple that no peace can be made
while the German people endure
Kaiserism. In his reply to the
pope's note, Aug. q, 1917, the Presi-
dent said: eve cannot take the
word of the present rulers of Ger
many as a guarantee of anything
that is to endure, unless explicitly
supported by such conclusive evil.
dence of the will and purpose of
the German people themselves as
other peoples of the world would be
justified in accepting"
In his subsequent announcements
finally coming down to his New York
speech Of Sept. 90, the President
drives home the same point each
time with a new emphasis.
The conclusion, in the opinion of
close observers, would seem to be
that the military party failing to
make peace by the sword as it prom
ised gives way to a political party.
Upon President Wilson'S estimate OF
I,nuy 60 Tho ySrhsent mao T9rfu in
Germany represents the will OF the
German people themselves and of
what guarantees there may be that
the military autocracy will not be
in position to undo at will, their
work. the next step depends.A