Gilpin observer., 1918-10-31

| present WdI On GerIuanyS DenaiI, DuC
from ministers who speak for the ma
jority of the reichstag and for an over
whelming majority of the German peo-
pie. and having received also the ex-
plicit promise of the present German
government that the humane rules of
civilized warfare will be observed
both on land and sea by the German
armed forces, the president of the
United States feels that he cannot de-
cline'to take up with the governments
with which the government of the
United States is associated the .ques-
tion of an armistice.
| "He deems 1t his duty to say again
however. that the only armistice he
would feel justified in submitting for
consideration would be one which
should leave the United States and the
powers associated with her in posi-
tion to enforce any arrangements that
may be entered into and to make a
renewal of hostilities on the part of
Germany impossible.
| Must Protect Allies.
THE president has, therefore, trans
present German authorities to the gov
ernments with which the government
of the United States is associated as
| a belligerent, with the suggestion that
If those governments are disposed to
effect peace upon the terms and prin-
ciples indicated their military advis-
ers and the military advisers of the
United States be asked to submit to
the governments associated against
Germany the necessary terms of such
an arinistice as will fully protect the
interests of the peoples involved and
insure to the associated governments
the unrestricted power to safeguard
and enforce the details of the peace
to which the German government has
agreed. provided they deem such an
armistice possible from the military
point of view.
SHOULD such terms of armistice be
suggested. their acceptance by Ger
many will afford the best concrete evil
dence of her unequivocal acceptance
of the terms and principles of peace
from which the whole action proceeds.
The president would deem himself
lacking in candOr did he not point out
in the frankest possible terms the rea
son why extraordinary safeguards
must be demanded.
Significant and important as the
constitutional changes seem to be
which are spoken of by the German
foreign secretary in his note of the
Goth of october, 1t does not appear
that the principle of a government re-
sp0nsible to the German people has
yet been fully worked out, or that any
guarantees either exist or are in con-
temptation that the alterations of prin-
ciple and of practice now partially
agreed upon will be permanent.
Moreover. 1t does not appear that
the heart of the present difficulty has
been reached.
German People Without Voice.
1T may be that future wars have
been brought under the control of the
German people, but the present war
has not been, and it is with the pres
ent war that we are dealing.
1T is evident that the German peO-
pie have no means of commanding the
acQuiescence of the military author
tiles 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 determining
initiative still remains with those who
have hitherto been the masters of Ger
many.
"Feeling that the whole peace of the
world depends now on plain speaking
and straightforward action. the pres
ident deems it his duty to say, with
out 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 aud attempting to undo the in
finite injuries and injustices of this
war the government of the United
States cannot deal with any but verit-
able representatives of the German
people who have been assured OF
genuine constitutional standing as the
real rulers of Germany.
"If it must deal with the military
masters and the monarchial autocrats
of Germany. or il 1t is likely. to have
to deal with them later In regard to
the international obligations of the
German empire, 1t must debate not
peace negotiations, but surrender.
Nothing can be gained by leaving
this essential thing unsaid.
accept, sir the renewed assurances
of my high consideration.
(Signed) "ROBERT LANSING.
"Mr. Frederick Oederlin, Charge DAT
faIres of Switzerland, ad interim, In
charge of German interests in the
United States"
Must Disarm the Hun.