Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1918-10-18
OBEY ORDERS!

cation of the German government,
dated the 18th instant, which you
handcde me today, | have the honor
to request you to transmit the follow
ing answer:
"The unqualified acceptance by the
present German government and by
a large majority of the Rcichstag oil
the terms laid down by the President
of the United States of America in
his address to the Congress of the
United States on the 9Th of January,
1918 and in his subsequent addresses
Justities the President in making a
frank and direct statement of his de-
clsion with regard to the communica-
tons OF the German government of
the 9th and 18th of October, 1918.
1T must be clearly understood that
the process of evacuation and the con-
dltlons OF an armistice are matters
which must be left to the judgnen,
and advice of the military advisers
OF the Government of the United
States and the Allied Governments
ana the President feels it his duty to
say that no arrangement can be ac-
cented by the Government of the
United States which does not pro-
| NpSOhuNSiy SaIe
guards and guarantees of the main
tenance of the present military SUI
prcmacy of the armies of the United
States and of the Allies in the field
lie feels confident that he can safely
assuem that this will also be the
Judgment and decision oil the Allied
governments.
"rhe 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 Governments of the
United States is associated as Il bel
ligerent will consent to consider an
armlstice so long as the armed forces
OF Germany continue the illegal and
lnhuman practices which they lstill
| persist in.
AT the very time that the Ger
man government approaches the Gov
eminent of the United States with
proposals of peace its submarines are
| engaged IN skiing passenger ships at
sea and not the ships alone, but the
very boats in which their passengers
and crews seek to make their way to
| safety; and in their present enforc
ed withdrawal from Flanders anu
France the German armies are pur
suing course of wanton destruction
which has always been regarded as in
direct violation of the rules and the
practices of civilized warfare. Cities
and villages, if not destroyed, are be.
ing stripped not only of all they con-
tain but often of their inhabitants.
The nations associated against Ger
many cannot be expected to agree to
a cessation of arms while acts o,
inhumanlty, spolation and dcsoation
are being continued which they just
t. look upon with horror and with
burning hearts.
1T is necessary, also in order that
there may be no possibility of mis-
understanding that the President
should very solemly call the attention
of the government of Germany to the
language and plant intent of one of
the terms of peace which the German
government has now accepted. 1t is
contained in an address of the Prcsi-
dent delivered at Mount Vernon. on
the Fourth of July last.
st is as follows:
"The destruction of every arbitra-
ry power anywhere that can sepa-
rately, secretly and of its single
choice disturb the peace of the world !;
or if it can not be presently destroy
ed, at least its reduction to virtual
impotency.
The mower which has hitherto
controlled the German nation is of
the sort here described. 1t is within
the choice Of the German nation to
alter it. The Presidents words just
quoted naturally constitute condi-
ton precedent to peace. if peace is to
come by the action of the Gcrma..
people themselves. The President
feels bound to say that the whole pro-
cess of peace will, in his Judgment,
depend upon the deiinteness and the
satisfactory character of the guaran-
tees which can be given in tbs fun
danmental matter 1t is indispensa-
bic that the governments associated
against German should know beyond
a peradventure with whom they are
dealing.
! "The President will make a sepa-
rate reply to the Royal Imperial gov
eminent of Austria Hungary"