Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-10-22
--LATEST PEACE NOTE
INDICATES EMPEROR
|. IS LESS POWERFUL
Declares Germany Now Has
Changed and Reformed
Government.
WILSON STUDIES UNOFFICIAL
VERSION OF GERMAN MESSAGE
Enemy Tells Willingness to
Evacuate Occupied Territory
Under Agreement.
REFORMS ARE IN PROGRESS
Berlin Believed to Be bargaining
to Avoid Unconditional
Surrender. .
les Assocla,ed pcessl

N-AsSF M toN. october 2l.-Gernlany
mas replied TO President Wilson with
note which. though no one is pre- :
pared TO say it vii! lead the President
eve" 10 continue exchanges on the sub
)ect Of an armistcc and peace. at least
has served almost to bring conviction
here that the people of Germany. actu-
ally are taking the reins OF government
and sincerely desire peace on s any
terms the United States and the allies
arc willing to give.
The reply indicates Germany's vii,
iingness to cvacuate occupied territory
under an agreement to be reached by
the military chiefs in the field. Its,s
announced In tho note that all sub
marine commanders have been ordered
I" cease attacks upon passenger ves-
passengers have ever 4purposeIv been
destroyed or that any authorized atross'
troops -
Announcement. is made OF "a funda-
mental change in tile German co1stt-
,hc people .in the decisions coneesfsifSe
peace and war, and It is said the pres.
ent government has been formed in
complete accordance Herewith
No future German government will
be able To take or hold Office unless 1t
possesses the confidence OF majority
OF the Reichstag. the note announces.
Germany claims the sanction OF In
ternatonal law for CARRYING our de-
strnction OF property during retreats,
instructions TO spare private propertv
and care for the population to the best
OF their ability. Where transgressiops
occur the note says, the guilty are be-
ing punished.
TEXT OF NOTE As 1T WAS.
RECEIVED ny WIRELESS
The text OF the German note, as re-
ceved by wireless. is as follows:
In accepting the proposal for an
evacuation OF occupied territories tho
tierman government has started from,
tic assumption that the procedure OF
this evacuation and OF the conditions
of an armistce should be left TO the
military advisers, and that the actual
The field has n9Ter form on he o1th hasis s'Ges snr ~
ranGements safeguarding and guar
anteeinE this standard. @.tS-
TO the President that an opportunity
should be brought about for liking the
details Il trusts that. the President
Of the United States will approve OF no
demand which would be irreconcilab.s
with the honor OF the German people.
and with opening Il way to peace OF
PROTESTS AGAINST REpnoACH
OF INHUMANE ACTIONS
The German government protests
against the reproach of illegal and In
humane actions made against tho Ger
man land and sea forces and thereby
against the German people. For. the
covering OF retreat distinctions wnI
always be necessary, and they are car
ried GU, in so far as is permitted by
international law. The German troops
are under most strict instructions TO
care for the population to the. best OF
their ability. Where transgressions oc-
cur in spite OF these instructions the
guilty arc being punished.
The German government further
den.:S that the German navy. in sink
ing SHIPS. has ever purposels destroy 4
ed lifeboats with their passengers Tie
German government proposes with re-
gard to all those charges that the facts
he cleared up by neutral commissions
DIRECTS CESSATION OF
ATTACKS ON PASSENGER SHIPS
In order to avoid anything thai
might hamper the work OF peace the
German government has caused orders
10 be dispatched to all submarine com
passenger ships without, however. for
technical reasons. being able 10 guar
antes that these orders viii reach every
single submarine at sea before its sros
turn. tltl
AS fundamental, condition for
peace the President prescribes tho de
Struction of every arbitrary power tina.
can separately, secretly and OF Its own
single choice disturb the peace OF tho
world To this the German goverii-.
mcnt replies
people in the German empire has not
been endowed with any influence on
me formation -! tho government.
The constitution did not provide
for u concurrence OF representation
Of tie people in decisions OF peace and
war. These conditions have Just now
undergone IA fundamental change 4
new government has been formed In
accordance With the wishes
tprincipie?l OF tne representation Of
the people. based on equal. UNIVERSAL
secret direct franchise. lrss8
The leaders OF the great parties OF
the ReichstGS are members OF this gov 4
ernm"nt In the future no government
can take or continue in office without
possessing the confidence OF "A major.
ity Of the RelchStaS.
CHANrEILOR RESPOSStRLE
TO PEOPLE's REPRESENTATION
The responsibility OF tho Cha nce1ior=E
o. the empire TO the representation os
the people is being Legally developed
and safcSuardcd. The frsi act ofgife
ncw government tls heen TO lay be.
fore the Reichstag bill to alter tf.e, x.
constitutions OF tho empire SO that ,tiiS e
CT tho representation of Tho NJ
pcopi" Is required for decisions on wor
and peace. , s53
! The permanance OF tho nsw sys.e1,
Is, however, guaranteed, NOT only bs
constitutional safegusrds, but also By s.
TIE unseakabls sdetarmi,fa.io Il of tia
ISfman rsepis whose vast m,aJcrsS * ses 5