St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1918-10-26
Personal and Local News
Miss Boudonsauie, Society Editor

address to the Congress of the Unit
who have hitherto dictated German
policy, and conducted the presen'
war on Germany's behalf, but from
ministers who speak for the majorit,
OF the Reichstag and for an over
( Whelming majority of the German
] people; and having received also the
explicit promise of the present Ger
man government that the humane
rules of civilized warfare will be OBJ
served ON land and sea by the Ger
man armed forces, the President Of
the United States feels that he can
not decline to take up with the gov
ernments with which the government
of the United States is associated the
question of an armistice.
''He deems it his duty to say again
however, that the only armistice he
would feel justified in submitting fol
, consideration would be one which
should leave the United States and
the powers associated with her in a
position to enforce any arrangements
, that may be entered into and to make
, a renewal of hostilities ON the part
Of Germany impossible.
"The President has, therefore
transmitted his correspondence with
the present German authorities to
the governments with which the gov.
. eminent of the United States is as
ISOLATED as belligerent with the sug-
gestion that, If those governments
are disposed to effect peace upon the
terms and principles indicated, their
military advisers and the military ad-
visers of the United States be asked
to submit to the governments asso-
ciated against Germany the necessary
fully protect the interests of the peo-
pies involved, and insure to the as
ISOLATED governments the unrestrict-
ed power to safeguard and enforce
the details of the peace to which the
German government has agreed, pro-
vided they deem such an armistice
possible from the military point OF
view. Should such terms of arms
tice be suggested, their acceptance
by Germany will afford the best con-
crete evidence of her unequivocal &C
ceptance Of the terms and principles
of peace from which the whole action
proceeds.
1.-The President would deem him
self lacking in candor did he not
point out, in the frankest possible
safeguards must be demanded. Sig
nificant and important as the consti-
tutional changes seem to be which
are spoken Of by the German foreign
secretary in his note Of the goth of
october, it does not appear that the
principles of government re-
sponsible to the German people has
yet been fully worked out or that
any guarantees either exist or are in
contemplation that the alterations of
principle now partially agreed upon
will be permanent. Moreover, it
does not appear that the heart of
the present difficulty has been reach
ed. 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
present war that we are dealing.
cit is evident that the German
people have no means of command
ing the acQuiescence of the military
authorities of the empire in the popu-
lar 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 Germany.
''Feeling that the whole peace of
the world depends now on plain
speaking and straightforward action,
the President deems it his duty to
say. without 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
and attempting to undo the infinite
injuries and injustices of this war
the government of the Uni,el States
cannot deal with any but veritable
representatives of the German people
who have been assured of a genuine
constitutional standing as the real
rulers of Germany. II it mdst deal
With the military masters and the
monarchial autOcrats of Germany
now, or il it is likely to have to deal
with them later in regard to the in
te1national obligations Of the Ger
inan empire, it must demand. not
peace negotiations, but surrender
Nothing can be gained leaving this
essential thing unsaid.
Accept, sir, the renewed assur-
ances of my high consideration.
(Signed)
ROBERT LANSING.
Mr.. Frederick Oederl:n, charge
d'affaires of Switzerland, ad. interim
"1n charge OF German interests in
.h- United States"
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