The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-10-24
YILslN' REPLI
% DE GERMANS
stiInates That They Can
Have Armistice on Ger
tain Terms.

II 9H3A&Sd1gNl94OCSS NOCLs "a 4s7A6AS4ASS
,7flSonS-reply to Germany was gwen
10 tie American people in the form OF
q tement Issued by Secretary Ian
Tie reply itself IS as follows:
E.rorn the Secretary Of State to the
(yffSe ldsARairs. A l.. in charge OF
.f{efaan interests IN the United states:
Department Of state, Oct. %, 1918.
n have the honor to acknowledge
The receipt OF your note OF the 20
Fafi shifting a communication unoef
date OF the 10th, from the German-goV-
eminent and to advise you that t9e
President has Instructed me 70 FepIS
hereto as follows:
s.aaying received the solemn and
expaicit assurance OF the German gov
eminent that It unreseryedly accepts
t6e terms Of peace laid down IN ms
address to the Congress OF the Cnlteo
States on the 9Th OF January. 1919
and the principles OF settlement enun-
GATED IN his subsequent addresses.
particnlarIy the address OF the 2'th Oh
Contender and that it desires to as
cuss the details OF their application
ana that this wish and purpose eman'
sted, not from those who have miner
to- directed German policy and con
5hcfed the present war on Germany
behalf but from ministers VINO speak
Tar the majority Of the reichstag ana
for ausoyerWheIming majority OF the
German people; and having received
aier espitcit promise Of the present
German government that the humane
fIiles OF CIVILIZED warfare will be OBJ
served both on land and sea by the
German armed forces. the President
81 the United States feels that he cam
rot decline to take up with the gov
ernment with which the government
81 the United States Is associated. the
question, Of an armistice-
z. -sHe deems this duty to say again.
however. that the only a-mistice he
rcUId feel justified in submitting for
consideration would be one whtchi
should leave the United States AID
the powers associated with her in a
position TO enforce any arrangements
that may be entered into and to make
8 renewal of hostilities on the part OF
Germany Impossible. The President
has. therefore transmitted his core
spondeHce with the present German
authorities TO tre governments vita
which the government OF the United
States s. associated as belliSere1t.
with the suggestion that. If those gov
c1nments are disposed to effect peace
mon the terms and principles indicat-
ed. their military advisers and the mil
ftary advisers of the United States be
asked TO submit to the governments
associated against Germany the ncces-
sa.ry terms OF such al 2rntstsce as viii
fEIFy protect tie interests of the peo-
rec. iE-i-.ee'Set a1d insure to the aSSo-
cfsted governments the Un-cStr.cted
poFc- 70 safeguard and enforce the
lsSsasf5 CT tire peace to which the Ger
:nssn ~oTer1meat has agreed. provided
fFeJ deem an ar.ni=tice possible from
TIE military point OF view. Should
such TENS OF cr1:tt5t'ce he SEEGeSte1
fs.e Sceer.@nce by Germany will al
fefd the hest concrete Evidence of her
tIfeeuiyoc1l Gcceptcrce OF the terms
md princ:p.eS OF peace frcT1 which
I'D whole seton proceeds.
The President would Ccan himself,
lacking in candour did he not point
csit IN EIie fralkest possible terms the
reason why extraordinary safeguards
must Re demanded. Significant and
important as the constitutional chang
se5 seeq to be which are spoken OF by
che German foreign secretary in his
note Of the 10th OF october, it does not
appear that the principle. OF govern
l1ent responsible to the German peo-
NE has yet been fully worked out or
tl7at any guarantees either exist or
RTe Ia contemplation that the altera-
tiuns of principle and OF practice nov!
allyiasreed upon will be perma-
nent Moreover, it does not appear
That the heart Of the present difficulty
IA + fVy
tuTa MsTs have been brought under
tne contro1 Of the German people. but
the present war has not been; and it
Is with the present war that we are
dealIng. Il is evident that the Ger
man people have no means Of COM
inanding the acquiescence Of the mill
any authorities of the empire in the
Qpnlar Will; that the power Of the
ilg Of Pruss3e tofcontrol the policy
81 the empire IS unimpaired; that the
d efhaipn2 initiative Still remains
With thoseSwfo 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
80 say without any attempt to soften
SEhaf may seem harsh words, that the
notions Of the world do not and can
not trust the word Of those who have.
llitherto been the masters OF German
policy aud to point out once more
that in concluding peace and attempt
IND to undo the infinite injuries and
fl5nstices OF this war, the government
of the United States cannot deal with
alty but verftable representatives of
tie German people who have been as
sured OF q genuine constitutional
Sanding as the real rulers OF Ger
many. Il It must deal with the mill
EafJ masters and the monarchial auto
Crafts Of Germany now, or If it Ike
y % have to deal with them later In
regard tothe international obligations
% the German empire, it must de-
Elands not peace negotiations, but sur
render Nothing can be gained by
leaving this essential thing unsafd.
Accept, Sir, the renewed assurance
OF my high consideration.
fSiEnedl sEROBERT LANSING"