Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-10-25
UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.
Pre,iden. Will Trsa. With German

People, But Not Military Masters.
President Wilson will not treat with
the kaiser's government except under
conditions where the armed forces OF
Germany have been placed in POSI-
ton that will make impossible the re-
newal Of hostilities. II 1t is the mill
tary masters Of Germany who are 10
represent the German people IN peace
Incgotiations, then the negotiations VIII
be entered into only on the basis or the
previous surrender Of the German
armies.
That IS the substance Of the presi-
dents reply to the current German
note. The reply was ready Immediate
ly upon the receipt Of the official text
| OF the German note. Here Is what the
president said in full:
From the secretary Of the charge
Idaffaires ad interim in charge OF Eer-
man interests in the United States.
l"Department Of state. October %, 1918.
sir:
Il have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt Of your note OF the 2Zha
transmitting communication unuer
date Of the Goth from the German gov
ernment and to advise you that the
president has instructed ME 10 repiS
thereto as follows:
plicit assurance Of the German gov
ernment that II unreservedly accepts
| the terms Of peace laid down IN ms
address to the congress OF the United
States on the Sth Of January. 1918, ana
the principles Of settlement enunciated
i in his subsequent addresses, partlcu-
larly the address Of the 2Ith Septem-
Der and that 1t desires to discuss the
details Of their appreciation, ana tnat
| this wish and purpose emanated not
from those who have hitherto dictated
| German policy and conducted the pres
ent war on Germanys behalf but from
ministers who speak for the majority
Of the reichstag and for an overwheim.
| ing majority Of the German people ana
having received also the explicit prom
Use Of the present German government
/ that the humane. rules of clrill"eu
warfare will be observed both on land
and sea, and by the German armed
forces, the president Of the United
States feels that he can not decline TO
take UP with the governments with
which the government OF the United
States Is associated the question OF an
Iarmistice.
Only One Course.
| He deems it his duty to say again.
however, that the only armistice ne
would feel justified In submitting TOT
consideration would be one whlch
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 re-
newal Of hostilities on the part OF
Germany impossible. The president
has therefore. transmitted his corre-
spondence with the present German
authorities to the governments with
which the government OF the Unlteu
States Is associated as belliger-
ent with the suggestion that II those
governments are disposed to erect
peace upon the terms and principles
indicated, their military advisers and
the military advisers OF the United
States he asked to submit to the gov
ernments associated against Germany
| the necessary terms Of such an armls-
tice as will fully protect the interests
of the peoples involved and insure to
the associated governments the unre-
stricted power to safeguard and en-
force 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.
In Utmost Candor.
THE president would deem himself
lacking in candor did he not point out
In the frankest possible terms the
reason why extraordinary safeguards
must be demanded. Significant and
independent as the constitutional
| H.. l,n lob NIL or,
of by the German foreign secretary in
his note Of the goth Of October 1t does
not appear that the people Of q gov
ernment responsible to the German
people has yet been fully worked out
or. that any guarantees either exist or
are in contemplation that the altera-
tiOns Of principles and Of practice now
partially agreed upon will be perma-
lncnt. Moreover. 1t does not appear
that the heart of the present difficulty
has been reached. 1t may be that fu-
ture wars have been brought under the
control Of the German people. but the
present war has not been; and 1t Is
with the present war that we are deal
ing. 1t Is evident that the German
people have no means Of commanding
the acquiescence Of the military au-
thorities Of the empire In the popular
will; that the power Of the king OF
Prussia to control the policy Of the
i empire Is unimpaired; that the deter
mining initiative still remains with
those who have hitherto been the mas
ters OF Germany. Feeling that the
whole peace Of the world depends now
on plain speaking and straightforward
action, the president deems II his duty
to say. without any attempt to soften
what may seem hard words. that the
nations of the world do not and can
not 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 injustic
of this war the government Of the
United States can not deal with any
but veritable representatives OF the
German people who have been assured
Of genuine constitutional standing
as the real rulers Of Germany. II II
must deal with the military masters
and the monarchial autocrats Of Ger
many now. or II 1t Is likely to have to
deal with them later in regard to the
international obligation Of the German
empire. II must demand, not negotia-
tions, 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 d.
| Affaires OF Switzerland ad interim.
in charge Of German interests in the
United States"
Will Keep II Up All Winter.-Unless
Il IL ..l@ ED-