The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-10-25

..on which has always bean regarded ~
in direct violation OF the rules and prac-
| tices Of civilized warfare. Cities and VII
| lagos, II not destroyed, are being strip
| ped of all they contain, not only ma
teriais, but often Of their very Inhabl-
| tants. The nations associated against
Germany cannot be expected to agree to
a cessation of arms while acts Of Inhu-
| nanity, spoIIatlon and desolaton are be-
ing continued, which they Justly look
upon with horror and with burning
hearts.
at is necessary also In order that
there may be no possibility of misunder-
standing, that the president should very
soIemnly call the attention OF the govern
ment of Germany to the language and
plain intent of one of the terms Of peace
which the German government has now
accepted. 1t Is contained In the address
Of the president, delivered at Mount YER
non on the Fourth of July, last.
at is as follows:
1.-THE destruction of every arbitrary
power anywhere that can separately, Sc
;retly and of Its single choice disturb the
peace of the world; or If 1t cannot be
presently destroyed, at least its reduction
to virtual lmpotency.'
"The power which has hitherto con-
troIled the German nation is of tho sort
here described. 1t Is within the choice
Of the German. nation to alter 1t. The
presidents words Just quoted naturally
constitute condition precedent to peace,
If peace is to come by the action Of the
German people themselves. The presi-
dent feels bound to say that the whole
process of peace will, in his Judgment,
depend upon the satisfactory character
Of the guarantees which can be given
in this fundamental matter. II is indis-
oensabIe that the governments assoclat-
ed against Germany should know beyond
oeradventure with whom they are deal
ing.
"The president will make a separate
reply to the royal and imperial govern
ment of Austria Hungaria.
accept, sir, the renewed assurances
Of my high consideration.
(Signed)
"RoBERT LANSING.
"MR. FREDERickOEDER
"charge d'Affairs ad Interim, in charge
of German interests in the United
States"
AIsace-Lorraine Belongs TO France.
not appear in the presidents note-a
point ON which the world has been
asking questions. can be answered
now.
When the president declared that |
the wrong done to France when Ger
many took AlsaceLorraine should be |
lighted, he meant that Alsace-Lorraine |
should be returned to France.
Those who contend the presidents
decision arranges the situation for
more than an unconditional
base it on the argument that |
ne has now passed the stage where he
night have accepted a surrender of
md left the HohenZollern autocracy |
IN its throne.
Must Can Kaiser.
Mr.. Wilson. according to this view,
las now finally informed the German
people that if they want peace they
AN only attain it by getting rid of
he kaiser and his system.
An armistice, it is true, might come
irst and the details of the downfall
# the German autocratic government
night be arranged later.
But, this is what an armistice would
.ntail:
First, a stop to the atrocities on
and and sea and the systematic de-
tructiOn and devastation in the wake
# the retreating German armies. Then
he disarmament of all the German
orces and the deposit of their arms {
nd munitions at points to be chosen {
" the allied military commanders. |
'hen the occupation by allied forces {
f certain German cities or strong {
odds of strategic Importance. Prob
ubmarine bases, and turning over of 6
he German fleet. t
Force. Huns to Be Honest. {
In short. it would entail taking from !
iermany of everything with which she
light break her word to an armistice
From that point the United States
nd the allies might proceed to dispose !
f all that remained of kaiserism if
he German people have not done ii
efore, as President Wilson in his note e
lainly invites them to do.
One of the most important points U
f his note is that in which the pres
lent acknowledges the present Ger
Ian governments unqualified accep-
ince of his peace terms, and then I
oes on tc show that these peace terms
rovide specifically for the substitu-
on of government wholly respon.
BILE to the German people themselves
,r the present one dominated by the !
erman militarists.