Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-18
Wilson S
Reply

" AOE11NLION, OCl. 10 iS
text of President wilson's answer
to the German note in regard to
an armistice and peace follows:
Sir: In reply to the communica-
ton of the German government,
dated the 18th instant, which you
handed me today, l have the honor
to request you to transmit the fol-
lowing answer:
The unqualified acceptance by
the present German government and
by a large majority of the reichs-
tag of the terms Iald down by the
president of the United States of
America in his address to the con-
gress of the United States on the
Sth of January, 1918, and in his
subsequent addresses Justities the
president in making frank and d.
rect statement of his decision with
regard to the communications OF
the German government of the Sth
and 18th of October, 1913.
1T must be clearly understood
that the process of evacuation and
the conditions of an armiSttce are
matters which must be left to the
judgment and advice of the mill
tary advisers of the government
of the United States and the allied
governments, and the president
feels it his duty to say that no
arrangement can be accepted by the
government of the United States
which does not provide absolute
satisfactory safeguards and guar
antees of the maintenance of the
present military supremacy of the
armies of the United States and the
allies in the field.
"He feels confident that he can
safely assume that this will also be
the judgment and decision of the
allied governments.
The president feels that it is
also his duty to add that neither
the government of the United
States nor, he is quite sure, the
governments with which the gov
eminent of the United States is
associated as a belligerent will con-
sent to consider an armistice so
long as tine armed forces of Ger
many continue the illegal and inhu-
name practices which they still per-
SiSt in.
AT the very time that the Ger
man government approaches the
government of the United States
with proposals of peace it's subma-
rineS are engaged in sinking pas
Senger ships at sea and not the
ships alone, but the very boats in
which their passengers and crews
seek to make their way to safety;
and in their present enforced with
drawal from Flanders and France
the German armies are pursuing
q course of wanton destruction
which has always been regarded as
in direct violation of the rules and
practices of civilized warfare Cities
and villages, if not destroyed, are
being stripped of all they contain,
not only, but often of their very in
habitants.
THE nations associated agains.
Germany cannot be expected to
agree to a cessation of arms while
acts of inhumanity, spoliation and
-desolation are being continued
which they justly look upon with
horror and with burning hearts.
1T is necessary, also, in order
that there may be no possibility of
misunderstanding that the presi-
dent should very solemnly call the
attention Of the government 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 deliv-
cred at Mount Vernon on the Fourth
of July last.
1T is as follows:
:" The destruction of every arbi-
trary power anywhere that can sep
arately, secretly and of its single
choice, disturb the peace of the
world; or, if it cannot be presently
destroyed, at least it's reduction to
virtual impotency.'"
THE power which has hitherto
controlled the German nation is of
the sort here described. 1t is within
the choice of the German nation to
alter it. The presidents words just
quoted naturally constitute a condi.
ton precedent to peace, if peace is
to come by the action of the Ger
man people themselves. The pres
rident feels bound to say that the
whole process of peace will in his
judgment, depend upon the definite
ness and the satisfactory charaC-
ter of the guarantees which can be
given in this fundamental matter.
1t is indispensable that the gov
ernmentS associated against Ger
many should know beyond a perad-
venture with whom they are deal
ing.
The president will make a sepa-
rate reply to the royal and imperial
government of Austria Hungary.
Accept, sir, the renewed assur-
ances of my high consideration.
(Signed) ROBERT LANSING"
"FREUE RICK ODERLIN,
Charge d'Affaires, ad interim, in
charge of German interests in
the United States"