The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-10-22
TEXT Of GERMAN
NOTE AS RECEIVED
BY RADIO REPORT
London Wording Of Hun Reply
Shows Atrocities Denied,
But Orders Given the Sub
marines Not to Sink ShipS,

LONDON, Oct. 22.-The text of the
German note, as received by wireless,
Is as follows:
In accepting the proposal for an
e~vacuatlon OF occupied territories the
German government has started from
the assumption that the procedure Of
THIS evacuation and of the conditions
OIL an armistice should be left to the
military, advisers and that the actual
STANDARD of power on both sides In the
neId mas to form the basis for arrange
ments safeguarding and guaranteeine
this standard.
Inc German government suggests to
the. president that an opportunity hould
De brought about for fixing the details,
AZ trusts that the president of the Unit
ga states will approve of no demand
which would be i%rreconcilable with the
honor Of the German people and with
opening q way to a peace OF Justice.
Inc German government protests
against the reproach of illegal and in
human actions made against the Ger
man land and sea forces and thereby
against the German people. For the
covering Of a retreat distinctions will
always be necessary and they are ear
rled out SO far as is permitted by in
ternational law. The German troops are
under most strict instructions to spare
private property and to exercise care
for the population to the best of their
ability, Where transgressions occur
In spite OF these instructions the guilty
are being punished.
Inc German government further de-
mes that the German navy in sinking
SHIPS mas ever purposely DESTROYED life
noats WIN thelr passengers. The Ger
mar government proposes with regard
TO all those charges that the facts be
cleared up by neutral commissions,
IN ORDER to avoid anything that
might hamper the work Of peace the
German government has caused orders
70 De dispatched to all submarine com
passenger ships Mthout, however, for
technical reasonS, being able to guaran-
tee That ,thesG orders will reach every
turn. ~
AS a Fundamental condition for peace
me president preseribes the destruction
OF eVeT arbitrary power that can sep
atatI/y, secretly and OF its W single
Ghofe disturb the peace OF the world.
~ this the German government replies:
hitherto the representation of the
people In the German empire has not
oeen endowed with an influence on the
formation of the government.
THE constitution did not provide for
a concurrence Of representation Of the
people in decisions of peace and war.
These conditions have just now under
gone a fundamental change. A new
BuNcTHHneHt mas Deen FORMED IN com
plcte accordance with the wishes (prin-
ciple?) OF the representation of the peo-
pie, based on equal, universal, secret,
direct franchise.
THE leaders of the great parties OF
the reichstag are members of this gov
eminent. In the future no government
can take or continue In office without
possessing the confidence OF a ma
jority OF the reichstag.
The responsibility of the chancellor
OF the empire to the representation Of
the people Is being legally developed
and safeguarded, The first act OF the
new government has been to lay be-
fore the reichstag a bill to alter the
constitution Of tho empire so that the
consent OF the representation of the
people Is required fC- decisions on war
and peace.
"The permancnce of the new system
Is, however, guaranteed not only by
constitutional safeguards. but also BY
the ~unshakable determination of the
German. people whose vast majority
stands behind these reforms and de.
mands their energetic continuance.
The question Of the president-with
whom he and the governments asso-
ciated against Germany are d~ealing-is,
therefore, answered in a clear, une-
quivocal by the statement that
the offer OF peace and an armistice has
come from a government which Is free
from any arbitrary and irresponsible in
~fluence. Is supported by the approval
Of an overwhelming majority OF the
German people. (Sigaed) SOLF."