The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-10-15

y OulIC0 SIdIeS.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
-. October :, 1913
Sir:
In reply to the communicates
OF the German government, dated
the .t2sh instant. which you
handed me today, i have the
honor to request you to transmit
the following answer:
The unqualified acceptance By
the present German government
and. by a large majority or the
German Reichstag OF the terms
laid down by the President OF the
United States OF America in his
address. to the Congress of the
United States on the eighth of
January, 1918, and In hil subse-
duent addresses justifles the
President In making q frank and
direct statement Of his decis on
with regard to the .communica-
lions Of the German government
OF the eighth and twelfth of oc-
tober, 1918.
1T must be clearly understood
that the process Of evacuation
and the conditions OF an ArmI-
stice are ma tiers which must b
left to the Judgment and advice
OF the military advisers of the
Government Of the United s ates
and the Allied governments, and
the President feels, 1t his duty to
say that no arrangement can be
accepted by the Government OF
the United States which does not
provide absolutely satisfactory
safeguards and guarantees Of the
maintenance OF the present mill
tary supremacy OF the armies OF
the United States and OF the
Allies In the field. He feels con-
fident that he can safely assume
that this will also be the judy
ment and decision of the Allied
governments.
"The President feels that Il Is also
his duty to add that neither the
Government OF the United States
nor, he is quite sure, the govern
ments with which the Govern
ment OF the United States is as
ISOLATED as a belligerent will con-
sent to consider an armistic so
long as the armed forces OF Ger
many continue the Illegal and In
AAAAoAN - o~NA@No - hANH . III
persist In. At the very time that
the German government APP
proaches the Government OF the
United States with proposals OF
peace its submarines are en-
gagged IN sinking passenger ships
at sea, and not the ships alone
but the very boats In which their
passengers and crews seek to
L. a 81 l..
their present inforced withdrawal
from Flanders and France the
German armies are pursuing a
course OF wanton destruction
which has always been Regarded
as in direct violation OF the rules
and practices OF civilized war
fare. Cities and villages. IL not
destroyed, are being stripped OF
all they contain not only but
often OF their very inhabitants.
The nations associated against
Germany cannot be expected to
agree TO. a cessation of arms
while acts OF Inhumanity, spolia-
ton and desolation are being
continued which they justly look
upon with horror and with burn
ing hearts
at II necessary. also in order
that there may be no possibility
OF Misunderstanding. that the
President should very solemnly
call the attention OF the govern
ment OF Germany to the language
and plain intent OF one of the
terms OF peace which the Ger
man government has now accept
ed II Is contained in the ad-
dress of the President delivered
at Mt Vernon on the Fourth of
July last. 1t is as follows The
destruction of every arbitrary
power anywhere that can sepa-
rately, secretly and of its single
choice disturb the peace OF the
world; or, II IL cannot be pres
emily destroyed. at least its re-
to virtual impotency'
The power which has hitherto
the German nation is
OF the sort here described. 1t Is
within the choice OF the German
nation to alter It, The Presi-
dents words just quoted natu-
rally constitute n condition pre-
cedent to peace. IL peace is to
come by the action OF the Ger
man people themselves. The
feels bound to say that
the whole process of peace will.
In his Judgment, depend upon the
and the satisfactory
character of the guarantees
which can be given in this fun
1Amental matter. II Is indispen-
sable that the governments as
against Germany should
know beyond a peradventure
with whom they are dealing.
"The President will make q
separate reply to the royal and
imperial government of Aus
tria-HungaFy."
Accspt str, tia renewed aSSIF-