Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1918-10-24
WILSON MAKES A
SATISFACTORY REPLY
Tells Germany That Nothing Short Of an Uncon-
ditional Surrender Will Suffice.
GERMANY MAKES REPLY TO
PRESIDENT WILSON'S NOTE

nthfSMt.N ntAhrI feIbt II ~
PRESIDENT WILSON'S NOTE
LONDON. Oct. 21-The text o.
the German note, as received by
wireless, is as follows:
I'm accepting the proposal for an
evacuation of occupied territories the
German government has started from
the assumption that the procedure OF
this evacuation and of the conditions
of an armistice should be left to the
Judgment of the military advisers.
and that the actual standard of power
on both sides in the field has to
form the basis for arrangements
safeguarding and guaranteeing this
standard.
1.-The German government suggests
to the president that an opportunity
should be brought about for fixing
the details. II trusts that the presi-
dent of the United States will APP
prove of no demand which would be
irreconcilable with the honor OF the
German people and with opening a
way to a peace of justice.
1.-THE German government pro-
tests against the reproachsof illegal
and inhuman actions made against
the German land and sea forces and
thereby against the German people.
For the covering of a retreat destruc-
lions will always be necessary and
they are carried out in so far as is
permitted by international law. The
German troops are under most strict
instructions to spare private prop
erty and to exercise care for the pop
ulation to the best of their ability.
Where transpressions occur i'll spite
of these instructions, the guilty are
being punished
1.-The German government further
denies that the German navy in sink
ing ships has ever purposely de-
stroyed lfeboats with their passen-
gers. The German government pro-
poses with regard to all these
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 ord
ers to be dispatched to all submarine
commanders precluding the tor
pedoing of passenger ships without,
however, for technical reasons. be-
ing able to guarantee that these ord
ers will reach every single submarine
at sea before its return.
'sAs a fundamental condition for
peace the president prescribes the
destruction of every arbitrary power
that can separately, secretly and OF
its own single choice disturb the
peace of the world. To this the Ger
man government replies.
Hitherto the representation of the
people in the German empire has not
been endowed with an influence on
the formation of the government.
The constitution did not provide for
concurrence of representation OF
the people in decisions of peace and
war. These conditions have JUS now
undergone "A fundamental change. a
new government has been formed in
complete accordance with the wishes
(principle?) of the representation Of
the people based on equal, universal,
secret. direct franchise.
THE leaders of the great parties
of the reichstag are members of this
government. In the future no gov
eminent can take or continue Office
without possessing the confidence OF
a majority of the reichstag.
THE responsibility of the chancellor
of the empire to the representation
of the people is being legally devel-
oped and safeguarded The first act
of the new government has been ia
/ lay before the reichstag bill &c
alter the constitution of the empire
so that the consent of the represent.
alton OF the people is required fol
| decisions on war and peace.
1.-The permanence of the new sys
TEN is, however, guaranteed not only
| by constitutional safeguards, but also
| by the unshakable determination O
| the German people whose vast ma
jority stands behind these reforms
and demands their energetic continu
ance.
THE question OF the president,
with whom he and the government
associated against Germany are deal
ing is therefore answered in a clear
unequivocal manner by the statemen
tHat the offer OF peace and an arm
stce has come from government
which is free from any arbitrar! an,
irresponsible influence. and is sup
ported by the approval of an over
whelmins majority of the Germai
people SOLE.