Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-10-16
QUIT INVADED SOIL,
WILSON TELLS FOE;
j. S. TERMS ONLY
President Says Enemy Must
Evacuate Certain Countries.
ARMISTICE WHEN HUNS GO
Puts Good Faith of Berlin Peace Plea
TO Test of Deeds--Asks Whether
Germany Is Willing to Abide
by Terms Laid Down by
American National
Executive.

Washington, Oct. 9.-President Will
son informed the German government
that before the United States can dis
cuss an armistice German troops must
withdraw from all invaded territory.
The presidents message was not q
reply, but in the form of an inquiry.
The Imperial German government is
asked whether 1t accepts the terms
laid down by the president In his adj
dress to congress January 8, and In
subsequent addresses.
No answer TO the Austrian peace
proposal Is contemplated for the pres
ent, 1t was made known officially.
Americas reply to Germany's lat
est peace proposals was formulated
by President Wilson In accordance
with views expressed by the premiers
of all the allied nations.
The president, it was understood,
has preceded actual sending of the re-
ply by asking that Premiers Lloyd
George, Clemenceau and Orlando adj
wise him of their answers or by sub
hitting to the premiers draft of his
reply for approval.
Obviously the American government
would not attempt to speak for the
other allies without consulting them.
Again, curt and peremptory rejection
could be used by the central powers,
before their own people, to bolster up
the falsehood that they are waging Il
defensive" war and that the object
of the allies is to destroy" them.
Unconditional Surrender"
The temper of debate in the senate
and the general tone of public opinion
in the senate was that the offer should
be rejected; the practically unanimous
public opinion az reflected in newspa
pers all over the country was that no
peace terms short of unconditional
surrender could be discussed.
The reply is not only an answer to
Germany and her allies, but state
ment for the historical record of the
world. 1t is realized that the rcjec-
ton must be such that the people of
Great Britain, France, Italy and the
United States may be warned against
the danger of throwing away the hard
won victory so near their grasp, and at
the same time leave no opportunity for
Hun leaders to lure their people on to
more bloodshed and sacrifice.
The peace which America and all
the allies are determined to have Is
one that shall rid the world of Hun
domination and insure it against an-
soon as the Hun war lords can repair
their shattered armies.
Text of the Presidents Message.
The text of the communication
handed to the charge of Switzerland
here follows:
Sir: / have the honor to acknowl-
edge, on behalf of the president, your
note of October 6, inclosing the COM
munication from the German govern
ment to the president, and l am in
structed by the president to request
You to make the following cOmmunica
ton TO the imperial German chan
cellor:
" Before making reply TO the request
of the imperial German government
and in order that that reply shall be
as candid and Straightforward as the
m0mentous interests involved require.
the president of the United States
deems it necessary to assure himself
of the exact meaning of the note of
tho imnaT.iaI chancellor
German chanceIlors' Meaning Asked.
"'Does the imperial chancellor mean
that the imperial German government
accepts the terms laid down by the
president in his address to the COLI
gress of the United States on the Sth
of January last and in subsequent adj
dresses. and that its object in enter
ing into discussions would be only
TO agree upon the practical details of
their application
Armies Must Quit invaded Countries.
"The president feels bound to say
with regard to the suggestion of an
armistice that he would not feel at lib
erty To propose a cessation of arms
to the governments with which the
government of the United States is as
ISOLATED against the central powers,
so long as the armies of those powers
are upon their soil. The good faith %
any discussion would manifestly de-
pend upon the consent of the central
powers Immediately to withdraw their
forces everywhere from invaded terri
tory
Does He Speak Merely for Autoeracy?
"The president also feels that he is
justified in asking whether the i'm
perial chancellor is speaking merely
for the constituted authorities of the
empire who have so far conducted the
war. He deems the answer to these
questions vital from every point ct
view.
Accept, SIR, the renewed assurances
of my high consideration.
ROBERT LANSING"