The courier-index., 1918-10-25
President Wilson's Reply
To the Latest German Note
Department of State, October %, 1918.


have the honor to acknowledge receipt your
the 22nd transmitting communication under date of the
Goth from the German government and to advise you that the
Having received the solemn and explicit assurance of
the German that it unreservedy accepts the terms
Of laid down his address the Congress OF the United
States the eighth day of January 1918 and the principles of
the address of the tweny-sevenh Of September and
desires discuss the details of their application and that this
dictated German policy and conducted the present Ger
manys behalf but from ministers who speak for the majority
people, having also the explicit promise of
the present German government that the humane rules of
civilized will be observed both land and by the
German armed forces the president of the United States feels
that he cannot decline to take up with the with
question OF an armisice e~se--
only armstice would feel justified submitting for
sderaon would be which would leave the United States
any arrangements that may be entered into and to make
renewal of hostes the part of Germany impossible The
president therefore transmitted his correspondence with
the present German authorities to the with which
government of the United States associated belger
en with the suggestion that if those governments are disposed
effect the terms and principles Indicated their
be asked to submit to the governments associated against Ger
the necessary terms of such armsce will fully
protect the interests of the people involved and insure to the
associated governments the unrestricted power to safeguard
and enforce the details of the to which the German
possible from the military point of view. Should such terms
Of armce be suggested their acceptance by Germany will
of the terms and principles OF peace from which the
The president would deem himself lacking ir candor
did he not point out the fTankes possible terms the
and important the constitutional changes to be which
spoken of by the German foreign secretary in his note
October does appear that the principle
been fully worked out that guarantees either exist
contemplation that the alterations of principle and OF
practice partially agreed upon would be permanent
Moreover it does not appear that the heart OF the
cn difficulty has been reached 1t be that future
been brought under the control of the German people,
but the has not been and with the present
war that dealing 1t is evident that the German people
have of commanding the acquiescence of the mill
authorities of the empire in the popular will that the
power of the king of Prussia to control the policy of the en-
pire unimpared that the determining initiative still
with those who have hitherto been masters of Germany
Feeling the whole peace of the world depends
plain speaking and straightforward action the president
it his duty to say without attempt to soften what
harsh Words that the nations of the world do not
and the word of those who have hitherto been the
German policy and to point out that in
concluding and attempting to undo the infinite injuries
nuscs of this the of the United States
deal with but verabe representatives of the Ger
people who been assured of genuine constitution
al standing real rulers of Germany> If it must deal
with military masters and the monarchia autocrats OF
Germany if it is likely to have to deal with them later
in regard to the international obligations of the German
pre demand peace negotiations, but surrender
Nothing be gained by leaving this essential thing unsad
Accept sir the renewed of consideration
(Sipned) ROBERT LANSING.