Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-10-30

United States is associated the ques-
ton of an armistice.
He deems it his duty to say aagln,
however, that the only armistice he
would feel justified in submitting for
consideration would be one which
should leave the United States and the
powers associated with her in posi-
ton TO enforce any arrangements that
may be entered into and to make a
renewal of hostilities on the part of
Germany impossible.
The president has, therefore, trans
mitted his correspondence with the
present German authorities to the gov
ernments with which the government
or the United States is associated as
belligerent, with the suggestion that
II those governments are disposed to
effect peace upon the terms and prin-
ciples indicated their military advis-
ers and the military advisers of the
United States be asked to submit TO
the governments associated against
Germany the necessary terms of such
an armistice as will fully protect the
interests of the peoples involved and
insure TO the associated governments
the unrestricted power to safeguard
and enforce the details of the peace
to which the German government has
agreed, provided they deem such an
armistice possible from the raiitary
point of view.
should such terms of armistfce be
suggested. their acceptance by Ger
many will afford the best concrete evil
dence of her unequivocal acceptance
of the terms and principles of peace
from which the whole action proceeds
The president would deem himself
lacking in candor did he not point out
in the frankest possible terms the rea-
son why extraordinary safeguards
must be demanded.
Significant and important as the
constitutional changes seem to be
which are spoken of by the German
foreign secretary in his note of the
10th of October, it does not appear
that the principle of government re-
sponsible to the German people has
yet been fully worked out. or that any
guarantees either exist or are in con-
temptation that the alterations of prin-
ciple and of practice now partially
agreed upon will be permanent.
Moreover, it does not appear that
the heart of the present difficulty has
been reached.
1T may be that future wars have
been brought under the control of the
German people. but the present war
has not been, and it is with the pres
ent war that we are dealing.
SIT is evident that the German peo-
pie have no means of commanding the
acquiescence of the military author
tiles of the empire in the popular will
that the power of the king of Prussia
to control the policy of the empire is
unimpaired; that ire determining
initiative still remains with those who
have hitherto been the masters of Ger
many.
Feeling that the whole peace Of the
world depends now on plain speaking
and straightforward action, the pres
ident deems it his duty to say, with
out any attempt to soften what may
seem harsh words that the nations of
the world do not and cannot trust the
word of those who have hitherto been
the masters of German policy, and to
point out once more that in concluding
peace and attempting TO undo the in
finite injuries and injustices of this
war the government of the United
States cannot deal with any but verit-
able representatives of the German
people who have been assured of a
genuine constitutional standing as the
real rulers Of Germany.
"If IL must deal with the military
masters and the monarchical autocrats
of Germany, or If it is likely to have
to deal with them later in regard TO
the international obligations of the
German empire, It must debate not
peace negotiations, but surrender
Nothing car be gained by leaving
this essential thing unsaid.
accept, sir, the renewed assurances
of my high consideration.
(Signed) ROBERT LANSING.
"Mr Frederick Oederlin, Charge DAT
flares of Switzerland, ad interim, in
charge Of German interests in the
United States"