The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1918-10-25
PRESIDENT WILSON'S
REPLY TO GERMANY

be no peace with a German Govern
ment controlled by military autoc-
racy, and no thought of an armistice
while German atrocities continue on
land and sea. The official interpreta-
ton of the note, as openly expressed
was: re" d39a.-
"Autocracy must go' = When the
time to consider an armistice comes
the President said, the military advls-
ers of the United States and the allies
will be consulted, and no military ad-
vantage of the armies fighting the Cen
trail Powers will be lost.
Text Of Presidents Answer.
Washington. text of President
Wilson's reply to Germany follows:
"From the Secretary of State to the
Charge d'Affairs of Switzerland, al
interim, in charge of German interests
in the United States.
October IA, 1918.
"Sir-In reply to the communication
of the German Government, dated the
18th inst, which you handed ME TO-
day, have the honor to request you TO
transmit the following answer:
"The unqualified acceptance by the
present German Government and by a
large majority of the Reichstag, OF the
terms laid down by the President or
the United States of America IN ms
address to the Congress of the United
States on the Sth of January, 1918 ana
in his subsequent addresses, Justlhes
the President in making frank ana
direct statement of his decTslon WIN
regard to the communications OF the
German Government Of the oth ana
18th of October, 1913.
ut must be clearly understood that
the process of evacuation ana the con-
ditiOns of an armistice are matters
which must be left to the judgment and
advice OF the military advisers OF the
Government of the United States ana
the allied Governments, and the PfeS
l4ident feels it his duty to say That NO
ARRANGEMENT can be accepted by the
| Government of the United States
which does not provide absolutely sat
| isfactory 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 confident that he can safe
| Nv assume that this will also be the
| Judgment and decision OF the allleo
| Governments.
'"rhe President feels that it is also
| his duty to add that neither the GOV
eminent of the United States nor, ne
is quite sure, the Governments WITT
which the Government OF the unItec
| States is associated, as belllgerelt
| will consent to consider an armstlce
50 long as the armed forces OF Ger
| many continue the illegal and inhuman
practices which they still persist in.
cat the very time that the German
| Government approaches the Govern
ment of the United States with pro
| posals of peace, it's submarines are EN-
81 ced IN sinking passenger ships al
sea. and not the ships alone, but the
very boats in which their passengers
| and crews seek to make their way tC
safety: and in their present enforced
| Withdrawals from Flanders anC
France the German armies are pufSu
ing a course of wanton destruction
\ which has always been regarded as III
| direct violation of the rules ana prac
tees of civilized warfare.
settles and villages, il n0S DESTROYED
! are being stripped of all they contain
rot only. but often of their very IN
habitants. The nations ASSOCIATED
against Germany can not be expected
to agree to a cessation OF. arms while
acts of inhumanity SpoliatiOn and des
olation are being continued, WhlcI
| H. Il horror
with burning hearts.
st is necessary also in order tha'
there may be no possibility OF mlsun
derstanding that the President shouiC
/ very solemnly call the attention OF the
Government of Germany TO the IAN
cuage and plain intent or one OF the
terms of peace which the German
Government has now accepted. 1t is
contained in the address of the PreSl
cent delivered at Mt. Vernon on the
Fourth of July last.
at is as follows:
""The destruction of every arhi
trary power anywhere that can sepa
rateIy. secretly, and of its single
choice. disturb the peace of the world
or if il can not be presently destroyed
AT least its reduction to virtual lmpo
tency.'
"The power which has hitherto con
trolled the German nation is of the
sort here described. 1t is within the
choice of the German nation to alter
| ii. The Presidents words just quoted
naturally constitute a condition pre-
cedent to peace, if peace is to come by
the action of the German people them
selves.
"The President feels bound to say
that the whole process of peace will
in his Judgment, depend upon the
definiteneSs and the satisfactory char
acter of the guarantees which can be
given in this fundamental matter. Ii
il INDISPENSABLE that the Governments
| - =