American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-10-25

PaSt-The Reply Leaves NO finance
for Argument
President Wilson has informed the
German government that he has trans
mitted its correspondence to him seek
ing an armistice and peace to the
allies with the suggestion that if
those governments are disposed to
effect peace upon theterms and the
visers and the military advisers of
the United States be asked to submit
principles indicated their military ad-
the necessary terms of such an armi-
stice as will fully protect the interests
of the peoples involved.
He says that should such terms of
armistice be suggested. acceptance by
Germany will afford the best concrete
evidence of her unequivOcal accept
ance of the terms and principles of
peace.
Means Surrender or Fight it Out
The president says that significant
and important as the constitutional
changes seem to be which are spoken
of by the German foreign secretary it
does not appear that the principle of
a government rsponsible to the Ger
man people has yet been fully or per-
manently worked out He reiterates
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 gives warning
that if the United States must deal
with the military masters and the
monarchial autocrats Of Germany.
now or later, it must demand not
peace negotiations, but surrender.
The statement follows:
The secretary of state makes pub
lie the following:
From the secretary Of state to the
charge des'affairies in charge of Ger
man interests in the United States;
Department of state. October %,
1918:
Sir:
have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your note of the 22nd
transmitting communication under
date of the 20th from the German
government and to advise you that
the president has instructed me to re-
ply thereto as follows:
Having received the solemn and ex-
plicit assurance of the German gov
ernment that it unreservedly accepts
the terms of peace laid down in his
address to the congress Of the United
States on the Sth of January. 1918
and the principles of settlement
enunciated in his subsequent ad-
dresses. particularly the address oi
the 9th of September and that il de-
sires to discuss the details of theil
application and that this wish anC
purpose emanated not from those
who have hitherto dictated German
policy and conducted the present wa
on Germany's behalf but from min
= 6, . 10 sfTrff n
the reichstag and for an Overwhelm
ing majority of the German peoples
and having received also the explici
promise of the present German gov
ernment that the humane rules o
civilized warfare will be observed
both on land and sea by the German
armed forces. the president of TIL
United States feels that he can no
decline to take up with the govern
ments with which the government o
the United States is associated tn
question of an armistice.
Would Enforce Agreement.
He deems il his duty to say agai
however that the only armistice h
would feel justified in submitting 70
consideration would be one whic
should leave the United States an
the powers associated with her in
position to enforce any arrangement
that may be entered into and to max
a renewal Of hostilities on the part {
Germany impossible. The presider
has. therefore. transmitted his corrC
spondence with the present Germa
authorities to the governments wit
which the government of the Unite
States is associated as a belligeren
with the suggestion that, if thos
-.
peace upon the terms and principle
indicated their military advisers an
the military advisers of the Unite
States be asked to submit to the go'
ernments associated against German
Z the necessary terms of such an arm
stice as will fully protect the inte
ests of the peoples involved and il
sure to the associated government
the unrestricted power to safeguaI
and enforce the details of the peaC
to which the German government hi
agreed provided they deem such q
armistice be suggested. their accep
ance by Germany will afford the be
concrete evidence of her uneQuivOc
acceptance of the terms and principle
of peace from which the whole actiC
proceeds
President is Frank.
The president would deem himse
lacking in candour did he not poi
out in the frankest possible terms Il
reason why extraordinary safeguar'
must be demanded. Significant in
portant as the constitutional chang
seem to be which are spoken of
the German foreign secretary in b
note of the goth of October. it do
not appear that the principles of
government responsible to the &c
man people has yet been fully wor
ed out or that any guarantees eth
exist or are in contemplation that 4
alterations Of principle and of pra
fice now partially agreed upon will