Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-11-02
n NEW PEACE CONCESSION.
The Text of Gcrmany's Now Peace
Appeal to tho President of
tho United States.

| London, October 21.-The text OF
the German note as received by wire
/; less, is as follows:
In accepting tho proposal for an
evacuation of occupied territories the
German government has started from
the assumption that the procedure OF
: THIS evacuation and of the conditions
OF an armisticc should be left 10 tho
Judgment of the military advisers
ana that the actual standard of DOW
or on both sides in the field has to
form the basis for arrangements safe
, guarding and guaranteeing This stand
ard.
inc German government suggests
10 the President that an opportunity
should be brought about for fixing
the details. 1t trusts that the Prcsi-
dent of the United States will approve
of no demand which would be ire
conc!lablc with the honor of the Ger
man people and with opening " way
to peace Of justice.
The German government protests
against the rcproach Of illegal and
1nhumane actions made against the
German land and sea forces and there
by against the German people. For
the covering of a retreat distinctions
VIII always be necessary, and they
are carried out in so far as is permit
ted by international law The Ger
man troops arc under most strict in
Structions to spare private property
ana to exercise care for tho DOpula-
ton to tho best of their ability. Where
transgroSsionS occur in spite Of these
instructions the guilty arc being pun
ishod.
Tho German government further
denies that the German navy in sink
ing ships has ever purposcly destroy
cd lifoboats with their passengers.
the German government proposes
with regard to all those charges that
the facts be cleared up by neutral
commissions.
In order to avoid anything that
might hamper the work of peace, the
German government has caused orders
to be dispatched to all submarine
commanders precluding the torpedo
ing OF passenger ships without, how
ever for technical reasons. being able
to guarantee that these orders will
, reach every single submarine at sen
before its return.
AS fundamental condition for
peace tho President prcscribcs the
destruction of every arbitrary power
that can separately secretly and of
It's own single choice disturb the
peace OF the world. TO this the Ger
ont
, the representation OF the people in
lhc German empire has not been on
dowed with an Influence on the forma
ton did not provide for n concurrence
or tho government. The constitu.
or representation Of the people In
decisions Of peace and war. These
conditions have just now undergone
fundamental change a new COVE
ernnHIt has been formed in complote
accordance with the wishes (princi
pleD OF the representation of The
people, based on equal, universal, sc
| cret direct franchise.
The leaders Of the great parties q,
the relchstag are nRombers Of this
government. In the future no govern
ment can take or continue in office
without possessing the confidence OF
majority OF the rcichstag. The re
sponsibility of tho chancellor of tho
empire to tho representations OF the
people is being legally developed and
saicguarded. The first act OF the new
government has been to lay before
the reichstag bill TO alter the cor
stitution OF the empire so that the
consent of the representation of tht
people is required for decisions or
war and peace.
! ihe permanence of tie nlw system
IS however, guaranteed not only b,
| constitutional safeguards, but also
by the unshakablc determination Of
the German people whose vast major
~ stands behind these reforms and
| dezlands their energetic continuance
| The question OF the President Will
whom. he and the government assoc
atcd against Germany arc dealing
| is therefore answered IN n clear ur
equivocal manner by the statement
that the offer Of peace and an armis
ticc has come from a government
which is free from any arbitrary and
irresponsible influence, is supported
by the approval of an overwhelming
majority of the German people.
| (SIGNED) SOLF.
PRESIDENT WILSON'S LAST CON
! MUNICATION TO BERLIN.
From tho Secretary OF the State I,
the charge d'affaires Of Switzerland
al interim, in charge Of German II
tcrests in the United States:
Department Of State.