The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1918-10-31
PRESIDENT WILSON'S
REPLY TO GERMANY

Washington The text OF the reply
By the United States TO the peace note
addressed by Germany 10 President
Wilson follows
"From the secretary OF state 10 the
charge d'affaircs ad interim IN charge
Of German interests IN the lnltea
States;
Department, OF State. Oct. p, lels-
"sIr-I have the honor 10 acknowi-
edge the receipt OF your note OF the
end transmitting communication I'M
der date Of the Goth from the German
government and TO advise you that the
President has instructed me to reply
thereto as follows
Having received the solemn ana eA-
plIclt assurance OF the German govern
mcnt that II unreservedly accepts the
terms OF peace laid down In his address
TO the Congress OF the United States on
the sth Of January, 1913, and the prin-
clples of settlement enunciated IN MS
subsequent addresses, particularly the
address of the 9th of September, ana
that II desires to discuss the details OF
their application and that this wish
and purpose emanated not from those
who have hitherto dictated German
policy and conducted the present war
on Germany's behalf, but from minis
ters who speak for the majority OF the
reichstnp and for an overwhelming ma
iority of the German peoples, ana nav
ing received also the explicit promise
OF the present German government
that the humane rules OF civilized war
fare will be observed both on land anu
sea by the German armed forces, the
President of the United States feels
that he cannot decline to take up with
the governments with which the gov.
eminent of the United States Is asso'
ciated the question of an armistice.
"He. deems ii his duty to say again,
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 a posi-
ton to enforce any arrangements that
may be entered into and to make re-
I newal of hostilities on the part OF Ger
many impossible.
"The President has therefore trans
mitted his correspondence with the
present German authorities to the gov
| ernments with which the government
of the United States Is associated as O
belligerent, with the suggestion that
! If those governments are disposed to
effect peace upon the terms and princi
ples indicated, their military advisers
and the military advisers of the United
States be asked to submit to the gov
ernments associated against Germany
the necessary terms of such an arms
tice as will fully protect the Interests
of the peoples involved and insure t.
/ the associated governments the unre
| strlcted power to safeguard and en-
| force the details of the peace to which
the German government has agreed
provided they deem such an armistic'
possible from the military point o.
| view. Should such terms Of armistic'
be suggested their acceptance by Ger
| many will afford the best concrete evl
dence of her unequivOcal acceptance
of the terms and principles of peace
from which the whole action proceeds
"The President would deem himsel
lacking in candor did he not point on
in the frankest possible terms the rea
son why extraordinary safeguard
must be demanded. Significant ant
important as the constitutional change
seem to be which are spoken of by tn
German foreign secretary In his not
of the Goth OF october, 1t does not ap
pear that the principle of government
responsible to the German people ha
vet been fully worked out or that an.
guarantees either exist or are In con
temptation that the alterations OF prin
ciple and of practice now PARTIAL,
agreed upon will be permanent. More
over. II does not appear that the hear
Of the present difficulty has been reach
ed. II may be that future wars hav
been brought under the control Of tn
German people, but the present wa
has not been, and 1t Is with the pres
ent war that we are dealing. II is eyi
dent that the German people have n
means OF commanding the acquiescenc
of the military authorities Of the EN-
pire In the popular will, that the powe
of the king OF Prussia to control tn
policy of the empire is unImpaired. tina
the determining initiative still remain
with those who have hitherto bee
the masters Of Germany.
"Feeling that the whole peace Of tn
world depends now on plain speakin
and straightforward action, the Pres
dent deems II his duty TO say. withou
any attempt TO soften what may seer
harsh words, that the nations Of tn
world do not and cannot trust the wor
Of those who have hitherto been th
masters Of German policy, and TO p0ln
out once more that In concluding peae
and attempting 10 undo the Infinite In
juries and injustices OF this war III
government Of the United States car
not deal with any but veritable repre-
| son,atiyes az the German peODle VIII