Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1918-10-17
GERMANY MAY
ACCEPT U. S. TERMS
REPLY TO WILSON'S LAST NOTE
EXPECTED IN WASHINGTON
TODAY.

|
had made her reply to President Viii.
sons last note but the rumor could
not be confirmed. The papers this
morning stated that the British for
eign office stated Wednesday eve
ming that 1t had no official confirma-
ton of the rumor that the German
emperor had abdicated but that opin-
ion in we'll informed circles was not
disposed to reject these rumors.
The German reply to Wilson's last
note probably will be sent to Wash
ington today. according to news
which reached London through dip
lomatic channels from Holland 1t is
expected that the reply will be an
acceptance of President Wilson's
terms, with some stipulations to the
effect that the interests of the Ger
man people must be respected
man pOple must be respected.
That the public may be informed
as to the points laid down by Presi-
dent Wilson, we print them i'm full as
! follows:
Our war aims, as stated by Presi-
dent Wilson to congress on January
s, 1918.
| arrived at, after which there shall be
no private international understand
| ings of any kind but diplomacy shall
proceed always frankly and in the
public view
2. Absolute freedom of navigation
upon the seas, outside territorial
waters, alike in peace and in war. ex-
cept as the seas may be closed in
whole or in part by international &C
ton for the enforcement of interna-
tional covenants.
3. The removal, so far as possible.
of all economic barriers and the estab-
lishment of an equality of trade con-
ditions among, all the nations con-
senting to the peace and associating
themselves for its maintenance.
4. Adequate guarantees given and
taken that national ornaments will
be reduced to the lowest point con-
sistent with domestic safety
3. A free, open-ninded, and abso-
lutely impartial adjustment of all CO.
lonial claims, based upon a strict OBJ
servance of the principle that in de-
termining all such questions of SOW
ereignity the Interests of the popuia-
tions concerned must have equal
weight with the equitable claims of
the government whose title is TO be
determined.
6. The evacuation of all Russian
territory and such settlement of all
questions affecting Russia as will Sc
cure the best and freest cooperation
of the other nations of the world in
obtaining for her an unhampered and
unembarrassed opportunity for the
independent determination of her
own political development and ma
tional policy and assure her of a sin
cere welcome into the society of free
nations under institutions of her own
choosing; and, more than a welcome,
assistance of every kind that she may
need and may herself desire. The
treatment accorded Russia by her
sister nations in the months to come
will be the acid test of their good
will. of their comprehension of her
needs as distinguished from their
own interests. and of their intelli-
gent and unselfish sympathy.
Z. Belgium. the whole world will
agree. must be evacuated and re-
stored, without any attempt to limit
the sovereignty which she enjoys in
common with all other free nations.
No other single act will serve as this
will serve to restore confidence
among the nations in the laws which
they have themselves set and deter
mined for the government of their
relations with one another. Without
this healing act the whole structure
and validity of international law is
forever impaired.
s. All French territory should be
freed and the invaded portions re-
stored and the wrong done to France
Alsace-LOrraine, which has unsettled
the peace Of the world for nearly fiji
ty years, should've righted. in order
that peace may once more be made
secure in the interest of all.
3. A feadjustment of the frontiers
of Italy should be effected along
clearly recognizable lines of nation
ality.
10. The peoples of Austria-Hun-
gary, whose place among the nations
we wish to see safeguarded and as
sured, should be accorded the freest
opportunity of autonomous develop
ment.
H. Rumania, Serbia, and Monte
negro should be evacuated; occupied
territories restored, Serbia accorded
free and secure access to the sea;
and the relations of the several Bal
kan states to one another determined
by friendly counsel along historically
established lines of allegiance and
nationality; and International guar
atees of the political and economic
independence and territorial integ-
.rity of the several Balkan states
should be entered into.
IL. The Turkish portions of the
present Ottoman empire should be
assured a secure sovereignty. but the
other nationalities which are now un-
der Turkish rule should be assured
an undoubted security Of life and an
absolutely unmolested opportunity
of autonomous development. and the
Dardanelles should be permanently
opened as a free passage to the ships
and commerce of all nations under
international guarantees.
10. An independent Polish state
should be erected which should in
clude the territories inhabited by in
disputably Polish populations, which
should be assured free and secure
access to the sea, and whose polit-
ical and economic independence and
territorial integrity should be guaran-
teed by international covenant.
IA. A general association of ma
tions must be formed under specific
covenants for the purpose Of afford
ing mutual guarantees Of political in
dependence to great and small states
alike.
President Wilson's four principles
enunciated in an address to congress,
February IL. 1918: