The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1919-02-12
GERMAN NOTE FAILS
TO ACCEPT TERMS
UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER Is
NOT MENTIONED By eOCHE,
WHO WOULD ARGUE.
Protests Against the Reproaeh OF
illegal and inhuman Actions on
Land and Sea, but Avoids Big
Issues in Replying to Wilson.

WaSlilnSlOn.-'Icl Hus iVP''"
to President Wilson with note which,
though no one is prepared to say II
will lead the president even l" con-
tinue exchanges on the subject or an
armiStice and peace, at least mas
served almost to bring conviction here
that the people of Germany Actually
are taking the reins of government
and sincerely desire peace.
The text of the note follows:
"In accepting the proposal for an
evacuation of occupied territories. the
German government has started from
the assumption that the procedure OF
this evacuation and of these cOndl-
tiOns of an armistice should be left 10
the Judgment of the military advisers
and that the actual standard VI power
on both sides in the field has to form
the basis for arrangements sa1e-
guarding this standard.
"The German government suggests
| to the president that an opportunity
should be brought about for fixing the
| details 1t trusts that the president
of the United States will approve or
no demand which would be irrecOncil-
able with the honor of the German
people and with opening way to
peace of justice.
| "rhe German government protests
against the reproach of illegal and In
| human actions made against the Ger
man land and sea forces and thereby
against the German people. For the
| covering of Il retreat distinctions Will
always be necessary. and they are car
| ried out in so far as is permitted by
international law. The German troops
| are under most strict instructions to
| spare private property and to exercise
care for the population to the best of
| their ability. Where tranSgressiOnS
occur in spite of these instructions the
guilty are being punished.
| "The German government further
denies that the German navy in sink
ing ships has ever purpOsely destroyed
lifebOats with their passengers. The
German government proposes with re-
gard to all those charges that the facts
be cleared up by neutral commissions.
| Ill OIucI w uNoiu any tHAAAS tA't'
might hamper the work of peace the
German government has caused or
ders 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 sea
before its return.
"As fundamental condition for
peace, the president prescribes the des-
truction of every arbitrary power that
can separately. secretly and Of its own
single choice disturb the peace of the
world. To this the German government
replies:
Hitherto the representation of the
people in the German empire has not
been endowed with an influence ON the
formation Of the government.
1.-THE constitution did not provide
for a concurrence of representation of
the people of decisions in peace and
war. These conditions have just now
undergone a fundamental change. A
new government has been formed in
complete accordance with the wishes
(principle) of the representation of the
people, based on equal, universal, Sc
cret, direct franchise.
1.-The leaders of the great parties of
the reichstag are members of this gov
eminent. In the future no government
can take or continue in office without
possessing the confidence of majority
of the reichstag.
"The responsibility of the chancellor
of the empire to the representation of
the people is being legally developed
and safeguarded. The first act of the
new government has been to lay before
the reicnstag bill to alter the con-
stituton of the empire so that the con-
sent of the representation of the pevple
Is required for decisions on war and
peace.
The permanence of the new system
Is, however, guaranteed not only BY
constitutional safeguards. but also nv
the unshakable determination OF the
German people whose vast maiority
STANDS behind these reforms and de-
mand their energetic continuance.
The question Of the president-with
whom he and the governments asso.
ciated against Germany are dealing
H. therefore. answered in n clear. un.
eqnivocal manner by the statement
thaf the offer of peace and an arms.
tlce has come from government which
Is Tree IRON any arbitrary and irres.
pohsioie influence, is supported by the
"ppro'ai or an overwhelming majority
Of the German people"
SOLE"