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The Commoner
OCTOBER, M18
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iNo Peac with Autocracy, Says Wilson
president wiwun, uu v -. ..ww-
rprmany's peace overtures in, a note in reply
fr .. J.mmiinifiitinn from the German Rovern-
Iment under date of October 12.
TEXT. OP' THE ANSWER
mi.- Vf nf iiia President's answer, handed to
the Charge of Switzerland-at Washington, was
i as follows:
.. Tn mniv to t.h ft communication of the
nmon f&ivernmont dated the 12th instant
J which you handed me today. I havo the honor
to request you to transmit ino louowmg answer.
Tim nnniialifled acceptance by the present
! German government and by a large majority of
the Reichstag of the terms mm uown Dy tne
'tiaiiionf. nf the United States of America ia his
tafirirPM to the congress of the United States on
I the 8th of January, 1918, and in his subsequent
addresses, justifies the President in making a
frank and direct statement of his decision with
'varrnrri tn tiio communications of the German
government of the 8th and 12th of October,
1918.
it must be clearly understood that the process
of evacuation and the conditions of an armistice
are matters which, must be left to the judgment
and advice of the military advisers of the gov
ommnnt of the United States and the allied
governments, and the President feels it his
duty to say that no arrangement can be accepted
, by the government of the United States which
does not provide absolutely satisfactory safe-
guards and guarantees of the maintenance of
the present military supremacy of the armies of
the United States and the allies in the field. .
He feels confident that he cart safely "assume
that this w'll also be the judgment and decision
of the allied governments.
The President feels that it is also his duty
to add that neither the. government of the. United
States nor, he is. quite sure, the governments
with which the govern-nent of the United States
is associated, as a belligerent will consent to
consider an armist'ee so long as the 'armed
forces of Germany continue the illegal and in
humane practices which they still persist' in.
At the very time that the -German government
approaches the government of the United States
with proposals of peace its submarines are en
gaged in sinking passenger ships at sea and not
the sh'ps alone, but the very boats in which
their passengers and crew seek to make their
way to safety, and in their present enforced
withdrawal from Flanders and Prance the Ger-'
man armies are pursuing a course of wanton
destruction which has always been regarded as
iu direct violation of the rules and practices of
civilized warfare. Cities and.v'llftges, if not de
stroyed, are being stripped of all they contain not
"y, out orten of their very habitants. The
nations associated against Germany cannot, be
expected to agree to a cessation of arms while
acts of inhumanity, apoliafon, and desolation
are being continued which they justly look upon
with horror and with burning hearts.
It is necessary, also in order that there may
do no possibility of misunderstanding that the
i resident should very solemnly call the atten
tion of the government of Germany to the lan
guage and plain intent 'of one of the terms of
peace which the German government has now
Prt? i l s conned in, the address of the
2ent, delivered at Mount Vernon on the
fourth of July last.
arhit1 ,as follows:- "Tbe destruction of every
MPrSET P,Wer aflywnere that can separately,
peann L nnd qf its sInSle choice disturb the
dStrnvfi wopWj or' if4t cannot he Presently
pStinnv ' 1 least its redction to virtual im
trolipS !, v?e power whIcn ua hitherto con
dMoSmli T?fPm?n Dation ,s of the sort here
uaUni, if A is ,within the choice of the German
nuotp i ialte 1L The Resident's words just
to n.r t,Urally cnstitute a condition precedent
Oermnn ' P?ace 's to come h? the action of the
bnnnri PSOple tlieniselves. The President feels
wll in l, that the whole process of peace
and thn i i.dBment dePend on the definiteness
whirl, J ctory character of the guarantees
It "s inn1 Q Riven in thIs fundamental matter,
ciated al f G1lSable that the governments asso-
I Dpr'iri,, i. v""u,uuj auoum kuow oeyonu a
I Peradventure with whom they are dealing.
The President will make a separate roply to
the royal and imperial government of Austro
Hungary. Accept, sir, the ronowed assurances
of my high consideration.
ROBERT LANSING.
Mr. Frederick Oedorlin, Chargo d'Affaires, ad
interim, in chargo of German interests in the
United States.
GERMANY LAUNCHES PEACE OFFENSIVE
A Washington dispatch, dated October 8th,
says: The text of President Wilson's reply to
the imperial German chancellor, Prince Maxi
milian, was made public by Secretary Lansing
together with the official text of Prince Maxi
milian's note. At the same time officials let it
be known that there would be no roply at pre
sent tp the Austrian note similar to that of tho
German chancellor. It ia not considered neces
sary to deal with Austria until the times conios
for a reply to hor dominating ally.
The following correspondence was given out
at .the state7 department:
Legation of Switzerland, Washington, D. C.,
Oct. 6, 1918, department of German interests.
Mr. Pres'dent: I havo. the honor to transmit?
herewith, upon the instructions from tho Ger
man government, received by this legation late
this atternoon, from the Swiss foreign office.
Art English translation of this communication
is also enclosed: The German original text, how
ever, is alone" to bo considered as authoritative.
Please accept, Mr. President, the assurances of
highest consideration. Signed,
F. QEDERLIN,
Charge d'Affaires, A. I., of Switzerland. In
charge of German interests in tho United States.
THE GERMAN REQUEST .
Mr. Woodrow Wilson, president of the United
States.
A communication from tho German govern
ment to the president of tho United States as
transmitted by the charge d'affaires, A. I., of
Switzerland, on October 6, 1918.
The Glerman government requests the presi
dent of tho United States . of Amorica to take
steps for the restoration, of peace, to notify all
belligerents of this request and to invito, them
to delegate plenipotentiaries for the purpose of
taking up negotiations. The German govern
ment accepts as a basis for the peace negotia
tions the program laid down by the president
of tho United States in his message to congress
on January 8, 1918; and in his subsequent pro
nouncements, particularly in his address of
September 27, 1918. In order to avoid further
bloodshed the German government requests to
bring about the immediate conclusion of a
general armistice on land, on water, and in
the air.
THE PRESIDENT'S ANSWER
t
The text of President Wilson's reply to the
request of Chancollor Maximilian of Germany,
handed to the Charge of Switzerland at Wash
ington, October 8, is as fpHows:
"Sir: I have the honor to acknowlego on be
half of the president, your note of October C,
enclosing the communication from the German
government to the "president; and I am In
structed by the president to request you to make
the following communication to the imperial
German chancollor:
"Before making reply to the request of the
imperial German government, and in order that
that reply shall be candid and straightforward
as the momentous interests involved require, the
president of the United States deems It neces
sary to assure himself of the exact meaning of
the note of the imperial chancellor. Does the
imperial chancellor mean that the imperial Ger
man government accepts the terms laid down
by the president in his address to the congress
of the United States on the eighth of January
last and in subsequent addresses and that its
object in entering into discussions would be only
to agree upon the practical details of their ap
plication? , flf ,
"The president feels bound to say with regard
to the suggestions of an armistice that he would
not feel at liberty to propose a cessation of arms
to the governments with which the government
of the United States is associated against the
central powers, so long as tho armies of those
powers are upon their soil. The good faith of
any discussion would manifestly depend upon
1
tho consontj)! tho central powers imidedlfttely
to withdraw their foree cverywhoro faoin In
vaded territory.
"Tho president also fools that ho Is Justified
in nuking whether tho imporlat chancellor Is
speaking merely for constituted authorities of
tho emplro who havo so far conducted tho war.
Ho dooms the answorjo theso questions vital
from ovory point of vwtf.
"Accopt, sir, tho ronowed assurances of my
high consideration. ROBERT LANSING."
TEXT OF OERMAN REPLY
A Washington dispatch, dated Octobor 12th,
says: Tho toxt of tho Gorman reply to President
Wilson's noto follows: "'
"In roply to tho question of the president of
tho United States of America tho German gov
ernment hereby declares:
"The German govornmont has acccptod tho
terms laid down by Prcsldont Wilson In h s ad
dress of January 8, and In his subsequent ad
dresses on the foundation of a pormanont peace
of justice. Consequently, its object in entoring
into discussions would be only to areo upon
practical details of the application of theso
terms. Tho German government bel!evcs that
the governments of tho powors associato'' with
tho government of the United States also take
tho position taken by Prcsldont Wilson in his
address. The German government, In accordance
with tho Austro-Hungarlan government for tho
purpose of bringing about an armistice, declares
itself ready to comply with the propositions of
tho president in regard tavacuatIon.
"Tho German government suggests that tho
president may occasion tho meeting of a mixed
commission for making tho necessary arrange
ments concerning the ovacuation. Tho present
German government, which has undertaken the
responsibility for this stop towards peace, has
been formed by conferences and in agreement
with tho great majority of tho Reichstag. Tho
chancellor, supported in all of his actions by the
will of th's majority, speaks in tho namo of the
German government and of tho Gorman people.
"Berlin, October 12, 1918. SOLF,
"State Secretary of Foreign Office."
"WE'LL STICK TO THE FINISH"
The Chappie Publishing Company, of Boston,
has just issued a new war book, "We'll Stick to
tho Finish," by Mr. Joe Chappjo, editor to The.
National Magazine. Mr. Chappie's long famili
arity with official lifo In Amorica and his intim
ate personal acquaintance with tho department
heads in Washington gave him a unique ad
vantage In his trip to the war zone, where ho
was able to carry the personal greetings of the
leaders of America to those of the Allies acrous
tho sea.
The book is a complete record of his trip and
noth'ng of interest that came under his observa
tion as a trained editor and magazine writer has
been omitted. From cover to cover it has the
swing of a swift martial stop as he traveled the
different sections of the' war zono from tho
Italian front to Flandors. Up along tho battle
lines ho went, now with his gas mask on, now
with it off. 'but all the tljP'Cj with eyes and earn
wide openT The big drive, was on at the time
and he saw the American. tnoys In tho fight; ho
saw them being brought back to the Baso
Hospitals wounded, but, too, ho saw tho wonder
ful sp'rit of the boys "Over There." "Tell them
back homo," they said to him, "We'll Stick to
the Finish," and their message has been made
a fitting title for the book.
On the Italian front Italy's army welcomed
the American soldiers boys as enthusiastically
as did tho French. General Diaz, tho Italian
hero, "looks like George B. Cortelyou." Generals
Joffre, Pershing, Foch and Haig all tho fam
ous generals of tho All'es are touched upon In
the book, In that free and easy, "I met him and
this is the kind of a fellow he is" manner.
Perhaps tho beat chapter of tho book deals
w'th the Red Cross, the Y. M. C. A., tho Y. W.
C. A., K. of C.f Salvation army and other civilian
activities, behind tho linos.
Personal interviews w.ith the premiers of
France, Italy and England are notable contri
butions to the war literature of the times. -
From the North of England to the Irish Sea,
Mr. Chappie encompassed the vast war prepara
tions of England. He visited the great British
and American fleets and spoke to many gather
ings of American sailor boys.
Mr. Chappie has long been known for -Ills
literary work, but In his latest book, "Wtfll
Stick to the Finish," he has written not alone
for the present but for all time. '' A
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