"T'"ISHW
The Commoner
V0L. 18, KQ. n
J2
Oormany will afford tho host concreto ov.denco
Of hor unoquivocal acceptance of the terms and
principles of peaco from which tho whole action
procoodB.
DOUBTS POLITICAL .REFORMS
"Tho President would doom himself lacking
in candor did ho not point out In tho frankest
pooBlblo terms tho ron'Bon why extraordinary
safeguards must he demanded. Significant and
important as tho constitutional changos scorn to
ho which are spokon of by tho German foreign
necrotary In his noto of the 20th of October, it
docs not appear that the principle of a govern
ment rosponsiblo to tho German pooplo has yet
boon fully worked out or that any guarantees
cither' oxlst or nro In contemplation that tho
alterations of principle and of practice now
partially agreed upon will bo permanent.
"Moreover, It doos not appear that tho heart
of tho present difficulty has been reached. It
may bo that future war has been brought under
tho control of tho German people, but tho
present war has not been, and It is with tho
present war that wo are dealing. It is evident
thatthe German pooplo have no moans of com
manding tho acquiescence of the military autho
rities of tho ompiro In tho popular w'llj that
tho powor of tho King of Prussia to control tho
policy of tle ompire is unimpaired; that the
determining initiative st'll romalnri with those
who have hlthorto boon the masters of Germany.
CANNOT TRUST OLD REGIME
"Fooling that tho whole peaco of tho world
doponds now on plain speaking and straightfor
ward action, tho President deems it his duty
to say, without any attompt to soften what may
soom harsh words, that the nations of the worjd
do not and cannot trust tho word of thoso who
havo h'thorto been tho mastera of German
policy and to point out onco more that in con
cluding peace and attempting to undo the in
finite injuries and injustices of this war "the
government of tho United States cannot deal
with any but veritablo representatives of tho
Gorman people, who havo been assured of a
gonuino constitutional standing' as the real
rulors of G or many.
"If it must deal with tho military masters and
tho monarchical autocrats of Germany now, or
if it Is likely to have to deal with them later in
regard to tho international obligations of the
German empire, it must demand, not peaco ne
gotiations, but surrender. Nothing can bo
gained by loaving this essential thing unsaid.
"Accept, sir, tho renewed assurances of my
high consideration, ROBERT LANSING.
"Mr. Frederick Ooderlin, Charge d'Affairs of
Switzerland, ad interim, in charge of German
interests in tho United States."
GERMANY PROFFERS PROOF
Germany's answer to Pjesidont Wilson's note
of October 23, as transmitted via Copenhagen
Octobor 27, says:
"Tho Gorman government has taken cogniz
anco of tho answer of the President of tho
United States. Tho Prosidont is aware of the
farroaching changes which havo been carrlod out
and are being carried out in tho Gorman con
stitutional structure and that peaco negotiations
are boing conducted by a people's government in
whose hands rests, both actually and constitu
tionally, tho power to make tho deciding conclu
sions. "Tho military powers are also subject to it.
"Tho Gorman government now awaits pro
posals for an armistice, which shall bo tho first
stops toward a just peace, as tho President has
described it in lis proclamation.
(Signed) SOLF."
TEXT OF SECRETARY LANSING'S NOTE
A Washington d'spatch, dated Nov. rth,ssays
Marshal Foch has been authorized by tho United
States and by tho allies to rocolve representatives
of tho Gorman government and to communicate
to them the tonus of an armistice.
Tho Gorman government is so informed in a
note handed to tho Swiss minister here today
by Secretary Lans'ng.
Tho toxt of Secretary Lansing's noto follows
"In my noto of Octobor 23, 1918, I advised
you that tho President had transmitted his cor
responded with tho Gorman authorities to the
government", with which tho government of the
Tinitod Status is associated as a belligerent with
Uio suggestion that, if these governments' were
Disposed to accept peace upon the terms and
principles indicated, their military advisers and
tho military advisers of the United States bo
asked to submit, to the governments associated
against Germany tho necessary terms of such
an armlst'ce as would fully protect tho intore,sts
of tho peoples involved and insuro to the as
sociated governments tho unrestricted powor to
safeguard and enforce tho details of the peace
to which tho German government had agreed,
provided they deem such an armistice possible
from the military point of view.
"Tho Pres'dent is now in receipt of a memo
randum of observations by tho allied govern
ments on this correspondence, which is as fol
lows: " 'The allied governments have given careful
consideration to tho correspondence which has
passed bctweon the President of the United
States and tho Gorman government. Subject to
tho qualifications which follow, they declaro
the'r willingness to make peace with the govern
ment of Germany on the terms of peace laid
down in tho President's address to congress of
January, 191-8, and the principles of settlement
enunciated in his subsequent addresses.
" 'They must point out, however, that clause
two, relating to "what is usually described as the -freedom
of tho seas, is open to various interpre
tations, some of which they could not accept.
They must, therefore, reserve to themselves com
plete freedom on this subject when they entor
the peaco conference.
" 'Further, in the conditions of peace laid
down In his address to conjress of January 8,
1918, tho President declared that invaded ter
ritories must b6 restored as well as evacuated
and freed. The allied governments feel that no
doubt ought to be allowed to exist as to what
th's provision implies. By it tliey understand
that compensation will be madj by Germany for
all damage done to tho civilian population of
the allies and their property by the aggression
of Germany by land, by sea and from the air.'
"I am instructed by the President to say that
he is in agreement with the interpretation set
forth in the last paragraph of the memorandum
to notify tho German government that Marshal
Foch has been authorized by the government of
vtln United States and the allied governments to
receive properly accredited representatives of the
German government and to communicate to
tljem the terms o'f an armistice.
"Accopt, sir, tho renewed assurance of my
li'Zhest consideration.
"ROBERT LANSING."
, WILSON'S REPLY TO AUSTRIA, URGING
LIBERTY FOR SLAVS
The text of the American reply to Austria,
handed to the Swedish minister at Washington,
October 19, follows:
"Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your note of the 7th instant, in which
you transmit a communication of tho Imperial'
and Royal Government of Austria-Hungary to
the President. I am now instructed by the Pre
sident to request you to be good enough, through
your Government, to convey to the Imperial and
Royal Government the following reply:
"The President deems it his duty to say to the N
Austro-Hungarian government that he can not
entertain the present suggestions of that govern
ment because of certain events of utmost im
portance which, occurring since the delivery of
h's address of the 8th of January last, have
necessarily altered the attitude and respon
sibility of the Government of the United States
Among the fourteen torms of peace which tho
President formulated at the time occurred the
following:
"10. Tho peoples of Austria-Hungary, whose
place among tho nations wo wish to seo safe
guarded and assured, should be accorded the
freest opportunity of autonomous develop-
1X1611 L
"Since that sentence was written and uttered
to the congress of the United States, the govern
ment of tho Unted States has recognized that n
state of belligerency exists between the Czecho- '
Slovaks and the German and Austro-Hungarian
empires, and that the Czechoslovak NationS
Council is a do facto belligerent government
clothed with proper authority to direct the
military and political affa'rs of the coiin
Slovaks, it, has also recognizee) Tin tte SSeS't
manner tho lust rf , ...... lu1Qsc
tibhs of the JUKO-Slav fZ f"tt"V""SU0 asIra"
peoples as a basis of peace, but Is oblieerl t ,
sist that they and not he shall be thV..j
of what action on the nart nf i,r,ud&e
if win oof i,.. ;,"". iVUStro.
TTiinirn.Hn.n envfirnmnnf will tminf.. i, .
tions and their conception of their rich??1"
..w U111J, UL nauons.
"AnnAnf ai flir nnn.n.l
auuuijl, a i, tne reneweu assiimnn .
highest consideration. ROBERT LANSING
AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN OFFER OF PEACE
In announcing his reply Secretary Lansing
also made public the official text of the Austrif
Hungarian note. It follows:
"Legation of Sweden, Washington, October 7
1918 (translation). Excellencv: nv n.,i J '
my government I have the honor confidentiallv
to transmit herewith to you the following com
munication of the Imperial and Royal govern"
ment of Austria-Hungary to the President of the
United States of America: "The Austro-Hun
garian monarchy, which has waged war always
and solely as a defensive war, and repeated?
given documentary evidence of its readiness to
stop the shedding of blood and to arrive at a
just and honorable peace, hereby addresses It
self to his lordship the President of the United
States of America, and offers to conclude with
him and his allies an armistice on every front
on" land, at sea and in the air, and to enter Im
mediately upon negotiations for a peace for
which the fourteen points in the message of
President Wilson to congress of January 8, 1918,
and the four points contained in President
Wilson's address of February 12, 191S, should
serve as a foundation and in which the view
points declared by Presidont Wilson in his ad
dress of September 27, 1918, will also be taken
into account." Be pleased to accept, etc.
"W. A'. F. EKENGREN.
"His Excellency Mr. Robert Lansing, Secretary
of State of the United States, Washington."
- AUSTRIA ACCEPTS CONDITIONS
The text of the Austro-Hungarian note to
President Wilson, as transmitted from Basel,
Switzerland, October 28, follows:
"In reply to the note of President Wilson of
October 19, addressed to the Austro-Hungarian
government and giving the decision of the Presi
dent to speak directly with the Austro-Hungarian
government on the question of an armistice and
of peace, the Austro-Hungarian government has
the honor to declare that equally with the pre
ceding proclamations of the President, it adheres
also to the same point of view contained in tho
last note upon the rights of the Austro
Hungarian peoples, especially those of iCzecho
Slovaks and the J'ugo Slavs.
"Consequently Austro-Hungary is accepting
all the conditions the President has laid down
for the entry into negot'ations for an armistice
and peace, no obstacle exists, according to tho
judgment of the Austro-Hungarian government
to the beginning of these negotiations.
"The Austro-Hungarian government declares
itself ready, in consequence, without awaiting
the result of other negotiations upon peaco be
tween Austro-Hungary and the states in the op
posing group and for an immediate armistico
upon rill Austro-Hungarian fronts.
"It asks President Wilson to be so kind as to
begin overtures on this subject.
, "ANDRASSY."
TEXT OF ARMISTICE CONDITIONS AC
CEPTED By AUSTRIA-HUNGARY
The armistce conditions imposed upon
Austria-Hungary, as provided by the United
States-allied council at Versailles, which became
operative November 4, were made public at
Washington by the state department on that
date. Tho terms accepted by Austria-Hungary
wer0 as follows:
MILITARY CLAUSES
"1-r-The immediate cessation of hostilities by
land, sea and air.
J2 Total demobilization of the Austro
Hungarian army, and immediate withdrawal of
all Austro-Hungarian forces operating on tho
front from the North, sea to Switzerland.
"Within Austro-Hungarian territory, limited
as in clause 3 below, .there shall be only main
tained an organized military (force) reduced to
pre-war effectives (effectiveness?)
uau tne divisional, corps and army arunty
".The President Mc"f wnf a. , aml 0(luiPmont shall be collected at po'nts to w
itooSthemf n nger at iudicated the allies and United States of
ueriy to accopt the mere autonomy' of these America for . delivery to them, beginning with
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