CENTRAL POWERS ASK FOR PEACE
Central Powers Ask For Peace Diplomatic Correspondence Between Warring Nations'—Bulgaria Has Surrendered— Requests of Germany, Austria and Turkey GERMANY First Peace Note. AMSTERDAM, Oct. 7—The...
...It is contained in the address of the president delivered at Mount Vernon on the Fourth of July last...
...Representatives of various great war industries have been summoned to Washington to confer with Director General Deiismoro of this important service as to needed laborers...
...For the covering of a retreat destructions will always be necessary and they are carried out in so far as is permitted by international law...
...Hungary...
...Secretary of Labor Wilson has issued a bulletin calling on all to support the new labor program...
...FREDERICK OEDERLIN, (Charge d'Affaires, Ad Interim in charge of German interests In the United States...
...Along with this new and vast program of governmental labor supply the question of standardizing wages in all industries is now receiving the attention of the War Labor Policies Board...
...Robert Lansing...
...Sir—In reply to the communication of the German government, dated the 12th inst., which you handed me today, I have the honor to request you to transmit the following answer: "The unqualified acceptance by the present German government and by a large majority of the reichstag of the terms laid down by the president of the United States of America in his address to the congress of the United States on the 8th of January, 1918, and in his subsequent addresses justifies the president in making a frank and direct statement of his decision with regard to the communications of the German government of the 8th and 12th of October, 1918...
...8, 1918, and the four points contained in President Wilson's address of February 12, 1918, should serve as a foundation and in which the viewpoints declared by President Wilson in his address of Sept...
...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 leaders of the government 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 safeguards and guarantees of the maintenance of the present military supremacy of the armies of the United States and the allies in the fields...
...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 government of the United States is associated as a bell.'gerent will consent to consider an armistice so long as the armed forces of Germany continue the illegal and inhuman practices which they still persist in...
...It—the imperial government—accepts as a basis for negotiations, the program laid down by the President of the United States in his message to congress of Jan, 8, 1917 and in his subsequent declarations especially the speech of Sept, 27...
...50,000,000 a day...
...The German government believes that the United States and the allies also adopt President Wilson's position...
...Feed 122,500 fighting men one year...
...12,500,000...
...The German government suggests to the president that an opportunity should be brought about for fixing details...
...United States Reply...
...Excellency: By order of my government I have the honor confidentially to transmit herewith to you the following communication of tha imperial and royal government of Austria-Hungary to the president of the United States of America: "The Austro-Hungarian monarchy which has waged war always and solely as a defensive war and repeatedly given documentary evidence of its readiness to stop the shedding of blood and to arrive at a just and honorable peace, hereby addresses itself to his lordship, tha 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 immediately upon negotiations for a peace for which the fourteen points in the message of President Wilson to congress of Jan...
...The first act of the new government has been to Iry before the reichstag a bill to alter the constitution of the empires so that the consent of the representation of the people is required for decisions on war and peace...
...The German government suggests that the president may occasion the meeting .of a mixed commission for making the necessary arrangement* concerning the evacuation...
...7—The text of the note forwarded by the imperial German chancellor, Prince Maximilian, to President Wilson through the Swiss government, follows: "The German Government requests the president of the United States to- take in hand the restoration of peace, acquaint all the belligerent states of this request and invite them to send plenipotentiaries for the purpose of opening negotiations...
...people and with opening a way to a peace with justice...
...40,000,000,000 25,400,000,000 68.5 Italy...
...Farm Implements Are Standardized FARM implements are to be standardized, and all unessential types eliminated...
...While transgressions occur in spite of these instructions the guilty are being punished "The German government further denies that the German navy ins inking ships has ever purposely destroyed life boats with their passengers...
...Corn planters and drills will be cut down from 300 types to 10, harrows from 107 to 44, etc...
...21, 1918...
...Now it has 600 branch offices, with 20,000 agents, and on August 1 the Employment Service assumed exclusive control of the recruiting and distribution of unskilled labor in all lines of war production throughout the nation...
...The question of the president—with whom he and the governments associated against Germany are dealing—is therefore answered in a clear, unequivocal manner by the statements that the offer of peace and an armistice has come from a government which is free from an arbitrary and irresponsible influence, is supported by the approval of an overwhelming majority of the German people...
...Germany's Second Note...
...27, 1918, will also be taken into account...
...Signed) ROBERT LANSING...
...25,000,000,000 20,000,000,000 80.0 United States...
...In accepting the proposal...
...WASHINGTON, D. C Oct 14—Turkey's note, following closely the line of the German and Austrian peace notes, was delivered by the Spanish ambassador...
...AUSTRIA-HUNGARY First Peace Note...
...9, 1918...
...555.00 a second...
...These conditions have jusf now undergone a fundamental change...
...The president feels bound to say that the whole process of .peace, will, in his judgment depend upon the definiteness and the satisfactory character of the guarantees which can be given in this fundamental matter...
...2,000,000 an hour...
...Washington, D. C., Oct...
...It read: "The undersigned charge d'affaires of Turkey has the honor, acting upon instructions from his government, to request the royal government to inform the Secretary of State of the United States of America by telegraph that the Imperial government requests the President of the United States of America to take upon himself the task of re-establishment of peace...
...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...
...For the nation seven days' saving of gas it loaned to the Government will— Clothe 122,500 soldiers and sailors...
...With a view to avoiding further bloodshed the German government requests the immediate conclusion of an armistice on land and water and in the air...
...BERLIN, via London, Oct...
...Sir: "I have the honor to acknowledge tha receipt of your note of the seventh, instant, in which you transmit a communication of the imperial and royal government of Austria-Hungary to the president...
...Cities and villages, if not destroyed are being stripped of all they contain, not only, but often their very inhabitants...
...It is as follows: 'The destruction of every arbitrary power anywhere that can separately, secretly and of its single choice disturb the peace of the world, or, if it cannot be presently destroyed at least its reduction to virtual im potency.' "The power which has hitherto controlled the German nation is of the sort here described-It is within the choice of the German nation to alter it...
...The German government in accordance with the Austro-Hungarian government, for the purpose of bringing about an armistice, declares itself ready to comply with the president's proposition regarding ttie evacuation...
...On July 1 next, according to latest estimates by the War Department, the war, for the twelve months, will have cost $31,000,000,000...
...National Wealth and Debt of Belligerents Estimated Present Na- Per National wealth tional debt cent Great Britain .......T...
...90,000,000,000 $36,675,000,000 40.7 Prance...
...of the representation of the people based on equal, universal, secret, direct franchise...
...At the very time that the German government approaches the government of the United States with proposals of peace its submarines are engaged in sinking passenger ships at sea and not the ships alone, but the very boats in which their passengers and crews seek to make their way to safety...
...Buy 614250 horses or mules...
...12.—The text of Germany's reply to President Wilson, dispatched at noon today follows: "Replying to the president's questions, the German government declares that it accepts the terms of President Wilson's ad-di-ess of January 8th and his subsequent addresses on the foundation of a permanent peace of justice...
...For example, out of 803 types of plows only 65 will be manufactured after December 31, 1918...
...He feels confident that he can safely as-snme that this will also be the judgment and decision of the allied, governments...
...In order to avoid anything that might hamper the work of peace the German government has caused orders to be dispatched to all submarine commanders precluding the torpedoing of passenger ships without however, for technical reasons, being able to guarantee that these orders will reach every single submarine at sen before its return...
...Legation of Sweden, Washington, Oct, 7, 1918...
...Accept six, the renewed assurances of my high consideration...
...1 will mean 49,000,000 gallons...
...What the War Costs ON JULY 1 last, the first day of the present fiscal year, the war was costing: $18,000,000,000 a year...
...The German government purposes with regard to all those charges that the facts be cleared up by neutral commissions...
...The president is, therefore no longer at liberty to accept the mere 'autonomy* of these peoples as a basis of peace, but is obliged to insist that they, and not he, shall be the judges of what action on the part of the Austro-Hungarian government will satisfy their aspirations and their conception of their rights and destiny as members of the family of nations...
...Accept, sir, the renewed assurance of my consideration...
...Consequently the German government's object in entering discussions would be only to agree to the practical details of these terms...
...The chancellor, supported in all his actions by the will of this majority, speaks in the name of the German government and the German people...
...The permanence of the new system is, however guaranteed not only by constitutional safeguards,, but also by the unshakable determination of the German people whose vast majority stand behind these reforms and demand their energetic continuance...
...Each state has a general director who reports the quota of workers called for in his state...
...The present German government, which has undertaken the responsibility of this step towards peace was formed by conference in agreement with the great majority of the reichstag...
...Von Solf, Secretary of State for foreign affairs...
...The responsibility of the chancellor of the empire to the representation of the people is being legally developed and safeguarded...
...Germany's Third Not...
...Washington, D. C, Oct...
...A new government baa beea formed in complete accordance with the wishes (principle...
...Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge, on behalf of the^ president, your note of October 6, enclosing the communication from the German government to the president...
...Berlin, Oct...
...Second United States Reply...
...for"~an evacuation of occupied territories the German government has started from the assumption that the procedure of this evacuation and of the conditions of an armistice should be left to the military advisers and that the actual standard of power on both sides in the field has to form the basis for arrangements safeguarding and guaranteeing this standard...
...ROBERT LANSING...
...Accept, sir, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration...
...The nations associated against Germany cannot be expected to agree to a cessation of arms while acts of inhumanity, spoliation and desolation are being continued which they justly look upon with horror and with burning hearts...
...In order to put an end to the shedding of blood, the imperial Ottoman government requests that steps be taken for the immediate conclusion of a general armistice on land, on sea and in the air," (The United States is not at war with Turkey and it is understood this note has beea transmitted to the other Allies...
...To this end the chairman of this board Felix Frankfurter, has already held numerous conferences with the heads of various labor unions...
...It is also necessary, also in order that there may be no possibility of misunderstanding that the president should very solemnly call the attention of the government of Germany to the language and plain intent of one of the terms of peace which the German government has now accepted...
...The good faith of any discussion would manifestly depend upon the consent of the central powers immediately to withdraw their forces everywhere from invaded territory: 'The president also feels that he is justified in asking whether the imperial chancellor is speaking merely for the constituted authorities of the empire who have so far conducted the war...
...Pay 408,000 privates a full month's wages...
...Seven gasless Sundays—from Sept...
...Buy 40,800 depth bombs...
...I am now instructed by the president 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 Austro-Hungarian government that he cannot entertain the present suggestions of that government because of certain events of utmost importance which, occurring since the delivery of his address of the eighth of January, last, have necessarily altered the attitude and responsibilities of the government of the United States...
...The German Government protests against the reproach of illegal and inhumane actions made against the German land and sea forces and thereby against the German people...
...It trusts that the president of the United Stales will approve of no demand which would be irreconcilable with the honor of the German...
...It has also recognized in the fullest manner the justice of the nationalistic aspirations of the Jugo-Slovaks for freedom...
...and in their present enforced withdrawal from Flanders and France the German armies are pursuing a course of wanton destruction which has always been regarded as in direct violation of the rules and practices of civilized warfare...
...19, 1918...
...The leaders of the great parties of tha reichstag are members of this government In the future do government can take or continue in office without posstssing the confidence of a majority of the reichstag...
...It is indispensable that the governments associated against Germany should know beyond peradventure with whom they are dealing...
...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...
...14, 1918...
...and 1 am instructed by the president to request you to make the following communication to the Imperial German chancellor: "Before making reply to the request of the Imperial German government, and in order that that reply shall be as candid and straightforward as the momentous interests involved require, the president of the United States deems it necessary to assure himself of the exact meaning of the no'.e of the imperial chancellor...
...Seven months ago this department had a personnel of less than 100, not more than 100 branches, and placed only about 1,000 laborers a day...
...The president's words just quoted naturally constitute a condition precedent to peace, if peace is to come by the action of the German people themselves...
...The constitution did not provide for a concurrence of representation of the people in decisions on peace and war...
...The president feels bound to say with regard to the suggestion 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 the armies of those powers are upon their soil...
...Among tffe fourteen terms of peace which the president formulated at that time occurred the following: " 'X...
...States in his message to congress on January 8 and in his later pronouncements, especially his speech of September 27, as the basis for peace negotiations...
...Dr...
...25,000,000,000 7,000,000,000 28 f) Japan ____ 28,000,000,000 1,300,000,000 4.6 Germany . 80,000,000,000 31,000,000,000 38.7 Austria-Hungary...
...Washington, D. C, Oct...
...Does the Imperial chancellor mean that the imperial German government accepts the terms laid down by the president in his address to the congress of the United States on January 8 last and in subsequent addresses and that its object in entering into discussions would be only to agree upon the practical details of their application...
...TURKEY First Peace Note...
...U. S. Reply to Austria...
...65,000,000,000 23,000,000,000 35.4 Russia...
...33,000 a minute...
...The president will make a separate reply to the royal and imperial government of Austria...
...Labor and the War ALL OF Washington is keenly busy with war workvthese days, but there is no activity keyed up higher than that of tha U. S. Employment Service...
...The peoples of Austria-Hungary,- whose place among the nations we wish to see safeguarded and insured, shonld be accorded tha freest opportunity to autonomous development.' "Since that sentence was written and uttered to the congress of the United States, the government of the United States has recognized that a state of belligerency exists between ths Czeeho-SIovaks and the German and Austro-Hungarian empires and that the Czecho-Slovak national council is a de facto belligerent government clothed with proper authority to direct tha military and political affairs of the Czechoslovaks...
...250,000,000,000 12,500,000,000 5.0 Gas Money EVERY gasless Sunday saves the nation 7/-000,000 gallons—worth $1,750,000 in cash...
...This program has been worked out by the War Industries Board, to conserve both labor and materials, particularly steel and iron, which are needed for war purposes...
...He deems the answer to these questions vital from every point of view...
...Von Solf, Secretary of State for foreign affairs...
...It accepts the program set forth by the president of the United...
...A. F. EKENGREN...
...As a fundamental condition for peace the president prescribes the destruction of every a* itrary power that can separately, secretly and of its own single choice disturb the peace of the world...
...to notify all belligerent states of this demand and to invite them to delegate plenipotentiary ies to initiate negotiations...
Vol. 10 • October 1918 • No. 10
