612 Anhang zu den Vereinigten Staaten. (Okt. 20.)
guards and guarantees of the maintenance of the present military supre-
macy of the armies of the United States and of the Allies in the field.
He feels confident that he can safely assume that this will 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 Govern-
ments with which the Government of the United States is associated as
a belligerent, will consent to consider an armistice so long as the armed
forces of Germany continue the illegal and inhumane practices which
they still persist in. At the very time that the German Government ap-
proaches 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; and in their present enforced with-
drawal 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. Cities and
villages, if not destroyed, are being stripped not only of all they contain.
but often of their very inhabitants. The nations asscciated 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.
It is 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 tbe terms of peace which the German Government has
now accepted. It is contained in the address of the President delivered
at Mount Vernon on July 4 last. 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 impotency.' The
ower which has hitherto controlled the German nation is of the sort
ere described. It is within the choice of the German JNation to alter
it. 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 President feels bound to say that the whole
process of peace will, in his judgment, depend upon the definiteness
and satisfactory character of the guarantees which can be given in this
fundamental matter. It is indispensable that the Governments associated
against Germany should know beyond a peradventure with whom they
are dealing. The President will make a separate reply to the Royal
and Imperial Government of Austria-Hungary. Accept, Sir, tbe renewed
assurance of my bigh consideration. (Signed) Robert Lansing.
(S. dazu Tl. 1 S. 341.)
20. Okt. Dritte deutsche Note an Wilson.
Als Antwort auf die amerik. Note v. 14. geht in der Nacht v. 20.
zum 21. folgende Note in die Schweiz zur Weitergabe nach Washington ab:
Die deutsche Regierung ist bei der Annahme des Vorschlags zur
Räumung der besetzten Gebiete davon ausgegangen, daß das Verfahren
bei dieser Räumung und die Bedingungen des Waffenstillstandes der Be-
urteilung militärischer Ratgeber zu überlassen seien, und daß das gegenwärtige
Kräfteverhältnis an den Fronten den Abmachungen zugrunde zu legen ist,
die es sichern und verbürgen. Die deutsche Regierung gibt dem Präsidenten
