TEXT OF THE GERMAN REPLY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 24, 23 October 1918, Page 5

TEXT OF THE GERMAN REPLY

A PLAUSIBLE DOCUMENT DESCRIBED AS A " CROOKED ANSWER » By Telegraph-Press Assooiation.-Copyrijht (Eeo. October 22, 7.10 p.m.) . . London, 1 October 21. iA wireless German official.report states:— "Germany's reply to President Wilson is as follows:— In accepting the proposal for the evacuation of the occupied territories, the German Government has started from the assumption that the • procedure of this ,'evacuation, and the conditions of the. armistice, should be left to the judgment of the military advisers, ,and the actual standard of power of both sides in the field must form the basis of the arrangements for safeguarding and guaranteeing that standard. ' The German Government suggests to the President that an opportunity should be arranged for fixing the details, and trusts that the Presidents will approve of no demand irreconcilable: with the honour of the German people and with the opening of a way to a peace of justice. . The German Government protests against the reproach of illegal and inhuman actions whioh has been made aK'unstthe German land and sea forces, and thus against the German people. ■••''<» covering a retreat destruction will always be necessary, and in so far a s permitted by .international law. The German troops are under the stri instruction to Bpare private property and to exerciso care with the p°pulation_ to the best of their ability., Where'transgressions occur in spite o f these instructions the guilty are) punished. The German Government further denies that the German Navy, in sinking ships, ever purposely destroyed lifeboats with passengers on board. The German Government proposes, regarding all these charges, that the facts should be cleared up by neutral Commissions. In order to avoid anything hampering the work towards-peace, the German Government, has dispatched orders to all its submarine commanders, precluding the torpedoing of passenger ships, without, however, for technical reasons, b&ing able' to guarantee that orders will reach every single submarine at sea before its return.

As 'a fundamental condition of pea c e the President prescribes the destruction 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 that hitherto the representation of the people of the German Empire was not endowed with influence on the formation of the, Government; the Constitution did not pro v ide for the concurrence of the representation of the people in the decision °£ peace and war. These decisions must now undergo a fundamental change. A new Government has been formed in complete accordance with the principle, of the .representation of the people based on an equal, universal, secret, and direct franchise. The leaders of the great parties in the Heichstag are'members of this Government. }n future no Government can take or continue in office without possessing tho confidence of the majority in the Reichstag. The responsibility of the Chancellor of the Empire to tho representation of tho people is being legally developed and safeguarded. The first act of tho new Government has been to lay before the Reichstag a Bill to alter the constitution of the Empire in order to require the consent and representati° ns *of the psople for decisions in war and peace. The permanence of the new system is, however, guaranteed not only by constitutional safeguards, but also by the unshakoablo determination of the German people, whose vast majority stands behind these reforms, and demands their energetio continuance. The President's question—with whom he and the Governments associated againstGerraany we dealing—is therefore, answered in a clear and unequivocal manner by the statement that the offer of peace and'the armistice emanated from tho Government,, which is free from any arbitrary and irresponsible influence, and is supported 'by Hie approval of the overwhelming majority of the GeruKnrpeople." (Signed) ROLF.

Berlin, October 20.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter,

COMMENT ON THE NOTE

NOTHING BUT. UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.

New York, October 21. The New York "Times" correspondent at Washington learns on the highest authority that nothing but .Germany's unconditional surrender will be acceptable to the United States. This is necessary before President Wilson's terms can bo applied. Germany must oust the Hohenzollerns and the autocratic German Government. If 6he does not accept these conditions the Allies will fight until they secure a complete victory of arms.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

MR. BALFOUR DECLINES TO BE DRAWN.

•(Kec. October 22, 7.55 p.m.)

T I ' "London, October 21. In the House of Commons, replying to a series of questions regarding President's Wilson's fourteen points, Mr. A. J. Balfour (Foreign Minister) eaid that it was not desirable at present to discuss the questions arising from the negotiations between Germany and President Wilson.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

"A DELIBERATE SUBTERFUGE AND A CROOKED ANSWER."

(Itec. October 22, 7.55 p.m.)

, , London; October 21. The Times points out that the second German Note uses the word "satze," meaning "thesis," instead of "bedingungen," meaning, "terms," used in the first Note. i. This stamps the Note as a deliberate subterfuge and a crooked answer — "The Times." .

[The above reference does' not' appear in the foregoing cabled summary of the reply.]

BELGIUM'S DEMAND FOR COMPENSATION

ASSESSING THE DAMAGE DONE BY THE ENEMY.

New York, October 21. The New York 'Times correspondent at Washington reports that advices received state that the Belgian Government is preparing to assess the damage done by Germany during her occupation of Belgium, and will make heavy demands for compensation—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE BILL OF REPARATION.

(Eec. October 22, 7.55 p.m.) London, October 21. A Belgian official report states: "Germany's bill in Belgium totals ,£384,200000, including .£200,000,000 worth of damage to December, 1914, and ,£104,200,000 in exactions, and ,£8,000,000 for raw materials and machinery taken by the Germans to January, 1915, but not including materials, destruction, or requisitions since January, 1915, which is estimated at several hundred millions.—Renter.

THE CRUMBLING DUAL MONARCHY

EMPEROR TO PROCLAIM HUNGARY'S INDEPENDENCE,

(Eec. October' 22, 7.55 p.m.) Copenhagen, October 21.. A Eudapest telegram states that the Emperor Karl will issue a manifesto it. a ff.w diive proclaiming Hungary's ind ependencs ■—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.