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Show German Withdraval as FirsL Move for Peace President Wilson Lays Down Condition Before Armistice Can Be Discussed; Asks Maximilian's Status. President Wilson has informed the government of Germany that before the United States can discuss an armistice German troops must withdraw from all invaded territory. Tbc text of the communicaition follows: "Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge, on behalf of the presi-J presi-J dent, your note of October 6th, inclosing the communication from i the German government to the president; and I am instructed by the president to request you to make the following communication i to the imperial German chancellor? j "Before making reply to the request of the imperial German 1 government and in order that that reply shall be candid and I straightforward, as the momentous interests involved require, the i president of the United States deems it necessary to assure himself I of the exact meaning of the note of the imperial chancellor. Does I the imperial chancellor mean that the imperial German government accepts the terms laid d dwn by the president in his address to the ! congress of the United States on the 8th of January, last, and in I subsequent addresses and that its object in entering into discussions would be only to agree upon the practical details of their application? applica-tion? J "The president fceb bound to say with regard to the suggestion , of an armistice that he would not feel at liberty to propose a ces-. ces-. satioa of arms to -the governments with hich the government of the United States is associated against the central powers so long as the I armies of those powers are upon their soil. The good faith of any ' discussion would manifestly depend upon the consent of the central j powers immediately to withdraw their forces everywhere from in-I in-I vaded territory. "The president also feels that he is justified in asking whether j the imperial chancellor is speaking merely for the constituted au- ! (Conticued on Page Three.) GERMAN WITHDRAWAL FIRST MOVE FOR PEACE (Continued from Page One.) thorities of the empire who have so far conducted the war. He i deems the answer to these questions vital from every point of view.! 'Accept, sir, the renewed assurances of my "high consideration.! "ROBERT LANSING." ! Phases of Documents. Tn announcing his iction. Secretary Lansing issued the fol'owing : 'Department of State, Oct. $. 191S. "The se ere tary of 4state makes public the following communications: "From the charge d'affaires ad interim, of Switzerland, in chaj-ge of German interests in-terests in the United States: "Legation of Switzerland. Washington. O. C, October 6. 1?1S, Department of German Interests. -yr. President: " have the honor to transmit herewith, upon instructions from my government, the original text of a communication from the German government, received by this legation late this afternoon, from the Swiss foreign office. "An Knglis-h translation of this communication commu-nication is also enclosed. The German original text, however, is alone to be considered con-sidered as authoritative. "I'lcase accept, Mr. President, the assurances as-surances of my highest consideration. (Signed) "F. OEDKRLI.V, "In charge of German interests in the United Stales. "Mr. Wood row Wilson, president of the United States. V. nshington. "i Knclosure ). "Translation "Of communication from German govern gov-ern men t to the pre -side nt of t ne U nit eel State?, as transmitted by the charge d'affaires A. I. of Switzerland, on OctobVr 6. IVS. "The Germa n government rt inists the pie.l(pnt of the United States of America to take steps for ihe restoration of peace, to notify nil belligerents of this reuuest. and to invite them to delegate plenipotentiaries pleni-potentiaries for the purpose of taking up negotiations. The German government accepts ac-cepts as a basis for the peace negotiations negotia-tions the program i i io down by t he president of the United States in his nirs-sare nirs-sare to congress of January x". lis. and in his subsequent pronouncements, p;ulicu-larlv p;ulicu-larlv in his address of September I'T. 1:1S. In order to avoid further bloodshed, the German sove rumen t requests to bring atout the Immediate conclusion of a general gen-eral armistice on land on water ami in the air. "MAX. Prince of binder.. "Imperial Chancellor." Here follows the president's replv-. |