Feeling that the whole peace of the world depends now on plain speaking and straightforward action, the President deems it his duty to say, without any attempt to soften what may seem harsh words, that the nations of the world do not and cannot trust the word of those who have hitherto been the masters of German policy, and to point out once more that in concluding peace and attempting to undo the infinite injuries and injustices of this war, the Government of the United States cannot deal with any but veritable representatives of the German people, who have been assured of a genuine constitutional standing as the real rulers of Germany. If it must deal with the military masters and the monarchical autocrats of Germany now, or if it is likely to have to deal with them later in regard to the international obligations of the German Empire, it must demand, not peace negotiations, but surrender. Nothing can be gained by leaving this essential thing unsaid. October 23, 1918. (10.) The German Government to President Wilson. (Translation.) THE German Government has taken cognisance of the answer of the President of the United States. The President is aware of the far-reaching changes which have been carried out and are being carried out in the German Constitutional structure. The peace negotiations will be conducted by a people's Government, in whose hands rests both actually and constitutionally the power to make deciding conclusions. The military powers are also subject to it. The German Government now awaits proposals for an armistice which shall be a first step towards a just peace, as the President has described it in his proclamations. SOLF, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. October 27, 1918. (11.) The Austro-Hungarian Government to (Translation). IN answer to President Wilson's note of the 18th instant, addressed to the Austro-Hungarian Government, and in accordance with the President's decision to treat the question of armistice and peace separately with Austria-Hungary, the Austro-Hungarian Government has the honour to declare that it agrees, as with the President's former declarations, so also with the views expressed in his last note concerning the rights of the peoples of Austria-Hungary, especially those of Czecho-Slovaks and Jugo-Slavs. As, therefore, AustriaHungary has accepted all the conditions on which the President has made the opening of negotiations for armistice and peace depend, the Austro-Hungarian Government considers that nothing stands in the way of such negotiations being opened. The Austro-Hungarian Government therefore declares itself ready, without awaiting the result of other negotiations, to commence negotiations for peace between Austria-Hungary and the opposing States, and for immediate armistice on all Austro-Hungarian fronts, and requests the President to take introductory steps accordingly.* October 27, 1918. ANDRASSY. (12.) The United States Government to the In my note of the 23rd October, 1918, I advised you that the President had transmitted his correspondence with the German authorities to the Governments with which the Government of the United States is associated as a belligerent, with the suggestion that, if these Governments were disposed to effect peace upon the terms and principles indicated, their military advisers and the military advisers of the United States be asked to submit to the Governments associated against Germany the necessary terms of such an armistice as would fully protect the interest of the peoples involved, and ensure to the Associated Governments the unrestricted power to safeguard and enforce the details f the peace to which the German Government had agreed, provided they deemed such an armistice possible from the military point of view. The President is now in receipt of· memorandum of observations by the Allied Governments on this correspondence, which is as follows: The Allied Governments have given careful consideration to the correspondence which has passed between the President of the United States and the German Government. Subject to the qualifications which follow, they declare their willingness to make peace with the Government of Germany on the terms of peace laid down in the President's address to Congress of January, 1918, and the principles of settlement enunciated in his subsequent addresses. They must point out, however, that clause 2, relating to what is The Austro-Hungarian Government subsequently applied through military channels for an armistice, which was signed on the 3rd November, 1918, see page 591. usually described as the freedom of the seas, is open to various interpretations, some of which they could not accept. They must therefore reserve to themselves complete freedom on this subject when they enter the Peace Conference. Further, in the conditions of peace laid down in his address to Congress of the 8th January, 1918, the President declared that invaded territories must be restored as well as evacuated and freed, and the Allied Governments feel that no doubt ought to be allowed to exist as to what this provision implies. By it they understand that compensation will be made by Germany for all damage done to the 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 above quoted. I am further instructed by the President to request you to notify the German Government that Marshal Foch has been authorised by the Government of the United States and the Allied Governments to receive properly accredited representatives of the German Government and to communicate to them the terms of an armistice. Accept, Sir, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.* ROBERT LANSING. November 5, 1918. BELGIAN NOTIFICATION of the Denunciation by France of the International Sugar Convention, signed at Brussels, March 5, 1902.-Havre, January 16, 1918.† Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs to His Majesty's M. LE MINISTRE, Ministère des Affaires Etrangères, Le Havre, le 16 janvier, 1918. J'AI l'honneur de faire connaître à votre Excellence que le Gouvernement français, préoccupé par la situation créée à The German Government subsequently applied through military channels for an armistice. It was signed on the 11th November, 1918, see page 613. l'industrie sucrière de la France par les destructions d'usines et par les suspensions de fabrication qui se sont produites pendant la guerre, a cru devoir dénoncer la Convention internationale des Sucres,* en faisant usage de la faculté prévue à l'article 5 du protocole du 17 mars, 1912. Conformément audit article, cette dénonciation, qui a été notifiée au Gouvernement du Roi par une communication portant la date du 22 août, 1917, sortira ses effets le 31 août, 1918, c'est-à-dire que la France cessera de faire partie de l'Union sucrière à partir du 1er septembre, 1918, date à laquelle expire la période de cinq années prévue par ledit protocole. Si la notification qui nous a été faite n'a pas été portée plus tôt à la connaissance des Etats intéressés, c'est qu'ua échange de vues s'est produit à la suite de la communication susvisée entre les Gouvernements français et belge, quant aux conditions dans lesquelles la France désirait mettre fin aux engagements résultant de la Convention de Bruxelles. Je serais obligé à votre Excellence de vouloir bien informer son Gouvernement de la décision prise par le Gouvernement de la République et de me dresser acte, en son nom, de la notification qui fait l'objet de la présente dépêche. Cette notification est adressée à votre Excellence en raison des engagements que la Grande-Bretagne a bien voulu prendre au moment où elle s'est dégagée de l'Union sucrière. Je saisis, &c. HYMANS. BELGIAN LAW granting a fresh term for the Acquisition of Belgian Nationality by Descendants of Inhabitants of Territories ceded in 1839.-May 11, 1918. ALBERT, Roi des Belges, à tous présents et à venir, salut. Vu l'article 26 de la Constitution, qui confère l'exercice du pouvoir législatif au Roi, à la Chambre des Représentants et au Sénat; Vu l'impossibilité de réunir les Chambres législatives; Sur la proposition de notre Ministre de la Justice et de l'avis conforme de nos Ministres réunis en Conseil, Vol. XCV, page 6. + Vol. CV, page 392. Nous avons arrêté et arrêtons: ART. 1. Les enfants et descendants majeurs de tout individu qui, ayant pu conserver la qualité de Belge aux termes de l'article 1er de la loi du 4 juin 1839, l'aura perdue en négligeant de faire la déclaration requise ou de transférer son domicile en Belgique, pourront réclamer la qualité de Belge dans le délai de trois années à partir du jour de la publication du présent arrêté-loi, en remplissant les formalités prescrites par la disposition précitée de la loi de 1839. Ses enfants et descendants mineurs seront admis à faire cette réclamation moyennant l'accomplissement des mêmes formalités dans l'année qui suivra l'époque de leur majorité. 2. Pendant la durée du temps de guerre, le certificat prévu par l'article 1o de la loi du 4 juin 1839 pourra être remplacé par un certificat du Ministre de la Guerre constatant l'inscription de l'intéressé sur les contrôles de l'armée belge ou son licenciement par réforme de cette armée. 8. La déclaration et la production du certificat pourront se faire soit devant les Gouverneurs de province, en Belgique, soit devant les agents diplomatiques et consulaires de la Belgique à l'étranger. Elles pourront être faites par procuration spéciale et authentique. Promulguons le présent arrêté-loi, ordonnons qu'il soit revêtu du sceau de l'Etat et publié par le "Moniteur." Donné en notre quartier général, le 11 mai, 1918. Par le Roi: Le Ministre de la Justice, H. CARTON DE WIART. ALBERT. DENUNCIATION by Belgium of the Conventions of Private International Law, signed at The Hague, June 12, 1902, regulating the conflicts of Laws in matters of Marriage and Divorce.-October 31, 1918 * Sous la date du 31 octobre 1918, le Gouvernement belge а notifié au Gouvernement des Pays-Bas la dénonciation des deux Conventions de Droit international privé, signées à |