He also suggested that so long as the
armies of the Central Powers were upon the soil of the governments with
which the United States was associated, he would not feel at liberty to
propose a cessation of arms to those governments. He also inquired
whether the Imperial Chancellor was speaking merely for the constituted
authorities of the Empire, who had so far conducted the war.
President Wilson's reply aroused much difference of opinion among the
Allies, but on the whole was regarded as a clever diplomatic move.
The German Government responded to these questions of the President on
October 12th, by a message signed by Dr. W. S. Solf, who had just been
appointed Imperial Foreign Secretary. In this reply the German
Government declared that it did accept President Wilson's terms; that it
was ready to comply with the suggestion of the President and withdraw
its troops from Allied territory, and that the German Government was
representing in all its actions the will of the great majority of the
German people.
Germany had, indeed, made enormous concessions, and the German people
appeared to have taken for granted that such an offer would be accepted.
An Amsterdam despatch declared: "People in Berlin are kissing one
another in the street, though they are perfect strangers and shouting
peace congratulations to each other.
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