ent of Prince Maximilian was a
definite attempt to seek peace. It was thought that he would be
recognized by the Allied leaders as an honest friend of peace, and that
any effort he would make would be treated with respect. He was, however,
a vigorous supporter of the Kaiser and of German autocracy, and while
his appointment might mean that Germany was desirous of peace it did not
mean that she had changed her ways. Three days before the appointment of
Prince Maximilian, President Wilson, in an address delivered in the
Metropolitan Opera House in New York, had restated the issues of the
war, declaring (1) for impartial justice, (2) settlement to be made in
the common interests of all, (3) no leagues within the common family of
the league of nations, (4) no selfish economic combination within that
league, and (5) all international agreements and treaties of every kind
must be made known in their entirety to the rest of the world.

Prince Maximilian, coming into power undoubtedly for the purpose of
arranging a peace, proceeded at once to make a new peace offer. He based
his action on President Wilson's speech and on October 4th sent to
President Wilson, through the Swiss Government, the following note:

The German Government requests the President of the United States to
take in hand the restoration of peace, acquaint all the belligerent
states with this request, and invite them to send plenipotentiaries for
the purpose of opening negotiations. It accepts the program set forth by
the President of the United States in his message to Congress on January
8th, and in his later pronouncements, especially his speech of September
27th, as a basis for peace negotiations. With a view to avoiding further
bloodshed the German Government requests the immediate conclusion of an
armistice on land and on water and in the air.

He followed this note on October 5th with an address before the German
Reichstag, of which the following are the most important points:

In accordance with the Imperial decree of September 30th, the German
Empire has undergone a basic alteration of its politic leadership. As
successor to Count George F. von Hertling, whose services in behalf of
the Fatherland deserve the highest acknowledgment, I have been summoned
by the Emperor to lead the new government. In accordance with the
governmental method now introduced I submit to the Reichstag, publicly
and without delay, the principles by which I propose to co