Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-11-27
NO DIRECT REPLY
TO BOLSHEV|K|
But President May Take Ad-
vantage of Occasion to
Restate War Aims.

What reply, IL any. President Wilson
for peace, was not officially stated
either at the White House or at the
State Department today.
1t Is considered likely. however.
among those who speak unoff1cially
that the proposals will not be ignored.
They are regarded as giving an oppor-
tunity for another frank statement Of
war aims, and another opportunity to
combat Germanys peace offensive
such as was found in the Pope's note
and the spirited reply thereto.
Direct Answer Can't Be Sent.
1t is a foregone conclusion that a
direct answer cannot be sent, in view
Of the fact that a. direct answer would
entail tacit recognition of the bolshe-
Wiki element. Such a direct reply was
possible in the case of the Pope's peace
plea 1t was recalled In this connec-
ton, that the Pope's note gave the
United States chance to make a
frank statement of this country's posi-
ton, which since has proved a war
asset in it's effect among allied peoples.
and 1t also was recalled that the failure
of other allies to consider it officially
was made capital of by certain paciflst
elements. especially in Italy, where the
anti-war elemnt sought to make the
Catholic people feel that the prelate's
note had been ignored.
Reasons accrue daily, it was pointed
out. which make a statement from this
country. concurred in by the allies. an
effective weapon in offsetting Ger
many's representations to ~disanected
elements, especially in Russia. The lit
tie daily news that seeps through the
- ~. ~ ~ 49,
dicates that conservative elements there
are seeking to re-establish order and
government in that vast domain.
New Government in Caucasus.
Another protest against anarchy was
indicated in dispatch received at the
State Department today from Tifis
which reports the establishment of a
new government in the Caucasus. The
American consul at Tiflis sent the re-
port.
1t contained few details, but indicated
that the men in the new movement are
Of the conservative element and are de-
termined to do what they can to hold
Russia back from waves of disorder
The government has been placed in an
assembly of thirty-six men, which has
assumed constitutional powers.
No direct news came from Petrograd
today. From Sweden were received re-
ports that indicated the cadets have
manifested sympathy 1or haledlneS. In
Finland complications are threatened
by the renewal of general strike. The
food shortage is threatening.
Weak Point Of Bolsheviki.
Bolsheviki have been able to gain
little control over food. supplies. 1t was
stated here. and therein is believed to
be an element of their weakness Far
from holding back supplies for the
Russian forces, in an effort to get them
to disintegrate, as has been reported.
it was stated here that such an eff
fort would be calculated to cause great
dissatisfaction with the present ultra
radical regime.
While the sort of reply this govern
ment might make by any official state
ment to the bolsheviki peace moves
could not be predicted. the attitude Of
the United States toward this offer is
known to be substantially the same as
toward the proposals of the POpe-that
the United States hopes for demo-
cratic peace as profoundly as do the
peoples of any nation. but that it con-
siders the present German government
cannot be trusted in any dealings look
Ing toward peace which would be
permanent.