Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-10-14
STATE DEPARTMENT
HAS NOT RECEIVED
GERMAN PEACE NOTE.
Indications Are President
Will Confer With Baker
Before Considering 1t.
QUESTIONS ASKED HELD
NOT BINDING ON ALLIES
Inquiry Considered Move Ad
Interim in Which Wilson
Proposed Nothing.
FOREIGN POWERS DECIDED
haFc reached Unanimous. Decision
Tor Line OF Common Action That
Will Draw Quick Reply.
FOREIGN POWERS DECIDED
fBy Associated pro,s

=
tent Wilson returned to Washington
tonight after a two days' visit to New
iorB. Colonel e. NJ. House. the Presi-
oenNs close friend and adviser; ac-
eompanied the presidential party which
ihciuded Mrs Wilson. Miss Margaret
wilson and Secretary Tumulty
The Official German document had
not been received in Washington to-
night when the President returned
from New York. II probably will be
mere Tomorrow when the President
confers with His advisers, among them
Secretary Baker, who returned to-day
from the western battle front, undoubt-
sdly prepared TO give him some inside
information on the broken courage OF
the German military power OF which
the world necessarily docs not know
at this time.
Tonight. as last night; no Official of
ms to guide public opinion in the direc-
tton Of the Views which arc being
tormed.
9 The Associated Press is enabled to
say. however, that these views rapidly
than may be expected.
President Wilson is expected to first
decide Il Foreign Secretary Soils re-
ply to the inquiries addressed to Chan
ccllor MaNimilian warrants him in pre-
senting Gcrnany's original proposal 20
in mind that the Presidents inquiry
merely was a move ad Interim In which
he proposed nothing; bound himself
questions. which, he declared, required
an answer before he could go further.
81. n he puts the proposition before the
i. quick reply. Dispatches last night from
London, quoting the London Express
as announcing thatthc British, French
and Italian governments had reached
unanimous decision for a line of COM
mon action. were regarded as being
sdeeply sgnitsant
INDICATIONS STRONG NO
ARMiSTICE CAN BI: GRANTED.
Lacking official guidance on which
to base prediction, observers are
forced to record indications. The in
dications are that there Will be no
armisticc and that II the entente al
lies were Opposed to agree to one they
probably would demand as guarantees
OF good faith that such places as Metz.
Strassburg, Trieste and possibly Essen
be placed in the hands OF the entente
forces to guarantee fuihllment Of Ger
many's words.
II Germany expects that by agree
ing 10 the evacuation OF occupied ter
ritories she will exact, the evacuation
of German colonies occupied by en-
tente forces, German statesmen have
i. made another mistake. 4 reference to
President Wilson's inquiry shows that
he spoke distinctly In reference to
invaded territory occupied by troops
When the American capital recovered
its balance after the surprise of
Foreign Secretary Solrs note. 1t found
its unofficial opinion divided into two
distinct lines.
One, shared largely by the Republi-
cans In Congress, Is inclined to the view
that Senator Lodges prediction of a
], situation which may threaten the sub
= l,stitution Of the deliberations of diplo-
macy for victories at arms. has been
fulfilled.
The other. confident in the success
OF President Wilson's diplomacy and
probably forming it's conclusions from
close knowledge Of what the govern
that the President has created a situa-
ton where he now can deliver another
stroke which will bring about an un-
Kaiser and the German militarists
completely out of any power they re-
tain. ~.
NEXT MOVE EXPECTED
TO DEMAND SURRENDER.
There is a general feeling that the
next move will confront the militarv
party with the choice of such an un
conditional surrender as will be ac-
cepsaoie to al the allied, cobelltger-
! in Germany which Will bring about
one.
It has been pointed out that Presi-
MaXimilian TO develop whether the
Chancellor merely was Speaking for In
German leaders, who have been con-
fully framed to pave the way for an
opportunity to inform the German peo.
pie that no covenants. Of peace can be
made with the men who have betrayed
the world.
The present German government,
which as Secretary Solf says, was form
Of the, majority of the Reichstag,p pp was
formed through imperiai decree which
permitted 1t. There is nothing beSarn
any Of the allied governments, SO far
any change. in the German system
which would prevent the autocratic
power, which uttered that decree to re :
complIshed. In, other words. an allied
diplomat. considering the arrang ement
OF an arinistice or arrangements OF the
practical details to carry out the ap-
dent Wilson has laid down, might ask:
What guarantees have we that these
arrangements will not be regarded as
scrap OF paper?
is ALL PRONOUNCEMENTS
PRINCIPLES WE'RE PLAIN
4 close reading Of all of President
wilson's pronouncements on the sub
iect. when all else has been eliminated
shows him Tepsa,.ediy, p,s,tedn, laying down the
canebe made while the German people
popes note August ~. 1917, Tie E Pres0 tao
"We cannot take the word of the
prcsent rulers OF Germany as a guarl
intoe Of anything that is to endure,
anss syaeas e 5 sd Sush
other peoples Of the world would bc
justifed In accepting."
4finaiiy coming downsto his New York
sr,HAch OF gSeptem bel. 81. the President
y ~ . fEontinued on Second Phge.) |rTII