The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-10-22
OFFICIALS SkEPTICAL
OVER SOILS CLAIM
STATE Department Has No Inforn,A :
ton Regarding Changes Implied
In German Note
'CaMoUFr,GE," SAYS SENATOR
same Government Responsible For
War 70 Date Now Asks That II re
Not DISbonored by Other Nations

Washington. oct. af.--Germany's
claim Of a new AMI representative
government. responsive to the people s
viii and no longer subject to an IRE
spo7sIhte and arbitrary will. as out
lined by Dr. Soif in tlis-latest German
note. are received generally with
scepticism by the state department
and members of the senate foreign re-
lattons committee.
The state department said no off,
ciai advices had been received to con-
firm such a government as outlined
by Dr Solf
Senator Borah characterized his
claim as lies. while Senator McCum-
Der called it eamoufiage.
Senator Hitchcock. chairman of he
committee on foreign relations, alone
was inciLod to give credence TO the
note
~ IS in line with the news develop
Tnents AS we have had them from
Germany he said. I'm inclined TO
accept II as its face In some respects
1t nearly meets the presidents de-
mands. They have undoubtedly
changed their constitution. Hereafter
the bundesrat and the reichstag Will
undoubtedly have 10 concur In any
declaration OF war. In this country
congress must. However. do not
anticipate any quick cessation OF hos
uiities. ANY proposition for an arms
ice VIII be Up to tn military author
tiles and the Germans probably will
ne slow To accept the terms of Foch
and tho allied generals. Meanwhile
The war must go or vigorously
"Another angle which must be con-
sidered; Up to now the president has
stated only the terms of the United
States. Should he determine to pre-
sent Germany's requests for peace to
the allies. Great Britain, France
ltaiy and other nations would present
their terms, TO which the Germans
must accede These undoubtedly would
include restitution and indemnities.
over and beyond the presidents prin-
cipies already announced"
soif is clearly liar" said Sena.
l"r Borah. They don't know over
there what free government is
ihey suppose that when the kaiser
says they may do something and
widens out their government at the
bottom. somewhat. they've a free
government But all they have is a
further permission from an sutocratic
| ruler to act. Without his perm ission
they wouldn't have the authority. The
note doesn't constitute a compliance
with the presidents last note"
Its camoufage," said Senator Nc
cum Der The president said he
| wouldn't talk with the present auto
cratic government Wen. the Ger
man government is still the kaiser
and Solf is his moufhpiece II still
serves the party responsible for the
war.
The Germany that liz responsible
Tor this war and its atrocities by land
ana sea now asks the president to so
act as not 10 dishonor It, She has
already dishonored herself beyond
! dishonor from any other. And I'm her
plea now is no word OF PREPARATION
tIntil she is whipped. TO the point oil
offering full and complete reparation
ana guarantees the war must go on:
we shouldn't even talk to her"
The presiden, should now refer
| the Kaiser as well as the military
leaders of Germany 10 Marshal Foch
| Tor any further negotiations" said
Senate Charles = Thomas. of Colo
rrados = tsather. MIA 5oyiiy5 Member. of shs
foreign relations committee upon
reading the unofficial text of the Ger.
man note.
The reply is characteristic of The
German method OF negotiation. 1t /.
manifestly false
To deny atrocities when the use
OF gas was introduced by German,
contrary TO her own solemn coven.
ants made at The Hague and to den,
proved facts Is TO stamp the whole
thing as false"