The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-09-28
Has Already Stated Terms Upon
Which U. S. Will Con.
slider Peace.
SPEAKS FOR ALL THE ALLIES
Presidents Reply to Hun Message
Made Public Half Hour After
Swedish Minister Delivered
Text of Vienna's
Note.


Endorsement of President Wilson's re-
lection of Austria's proposal for secret
and nOnbinding peace discussion was
given In the senate by Senator Lodge
f Massachusetts, Republican floor
eader and ranking minority member of
he foreign relations committee. Sena-
or Lodge said the presidents prompt
nd curt refusal was right and wise,
nd that he was sure 1t would receive
universal approval. He said he be-
lieved the presidents action would
put an end to loose and feeble talk
helpful to Germany about Austro-Hun-
garian peace terms.
Washington, Sept. 18. President
Wilson fatty rejected the Austro-Hun-
garian governments proposal for a
peace parley.
His reply is perhaps without q pre-
cedent in history. IT was maze pupIic
within half an hour after the Swedish
minister delivered the official text of
the note to the state department. re'"e
presidents answer was issued In the
form Of statement from Secretary Of
State Lansing and reads as follows:
Presidents Reply to Austria.
Il an. authorized by the President
to state that the following will be the
reply of this government to the Aus
tro-Hungarian note proposing an I'M
official conference of belligerents:
"The government of the United
States feels that there Is only one re-
ply which 1t can make to the sugges-
ton Of the imperial Austro-Hungarian
government. 1t has repeatedly and
with entire candor stated the terms
upon which the United States will con-
slider peace and can and will entertain
no proposal for conference upon a
matter concerning which it has made
its position and purpose so plain"
Saw Through Hun Trap.
Chronologically the answer consh-
tutes the fastest chapter in this coun-
try's war history, and there Is reason
for this. 1t is that the United States,
In common with its allies, saw through
the hypocrisy of the Austrian note and
the thin veneer that hardly hid Ger
many's hand in the proposal, and there
fore wished to dispose of 1t as rapid
ly as possible.
1t was 6:20 o'clock last night when
the Swedish minister. w. A. F. Eken-
gren, arrived at the state department
with the note. Two minutes later he
left the office Of Secretary Of State
Lansing, and 89 minutes later Mr.. Lam
sing gave an audience to newspaper
correspondents and made public the
presidents reply.
"No Talking In Working Hours"
Throughout the tabloid drama was
enacted in much the same manner as
desired by certain American citizen,
who sent a telegram to the White
House.
His message was addressed to the
president and said:
Sincerely hope your answer to Aus
trials peace proposal will be that we
Americans do not talk during working
hours"
The Presidents Terms.
These terms, referred to in the reply
dictated today to the Austrian note,
were clearly set out in President Will
sons Fourth of July speech at Mount
Vernon, as follows:
IL. The destruction Of every arbi-
trary power anywhere that can sepa-
rately, secretly, and Of it's single choice
disturb the peace of the world; or, II
It cannot be presently destroyed, at
least its reduction to virtual impo-
tence.
"2. The settlement Of every question,
whether Of territory, of sovereign, Of
economic arrangement of political re-
lationship, upon the basis Of the free
acceptance of that settlement by the
people Immediately concerned and not
upon the basis of the material interest
or advantage of any other nation or
people which may desire different
settlement for the sake Of Its own ex-
terror influence or mastery.
"3. The consent of all nations to be
governed in their conduct toward each
other by the same principles of honor
and Of respect for the common law of
civilized society that govern the In
diyidual citizens of all modern states
in their relations with one another; to
the end that all promises and cove
nants may be sacredly observed, no
private plots or conspiracy Matched. no