The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-09-17
AMERICA MAKES
REPLY PROMPTLY
Internationally Rejects Ger
many's Peace Feeler.
Speaks for Allies.
NO SHADOW OF DOUBT
Position Already Plainly Stated
by WilsoH-Secrecy Most
Objectionable Feature.

Washington. Sept. 17.-The United
States, as was fully expected. has
Internationally rejected Germany's
peace feolcr In doing so the govern
ment has rpoken for all the co-bellig-
i erents.
Almost Immediately after receiving
the Austrian governments note from
the minister frcm Sweden, Mr.. Eken-
gren, Secretary Lansing last night is
sued this formal statement:
II am authorized by the president to
state that tho following will be the
reply of this government to the Austro-
Hungarian note proposing an unoficial
conference of belligerents:
THE government of che United
states feels that there is only ole reply
] v hich II can make 10 the suggestion
| OF the imperial Austro- Hungarian gov
ornmcnt. il has repeatedly and with
entire candor stated the terms upon
which the United States would con-
slider peace and can and will entertain
no proposal for n conference upon n
matter concerning which. 1t has made
its position and purpose so plain"
| NJ. Lansing's statement was given
out within half an hour after ho had
received. the Austrian proposal 1t
, wonld have been forthcoming almost
! Immediately upon the delivery Of the
/ Austrian note had 1t not been found
necessary in order to avoid the pos
| siSility OF grave error to make care
full comparison between the official text
d, snd that which was received In press
dispatches last night from Amsterdam.
Thus emphasis was added to tho
declination, IL any were needed: the
quickness of the reply indicating the
| existence Of no shadow Of doubt In the
mind OF the administration as to what
1t should be. AS soon as Mr.. Lansing's
reply can be put in form 1t will be
handed to the Swedish minister for
transmission to Austria.
There is some reason to believe that
the secretary acted with this unprece-
dented promptness in n matter OF such
great importance with the design not
only to indicate clearly the position
of the United States government, but
perhaps to anticipate and prevent AK
far as possible newspaper discussions
OF the Austrian proposition. which
might convey to the enemy mislead-
ing impression that there was any con-
siderable element in the Unit States
willing to consider a negotiated peace
such as the "nonbnding' discussions
proposed by Austria. might develop.
! Most Objectionable Phase.
While no reference to 1t was made
in the reply which the United States
government Is making to Aust "A 1t is
known that one of the most objections
able features of Baron Burian's propo-
sition, was the secrecy suggested for
the 'nonbinding" conferences. 1t was
realized by officials here that the pur-
pose was to barter away the rights
( of various nationalities in star-cham.
/ Der proceedings so that the victims
would have no knowledge IF thoir
fate until it was beyond reca, This
system of barter was particularly de-
nounced by President Wilson in one
OF his speeches.
THAT the German people themselves
were to be kept in the dark by the
! military masters and prevented from
| having any voice In the peace which
was to be imposed upon them was re-
garded as an assured fact. There has
been some apprehension in administra-
ton circles Of combination of great
financial interests that know no ma
tlonality and fear the destruction of
all wealth and business by the spread
OF bolshevik ideas might in some way
be behind this movement to bring
about peace and terminate the war
before 1t had been fought to a clear
decision.
Ihere Is no such apprehension on
the part of the administration of
cataclysm which will bring down all
civilized institutions and instead the
general staff has given every assur
ance that the war is proceeding to a
reasonably early and complete victory
winch VIII involve the acceptance by
the central powers Of the only possible
terms Of peace--namely those laid
down by President Wilson.
Terms Stated by WIsop
Ihose terms, referred to in the reply
dictated today to the Austrian note.
were clearly set forth in President
Wilson's Fourth OF July speech at
Mount Vernon, as follows:
i. The destruction OF every Srhi-
trary power anywhere that can separ
ately. secretly and OF its single choice
disturb the peace of the world. nr ~
1t cannot be presently destroyed. at
least its reduction to virtual Impotence.
z. The settlement of every question.
Wnetner or territory, of sovereignty
or economic arrangement, Of political
relationship. upon the basis of the free
acceptance of that settlement by ia
people imm mediately 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 tow .rd each
other by the same principles honor
and OF respect for the common law of
civilized society that govern the In
dlVidual citizens Of all modern states
In their relations with one another: to 4
the end that all promises and cove
nants may be sacredly observed, no
private plots or conspiracy hatchct.
no selfish injuries wrought with i'm
punity, and a mutual trust established
upon the handsome foundation of a
mutual respect for right
a. The establishment Of an organi-
zation for peace which shall make II.
certain combined power of free ma
tions will check every invasion of
right and serve to lake peace and
Justice the more secure by affordng 4
a definite tribunal Of opinion to which
all must submit and by which every
international readjustment that cannot
be amicably agreed upon by the peo-
pies directly concerned. shall he sane
toned"