Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-09-17
ttttttttstttttt: Observation-Disclosures

Washington, sent ~ President
Wilson last night rejected the Austrian
governments proposal for a secret CON
ference Of bcligcrents to embark upon
non-binding discussion OF peace princl-
pies.
The answer. sharp and decisive. IS
stated in less than hundred words. II
was made public by Secretary Lansing
at | 45 o'clock this evening. immediately
following the delivery If the official text
Of the Vienna government : note.
The reply takes the stand that the
Amerlcan government had made ITS 20
>ltlon and purpose 50 plain repeatedly
and with such entire candor. that there
Is only one reply II can make fiat re-
fuSal to entertain the proposal.
But for the fact that the official text
ri thc communication was not delivered
until late. the President : decision wonld
have been announced very early IN the
dav. Tnc official tcNt was delivered
through the Swedish government which
j. representing Americans diplomatic IN
forests IN the Austrian capital II was
cahicd from Vienna to Stockholm. and
thence 10 W ashington. arriving YESTERDAY
Some dilhcultv in DECIDING some parts
Of the note DELAYED its delivery 10 the
state Department
Secretary Lansing had been notified
informally hv " \ T. Ekcngren, the
swedish minister, that the note had
been received vas being dccoded, and
would be delivered hv nighttall II was
& 20 o'clock when Minister tkengrcn
entered the Office Of Secretary Lansing,
bearing the translated text Two min
,tcs later Minister Ekcngrcn left the
State Department Secretary Lansing
received the press at Gas O'Clock and
read the statement cmbodying the reply,
pE, I~ION REACHED OK PRESS TENT.
Secretary Lansing said the reply. IS
made public would be delivered to the
Swedish minister today 10 be trans
mlttcd va Stockholm 10 the Austrian
government
The President : decision in the matter
was reached after the text OF the Aus
frian note. rs cabled through press
channels. had been studied 10y him dur
ing the dav He gave very careful con
,deration to the proposal His answer
was prepared before the actual delivery
Of the official note, but was not made
public until after the text had been com
pared with the newspaper version for
any discrepancies The official text was
found To warrant no alteration Of the
President 5 decision.
Official and diplomatic Washington is
ringing with iubant enthusiasm over
the character OF the President an
swer There Is not single discordant
note IN the situation here Regardless
Of party affiliati0n. members of Con
gress and leading officials voiced the
most complete satisfaction over the re-
fusal Of the President to be drawn into
any discussions with the Central Powers
on any such basis as proposed by the
Vienna government In their interviews
last night public men. without excep-
ton, strongly favored fat rejection OF
the proposal Last night Senators and
Representatives are equally unanimous
in their praise u what the President has
done.
The consensus OF opinion Is that the
President has sounded & true note that
will. as members expressed ID ring
around the world The Washington
verdict j. that The President has toed
the mark fearicssly IA setting hls face
against negotiation At tins time. and
III favor OF gong through with the war
until victory la, been achieved The
opinion herr is that the President an
sWer will stand - he reply Of all OF
the entente allied governments
No SURPRISE TO WASHINGTON
No surprise vas expressed in official
or diplomatic circles over the character
of the decision reached by the Presi-
oenr There has been no doubt Of his
purpose since his speech at Baltimore
on April last when he condemned the
German peace treaties with Russia and
Rumania and accepted he German
challenge Of force with the response
Force, force to the utmost. force without
stunt or limit
This is President Wilson attitude to- !
day. II possible he j. more determined |
than ever The Austrian proposal, in
stead Of coming as . surprise, was an |
ticipated and even discounted, 50 far /
ae official Washington Is concerned
President Wilson decision is thor |
oughly representative of opinion m |
Congress fayonnG continuation Of the |
var until victory Is achieved General /
Endorsement Of his stand, il is expect |
ed will be Immediately reflected in /
debate IN Senate and House. Senator /
Lodge Of Massachusetts, who went OH /
record last night IN favor Of the United |
States government refusing to pay any
attention 10 the Austrian peace note, |
and who is the newly chosen floor leader |
OF the Republicans, will take the floor in /