Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-14
SOIL Of j. S. BARREN
TO HUN PEACE SEED
Advance Publicity for Note
Fails to Arouse Pacifist
Sentiment in U. S.
ALL OPPOSE ARMlsTICE

II, as many believe, Ger1nanys OBJ
tect in giving publicity to the peace
note in advance of presentation of
the official text was to create d pos
sible background OF sympathy in the
United States for its favorable recep-
ton. exactly the opposite efrcct has
resulted. 1t Is thought Germany may
have counted upon arousing the
pacifist sentiment in the United States
to pave the way for favorable con-
sfderation of the German reiteration
of appeal f@ an armistice.
The lapse. Of tWenty-four- hours.
since publication by tho press'nf@tffis
country of Germany's note has suf-
feed to develop the oveFN HeTmiYrg
demand from every section of the
land for refusal of an armistice and
mSisteCce upon unconditional sur
render before terms scf-fnal peace
shall be considered for negotiation.
The public mind is shown to be prac-
tically unanimous in viewing the pro-
posal of Germany with suspicion. with
utter lack of confidence in the good
faith of the offer and thoroughly alive
to the advantages which would accrue
to Germany by yielding to an armistice
with consequent imreriling of the aims
of the allies.
People Thinking as a Unit.
When official Washington, and lay
men as well, took up the burden Of the
days responsibilities this morning
one thought was dominant in express
sion everywhede: That President Will
ton before the sun goes down, if pos
sible, to- make clear the attitude of
this government. and the general hope
was that this attitude would be one
Of absolute insistence upon no cessa-
ton of warfare until the central pow
ers agree to unconditional surrender.
1t was felt that the country is at
high tension over the situations; that
this initiates against the liberty loan
drive, and if allowed to continue long
would tend to demoralize many con-
ditions having bearing upon the
successful prosecution of the war.
Prompt Decision Expected.
The government asks the American
people to withhold their judgment on
Germany's note until President Will
son has received the official communi-
cation ana has had time to consider
it." This was not construed as a re-
quest to newspapers to. refrain from
editorial comment, however.
Unofficial comment upon the status
of he
the note dealt, as one feature, with
this considerations: Did Germany, in
appearing to comply with the Presi-
dents pre-announced terms of peace,
place this government in the attitude
of assuming responsibility for contin-
uinS-thH war if the German plea was
rejected?
Question Answered in Negative.
The answer to that question was in
the negative. 1t was pointed out that
the German note still failed to satisfy
the Residents inquiry through Secre-
tary Lansing, of Prince MaXimilian as
to the identity and responsibility of
the German government which smoke
in the note published yesterday. The
President made it plain that he con-
sidered it vital to all future. moves to
be apprised of the character of the
government which assumes to act for
the German people.
The latest note did not make it
plain that the CONSTITUTED authorities
of the empire who have so far con-
Quoted the war" are not still the rul-
ing power in German affairs
President Wilson'S estimate of those
constituted authorities was expressed
in n speech September 81, as follows:
We are al, agreed that there can
be 10 peace cNta!Ged by any kid of
bargain or con. ,1on.!e4 with the gov
.ernnents of. ths. esarG empires, be-
cause we have deaH VIII them already
AID have seen LAD. A~4l with other
governments that wers'parties to this
struggle, at~Brest-Litovsk and Buch-
arest>
Impossible to Come to Terms"
They have convinced US that they
are without honor and do not intend
justice. They observe no covenants,
accept no principle but force and their
own interest. We cannot come to
terms with them. They, have made
it impossible. The German people
must hy. this time be fully aware that
lContnued onsSeoond.HaScA