The sun., 1918-09-16
TRICKERY IS SEEN;
REPLY WILL Be mo-



morally bankrupt Teuton statesmen re-
sponsible for the proposal.
There II a general belief here that the
Teutonic plan to inveisle their enemies
into peace discussions at this critical
time has two main objects In View:
First. to take the sharp edge on the
fast increasing military superiority OF
the United States and the Entente:
and. second. to create differences and
dissensions among the Allies themselves
over their own peace views The latter
has been the underlying hope behind all
the Teuton suggestions of talk round
the table,.
Premonitary signs Of the present pro-
posal have been seen in various speeches
emanating from Berlin and Vienna dur
ing the last two weeks. Only yesterday
Chancellor Won Hertling, addressing
trade unionst leaders in Germany. said
that peace was nearer than supposed.
and sought by other means TO pave the
way for creating peace atmosphere
throughout the belligerent countries and
at the same time check restiveness at
home by instilling false hopes OF an
early peace. The note also explains the
Burian suggestion for calm exchange
Of views"
Teuton Trickery Seen in Move.
The United States Government for
some days has anticipated this move.
Consequently. 1t has been thoroughly
discounted in advance. The State De-
rsrtment these days has means OF know
ng much more than even German or
Austrian statesmen about German ana
Austrian trickery. Certain specific moves
In connection with the new peace move
are anticipated. This Government also
knows something about conditions In
Austria Hungary which in one sens
have made 1t mandatory for Austrian
diplomacy, in COLLISION with Berlin. 10
launch this peace move at this time.
Germany is the guiding spirit In ;Hc
move in the sense that it was not'made
without the fun approval of the cunning
diplomatists in the Wilhelmstrasse. 3nt
Germany is understood Ito have ar
anchor out" as the diplomats say. II
the proposal embarrasses the German
Government in its relations with It's
own people, 1t can promptly shift the
blame to Vienna and pretend to aa|e
hal no hand IN the plan.
Meanwhile. however, German diplo-
macy stands ready TO exert every form
Of cunningly devised trickery TO help the
plan along. For example, It would cause
no surprise here II the German news
papers. In response to secret orders from
the Wilhelmstrasse. began at once to at
tack the Austrian proposal. hoping there
by to increase the proposals. effect on
enemy peoples. The presumption might
be that IL the Germans are against the
idea the peoples of America. Great
Britain. France and italy might be the
more inclined TO favor 1t.
BAIT for Peace Statesmen.
Likewise It Is expected that the Teu-
ton propagandists will seek by every
UNDERGROUND effort to create an impress
sion that Austria-Hungary may be ready
| TO consider peace proposals independent
OF Berlin, hoping thereby that some
enemy statesmen may take this bait and
no, summariiy reject the proposal.
But the proposal is destined to be re-
jected so emphatically here and in En-
tento capitals that. the Teuton propa-
ganda plans will be snuffed out before
| their effects can be felt. The answer to
the proposal is already before the world.
! II IL explained here. and has been for
months II is found in President Will
| sons address delivered at Mount Vernon
on July of this year, wherein, in re-
fe"-ing to the present struggle. he said :
There can he but one issue. The set
Element must be final. There can be no
| compromise. No half way decision
would be toleraole NO naIt way ueci-
| sion Is conceivable
The same answer In another form Is
found in the Presidents Baltimore ad-
dress OF April 6. the anniversary Of
| Americas entry into the war.
In outlining the stand for the United
| States President Wilson has explained
the position of all the nations associated
| in the war against the Central Powers,
| Statesmen OF these countries have all
accepted President Wilson's leadership
70 far as the issues of the world war are
concerned They indorse unreservedly
| the Presidents mo compromise doctrine"
and they know that the President means
exactly what he says on this score.
Teutons "Cannot Realise"
| But It Is emphasized here that the
Teuton statesmen. who are so accus-
toned to juggling their own people
destinies for selfish aims. cannot seem
| to realize that the President really
meant what he said. Diplomats point
| this out now With particular reference
to the Austrian proposal.
The Austro-H Hungarian Governments
idea is to have all the belligerents send
delegates to IA confidential. unbinding,
discussion of the basic principles for the
initiation OF formal peace negotiations.
American delegates would be charged
with the task OF making known to the
delegates OF the Central Powers "conf'-
dentially or for their private ear" Presi-
dent Wilson's basic conceptions of peace
terms.
This would imply that the President
! frank statements made without reserve
and for all the world to hear were not
really sincere and that to understand
how the President really felt about peace
II would be necessary to have secret
gatherings for CONFIDENTIAL and private
messages about what American people
would he in absolute ignorance.
Apparently tho Presidents emphatic
statement that he is opposed to "secre,
diplomacy" has neal; nothing to the
statesmen OF the Central Powers
otherwise. 1t Is pointed out. they would
not suggest now the very compromise
and half way measures that the Presl
dent has branded as inconceivable.
These facts. among other things. show
conclusively that the American peopl,
need not doubt what sort OF n repl,
the Austrian proposal will receive here
At present the prosposal is interest
ing, according to diplomats, in that Il
shows how cunningly Teuton diplomac!
lie working, and II also may mean thai
the situation In Austria Hungary Is be-
coming more desperate than generally
known.
Follows Blow at AuAtria.