Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-09
|FICIAL VIEW
'CPHOLDS WILSON
lsace Now Squarely Put
Up to Germany by Presi-
dents Queries
SOME DISAPPOINTMENT
Lodge Says Note Does Not
Meet Expectations and Opens
Door to Discussion


washington, oct, q
Peace is up to Germany" NOR,
equarely than Il ever was before. as a
result of President Wilson's query tt
Prince Max, testing Teuton sincerity
oficial Washington took this view to.
DAY. holding that the President had
stripped away the mask and robbed
Germany of a chance TO stir her people
with the threadbare plea Of ''our-enemy.
is-obdura te-and Ss-only-to-crush-us
Persons close TO President Wilson
called HIS naneuver adrott. placing the
burden for continued war upon Germany
'1l on the other hand. many IN tho Capt.
tol. Including Senator Lodge. upper
house Republican leader, complained
that the inquiry left the door open and
did not meet their expectations.
The first reaction in general here was
that OF disappointment that the Presi-
dent had asked questions Of Germany
Instead Of making a natfooted state
ment Gf unconditional surrender" or
something equally strong.
massage turned many mems views, and
there was an inclination today among
those who at first complained 10 share
the Administration belief that Germany
could now either make peace on strictly
American terms or find herself in a
diplomatic difficulty before her own peo-
pie and the world.
Lodge Disappointed
Senator Lodge said:
Il am keenly disappointed that the
President should .. .S.S stage enter into
a discussion with the Imperial German
Government. as he has done in the note
signed by Mr. Lansing. In his first and
second paragraphs he asks for further
Information and invites further discus
sion. II is true, in the last paragraph
he inquiries whether Prince Maximilian
or Baden represents merely the consti-
tuted authorities of the German empire
Prince Macmillan is the Chancellor Of
the German Empire. appointed by The
Kaiser. ! do not understand what he
can possibly represent except the con-
stituted authorities. which represent the
German Empire and the German people
unless revolution has occurred Of
which the world has as vet no knowl-
edge. To us he stands as the repre-
sentative of Germany and of the Kaiser
the President made in his speech Of
September %, in which he said.
We are all agreed that there can
be no peace obtained by any kind Of
bargain or compromise with the govern
ments of the Central Empires, because
we have dealt with them already and
have seen them deal with other govern
merits that We're parties to this strug-
gle, at Brest-Litovsk and Bucharest.
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 in
terest. We cannot come to terms" with
them They have made II impossible
The German people must by this time
he fully aware that we cannot accept
the word of those who forced this var
upon US. We do not think the same
thought or speak the same language Of
agreement.
Opposes Discussions
II feel very strongly that there should
he no discussion with the German Gov
eminent until they are ready and com
belled to accept the terms we think Il
right to impose.
The president. answering the sug-
Restion by the Imperial German Govern
ment of an armistice. says the good
faith of this proposal rests on the
consent Of the Central Powers to with
draw their armies from invaded terri
tory. Are they to withdraw unattached
from Belgium and northern France.
burning and robblng and destroying
az they 60 to positions behind the
Rhine where they will have time and
opportunity TO refresh their armies and
replenish their munitions? Alsace. and
Lorraine are not invaded territory.
1T am unable to undertake to analyze
all the possible interpretations which
may be put upon this entrance Of the
President into discussions with the I'M
perial German Government. but I can
not but feel painful anxiety
a. to what effect this note will have
upon the Allies. upon our armies. upon
our soldiers who are aghting and dying
and conquering in order to crush the
Thing with which the President is open
ing a discussion. I stand with the Presi-
dent and will back him 10 the utmost in
his emphatic declaration at Baltimore,
3 when he said
/" There is, therefore but one response
possible from us Force, force to the
utmost. force without stint or limit. the
righteous and triumphant force which
shall make right the law Of the world
and cast every selfish dominion down IL
the dust
will that end be reached by discuss
ing with Prince Macmillan Of Baden
the Chancellor of the German empire
what he means and also the details Of
a settlement under the Presidents four
teen points when those details contain
all that Is vital in the struggle:
MY views are well known. | believ
In a dictated. not a negotiated peace.
do not need to reiterate them. | canno
change them. for believe they ar
absolutely right-ss right as the tw
cecIarstions of the President which
have quoted above"
wise Step. says Hitchcock
Comment OF other Senator's who ar
n Washington follow:
senator Hitchcock:
"The Presidents preliminary answe
h well calculated TO develop the ISSUE
II will prevent Germany from conceal
ing or Disgusting the real issue. ( be
iieye IL to have been a wise step on tn
part OF the President before replyn
10 the note Of Prince Maximilian TO oil
tain exactly the intention OF the Gel
man Government before framing his re
ply TO Prince Maximllisn's eommunica
ton.
rThe Interpretation I would put upo
the Presidents preliminary answe
3 would be that he intends to reject tn