Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-20
REPLY TO AUSTRIA
PRAISED IN SENATE
House Members, Too, Are
Gratified at Refusal
Of Armistice.
CRITICISM CLEARED UP

CRITICISM CltAhEU W
President Wilson's refusal to grant
Austria request for An
armistice, which was set forth In the
note dispatched yesterday by Score
tary Lansing through the Swedish
minister, was heartily Endorsed by
members Of the House and Senate.
The note was read In the House and
was applauded. Senator Hitchcock.
for the democrats, and Senator Knox.
made statements express
inr sratincation over the Presidents
action.
Austria-Hungary had asked for no
gotiations ON the basis of the Presi-
dents announced program Of peace.
mentioning the speech of January
last, in which the President said tne
peoples Of Austria Hungary should De
accorded the freest opportunity LOT
said this is impossible: that the
Czecho- Slovak National Council had
been recognized as u de facto beiiger'
emit government, the justice OF the ma
tionalistic aspirations OF the JuSo.
Slavs has been recognised and more
autonomy no longer can be accepted
Clears Up Criticism.
This declaration, which may be far
reaching in its effect upon Austria
Hungary. where long enslaved pso-
sweep away the hated dual monarchy
and the Hapsburg dynasty. clears up
what some critics Of the Prestdents
policy have pointed to ~ source OF
endless controversy in his program OF
peace. It came ono day ", after r!e tn, inc
eralizing the Austrian states In q
desperate effort to save his govern
ment at home and at the same tame
prepare the way for peace.
Though not mentioned by name. the
Poles, Rumanians and members OF
Austrian domination, come within
the protection OF the principle OF sell,
determination to which America ana
the allies are committed. Tho AUS
TRAN Poles want to join an 1nae-
pendent Poland: the Austrian n0-
mani.n. long {nf for reunion MI do ws here
that their hopes will be fulfilled when
the peace conference IL held.
All Expectations FulnIIeo.
Senator Hitchcock. chairman Of the
Senate foreign relations committee, eaid
'aThe Presidents note to Austria f0i-
fills the highest expectations not Only
Of Americans who want the full fruats
of victory exacted, but Of those repre-
esntins the oppressed nat'9 ma Ifn,,s -
states so largely for the recognition Of
their claims. I presume that Austria
viii feel that the President Is adding &C
tho conditions Of peace which he MADE
last January, and to some extent ne is
but since those conditions were laid
down in January without being accept
cd, the United States has publicly en-.
tered into obligations to these subject
nationalities which the President very
wisely and justly proposes to i've
up to. A. ~..,.
slovak peoples, not as parts Of the Aus
TRAN empire, but as a nation at wal
with Austria, and the same Is substan-
TALLY true Of the Jugo-SlAvs. What the
United States has done with regard TO
Poland and Bohemia and the Jugo-Slavs.
Great Britain, France and Italy have
also done, and the Presidents note
merely puts the matter In proper diplo.
matte form to require the assent OF
Austria as q condition Of peace"
Senator Brandegee aratifed.
Senator BrandeEee Of Connecticut
republican member Of the foreign re-
lations committee, said:
'.The note Of October Z. 1918, trans
mitted by the legation Of Sweden te
the Secretary of State. states that the
Austro-Hungarian monarchy address
ca itself to his lordship the President
Of the United States Of America and
offers to conclude with him and his
allies an armistice and to enter i'm
mediately upon negotiations Tor
peace for which the fourteen points
in the Presidents message of Januar,
Of February IL should servo as 9
foundation. This offer is practically
q repetition of the offer Of the I'M
perial German government Tor q ne
gotiated peace.
Il am deeply gratified that the
President has declined to accept THU
invitation to enter into negotiations
with the Austro-Hungarian monarchy
Inasmuch as the President has al
ready recognized the Csecho-Slovaks
as q separate government, ana mas
much as the Czecho-Slovaks are q
part Of the present Austro-Hungariar
empire. it would seem an anomalous
pire which we are seeking to divide
and a large part Of which we have al
ready recognised as a separate nation
Opposes All Negotiations.
Personally am opposed to- an,
negotiations whatever by the govern
ment of the United States either will
Austria or with Germany. think al
armistice with either Of them woult
be ruinous. When Congress declared
war upon these empires 1t pledged tn!
resources Of this great republic, boil
in men. and money. and directed TIT
President to carry the war to a sue
cessful conclusion. I do not believe
that this war can be carried to a sue
cessful conclusion in any other wa!
than by smashing the armies OF oul
enemies on the field Of battle. Wher
this has been done, rs 1t will be DOM
| IL we do not weaken at the critica
moment, there will be no need Of an!
negotiations. The United States. ii
Iconjunction with the entente allies
Will impose just terms OF peace. In
Guiding adequate reparation, reatitu
ton. indemnities and guarantees To-
$50 allow the Teutonic armies to re-
! tire to the territories from which
they emerged in their raid agains
civilization without having beer
thrashed would result In Q miscar'
rage Of all the purposes for which
| the allies entered the war. Tho Teu
| tonic lust for loot would remain un