The sun., 1918-09-17
Briefest Diplomatic Mes
sage on Record Penned
After Game of Golf.
CONTAINS 68 WORDS
Wilson Acts as Spokesman
for Allies, Who Agree
on Americas Aims.
WASHINGTON APPLAUDS
Swift Action, Not Expected,
Will Stiflc Foes Plans to
BeclOud Situation.
WASHINGTON APPLAUDS
Special Despatch 10 The SrS.

Special Despatch 10 The SrS.
WASHINGTON. Sept. 16.--America's
answer to the Austrian proposal for
confidential and unbinding peace
discussion was given to the world
tonight only a few minutes after
the Swedish Minister had stepped out
of an elevator at the State Depart
ment and delivered the official text
Of the note to Secretary Lansing.
The answer, as predicted in THE
SrS this morning, is fiat rejection
of the Austrian proposal. Written
BY the President himself. 1t Is the
briefest diplomatic note on record.
virtually consisting of \but single
sentence.
1T 1.-THE United Statesl has re-
peatedly and with entire candOr
stated the terms upon which the
United Statesswpuld consider pence
and can and will entertain no pro-
posal for conference upon a matter
concerning which 1t has made Its
position and purpose so plain
In this single sentence President
Wilson demolishes the Teuton plan
and brings the Government OF Aus
tria Hungary back to the realization
that there can be but one means of OBJ
tanning consideration for her peace
pleas, namely. acceptance in advance
Of the basic principles already enun-
ciated by the President. indorsed by
the Allies, and for the fulnlment OF
which all the military strength OF the
United States and the Allies will be
sxerted regardless OF time or cost.
President's Terms Of Peace.
The President, as he explains in the
reply. has made repeated references to
terms upon which the United states
would consider peace. The most de-
tailed statement by the President Is
found in his speech of January made
to Congress, which, summarized. Is:
!. The methods Of establishing cove
nants of peace.
2 The freedom Of navigation.
g. The removal of economic barriers.
4 Che reduction Of armament
g. The adjustment of colonial claims
s. The future OF Russia.
T. The evacuation, restoration ana
future safety of Belgium
s. The restoration Of invaded French
territory and the rightins or the
wrong done to France in the matter
OF Alsace Lorraine.
2. A readtustment of the frontiers
OF Italy along clearly recognizable
lines OF nationality"
10. Free opportunity Of autonomous
development for the peoples OF Aus
tria-Hungary.
II The evacuation OF Rumania,
Serbia and Montenegro and other
Balkan reforms.
l2. Assurances of security to nom
Turkish nationalities under Turkish
rule.
10. An Independent Polish state.
"A. general association OF ma
tons" to guarantee political indepen-
dence and territorial Integrity to great
and small states alike"
In his reply the President is speaking
for the Allies as we'll as the United
States, Exchanges Of views have for
some time established the fact that the
Entente Governments and the United
States were at one In their attitude
toward the anticipated Teuton peace Of
fensive, in no matter what guise It came
President Allies Spokesman.
President Wilson has been accepted
as the spokesman. The Allies may moi
have known the exact form OF the Presi.
dents reply would take. but they knew In
advance its substance and they expected
him to lead the way, 1t may be taker
as an added evidence OF the polltica
unity of the Allies. now feature OF the
struggle.
note containing the brief reply with
out change except for the usual diplo
matte Introduction will be handed to-
morrow to the Swedish Minister for des
patch to Vienna. For America the Incl
dent will then be closed.
On all sides were heard tonight en-
thusiastic approval Of the Presidents an
swer and the celebrity with which It ha'
been made Few II any. even at tn
Capitol. had expected such speedy ant
decisive action. SO speedy. In fact. wa
Continued on Fifth Pa0e.