The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-09-17
U. s. ANSWER
TO AUSTRIAN
PEACE OFFER
BEFORE WORLD
Answer of Wilson Carrying
Unconditional Rejection
Shortest Diplomat Note in
U.S. History.
WAIT FOES next MOVE
fPy Associated Press)

fBy Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17--Unquali-
fed endorsement of President Will
sons rejection of Austria's proposal
for secret and nonbinding peace dis
cussion was given in the senate today
by Senator Lodge of Massachusetts,.
republican floor leader and ranking
minority member of the foreign rela-
tions committee.
Senator Lodge said the presidents
prompt and curt refusal was right and
wise. and that he was sure 1t would
receive universal approval.
Americas position Is becoming so
plain, the senator declared, that even
the central powers soon will begin to
understand it. Germany having brought
unnumbered wolves upon an innocent
world and appealed to the lust OF con.
quest. he concluded, "She will not now
resort to talk and bargain for a de-.
cision. We mean to put her IN physi-
cal bonds"
Speaks For All Nations.
He said he believed the presidents
action would put an end to loose and
feeble talk helpful to Germany about
Austro-Hungarian peace offers.
The answer of the United States
government to the peace proposal ad-
vance by Austria Hungary an uncon-
ditional rejection-was today before
the world. The reply issued by Secre-
tary Lansing last night upon authori-
zation OF President Wilson almost i'm
mediately upon delivery of the Aus
trian communication by the Swedish
minister speaks for all the nations
arrayed against the central powers In
the belief of officials today.
The text of the answer constitutes
one Of the shortest important notes re-
corded in American diplomatic history.
After stating that THE United States
feels that there is only one reply
which it can make to the suggestion
OF the imperial Austro-Hungarian gov
eminent" President Wilson set forth
the position of the United States gov
ernment in a single sentence as fol-
lows: 1T has repeatedly and with
entire candor stated the terms upon
which the United States would con-
slider peace and can and will entertain
no proposal for a peace conference
upon matter concerning which it has
made its position and purpose so
plain"
Shows Firm Purpose.
The direct and clear-cut answer OF
the United States was accentuated by
the promptness of the reply which
officials today believed viii demon
strate fully to the enemy the firm pur-
pose Of the American people in waging
the war and set before the world more
clearly the position Of the United
States government. The quickness of
the reply, it Is believed, will forestall
speculation or comment tending to
convey a wrong impression that the
United States as whole would con-
slider a negotiated peace developed
from the nonbinding discussion pro-
posed by Austria at the instance, it is
believed. of Germany.
Even though the other nations al
lied with the United States may make
separate answers to the Austrian feel
er, 1t was considered assured today
that President Wilson had sounded the
keynote and that other replies would
be similar in content and equally de-
cisive In their rejection OF the pro-
posal
With first of the new expected series
Of peace bids Of the central powers
having met a fiat rejection, speculation
turned today to the course of action
to be followed by officials in Germany
and Austria-Hungary. 1t was believed
in some circles that these officials
would now turn to their war-worn
people pointing out that all that can
be done to bring relief from the suf-
fering of war has been accomplished
and again attempt to place the entire
blame for the continuation of the war
upon the allies and the United States
In the opinion of other officials not
so numerous it was believed that Aus
tria through submission of the pro-
posal and its rejection, was prepared
to take the next step-a withdrawal
from her alliance with Germany, Tur-
key and Bulgaria and a complete &C
ceptance of the terms laid down by
President Wilson.
QUICK REPLY JUSTIFIED
Approving President Wilson's ans
wer to the Austrian peace note, Rep
resentative Fess of Ohio, chairman Of
the Republican congressional cam
paign committee in the speech in the
house today declared the note leaves
no chance for the enemy to gain by
diplomacy when it could not win on
the field"
The quick reply may jar upon dip
lcmatic ears he added, but is justi-
fled as rebuke to the double dealing
Of our enemy and a forestalling of
either propaganda to weaken the al
lies or time to rebuilt shattered en-
emy lines. Discussion of 'unbinding
terms In the dark, as suggested can
result in no good.
This reply should be an end to the
peace offensive until the enemy ia on