New-York tribune., 1918-10-14

received in Washington tonight when
the President returned from New York
1t probably will be here tomorrow
when the President confers with his
advisers, among them Secretary Baker
who returned to-day from the Western
battlefront, undoubtedly prepared to
give him some inside information on the
broken condition of the German mill
tary power, of which the world neces-
| sarly does not know at this time.
Capital Opinions Vary
One view shared largely by the Re-
publicafls in congress is inclined to the
view that Senator Lodges prediction
of a situation which may threaten the
substitution Of the deliberations of di-
plomacy for victories at arms, has been
fulfilled.
The other, confident in the success of
President Wilson's diplomacy, and,
probably forming its conclusions from
close knowledge of what the govern
ment is planning, is very certain that
the President has created situation
stroke which will bring about an un-
conditional surrender or throw the
Kaiser and the German Militarists COM
plentely out Of any power they may re-
tain.
There is q general feeling that the
next move will confront the military
party with the choice of such an un-
conditional surrender as will be ac-
ceptable to all the Allied co-bellger-
ents or genuine political revolution
In Germany which will bring about one
See Skill in Inquiry
1t has been pointed out that President
Wilson's inquiry to Chancellor Maxi
milan to develop whether the Chan
cellor merely was speaking for the Ger
man leaders who have been conducting
the war probably was skilfully framed
TO pave the way for an opportunity to
inform the German people directly that
no covenants of peace can be made with
the men who have betrayed the world.
"A close reading of all of President
wilson's pronouncements on the sub
ject, when all else has been eliminated.
shows him repeatedly laying down the
fundamental principle that no peace
can be made while the German people
endure kaiserism.
The conclusion, in the opinion of
| close observers, would seem to be that
the military party, failing to make
peace by the sword, as it promised,
gives way to a political party.
There seems little doubt that unless
/ the German people themselves, to use
the language of the President, DESTROY
the autocratic power which of its own
choice can disturb the peace of the
world, or at least reduce it to virtual
impotence, the Allied armies will con-
'tinue the work of destroying that
power on the battlehelds of France and
Belgium, and probably on German soil.
Revolution Predicted
The prediction is being freely made
In the capital tonight that unless Ger
many's latest move brings peace a rev.
oiution Will sweep the Kaiser and his
whole party completely out of power.
Those who believe that the Presi
dent can accept the German reply point
out that he might easily make, as the
condition of his acceptance of Prince
Maxlmlllan's proposition. such an un-
conditional surrender as, indeed. might
be accomplished on the field of battle.
and. as we'll, such physical guarantees
as might be considered appropriate.
Those who distrust the purported
cnHnge OF heart and system on the part
o. the new German administration
pointed out that the ministry of Prince
MaXimiian is formed on no different
basis than that of Count Won Hertling
which preceded it, and that the guar
antees which the present German gov
ernment IS prepared to offer are there
fore no better than those which Hert-
ling offered revolutionary Russia and
led TO the peace treaties of Brest-
Litovsk and Bucharest.