Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-10-25
WILSON PEACE NOTE
CHECKS TALKS" ON
TERMS WITH BERLIN
President Has Closed All Ways to
Negations Except Through Foch
and Allies Commanders.
KAISER"S TRICK FAILED

Wilson's action IN taking up with the
allied governments the question OF an
hr1nistice, the terms OF which VIII he
submitted bv Foch, Pershing llaig,
on a basis Of absolute surrender. has
closed the door against enemy ncgotla-
tions for peace on any other basis.
Until Germany is ready 10 accept the
terms of such an armistice rs the Presi-
dent has described, one IN which the
allied military advisers will dictate the
details of the extraordinary safeguards
the President has demanded, further
German overtures will be rebutied and
the war will continue to be pushed TO
the utmost.
CHECkS FURTHER PEACE TAIN.
The Presidents action was intended TO
check all further talk of peace with
Germany until after evacuation ana an
srmistice-an armisticc that will mean
unconditional surrender Germany very
probably will try 10 resume the peace
offensive, but the Presidents note OF
Yesterday was delivered in the form of
iinalitv. lie intended that IT should
serve .loticc on the German government
and people that acceptance OF the armIs-
tice terms dictated must prcccde fur-
thcr steps toward peace.
More than that, the course pursued
hv the President, his side-tracklng OF
peace negotiations until after Germany
is willing to accept the terms ot the
particular kind OF an armistlcc that the
allied powers are understood to stand
ready to impose. IS regarded by dlpio-
mats here as Il master stroke
KAIsERs CUNNING TRICK THwtRTED.
They feel that he has thwaricd a cum
ming attempt hy those still IN control oi
German policy 10 sow the seeds OF dis
cord among the allied governments.
Prince Maximillan IN his note OF Oct. y,
stated that the German government had
accepted rs n basis for peace ncgotia
tions the program laid down by Presl-
dent Wilson in his message Of Jan.
and in subsequent addresses. and asked
President Wilson TO invite the allied gov
ernments to delegate plenlpotcntarIcS 10
up negotiable iationS
German military and political au-
thoritics il is now assured, had hoped
by this proposal 70 stir up trouble he
tween the United states and other allied
governments over the terms laid down by
President Wilson.
THOUGHT ALIlES MIGHT RREAk
The German Leaders lid moi believe
the Allies would support hlS whole
program Even the German dcclara-
tion subsequently made. that TIC present
German government. had accepted 1hc
terms and hat Its object IN entering INTO
disc0sSiolS would be only 10 arfec upon
practical details of their Application
Of these terms. is regarded in liiph quarters
as part ot n plan Tor creating row be-
tween the Allies. III view II the failure
Of the American and allied governments
to reach hard and fast agreement upon
peace ..ternS" or their application.
The German chancellor invited Prcsi-
dent Wilson to tread very dangerous
ground This the President, after q
very full aud complete cXcnaagc 0i views
with the allied governments, mas avoided.
Instead Of taking mp with the Allies the
matter ot attempting 10 negotiate with
Germany peace on the basis OF these
terms. the President had taken up The
question Of making terms for an arnistlcc
under which the Germans must surrender
before there can he discussion with Ger
many, either Of peace terms or their
application.
ALLIES PRESENT SOLID FRONT.
Steps are we'll under way toward
reacning a complete underslandir be-
tween the Allies regarding the peace
program II is represented to be the
hope and expectation OF responsible
ments that this movement, involving
conferences just about to begin at Paris
and at London. consideration by the
Versailles Supreme War Council. Of
which President Wilson is voting mem
ber and interchanges between the En-
tente Powers will result in presenting "a
solid diplomatic and political front to
Germany.
SHOW OF HANDS IMPORTED
In exchanges OF views that have al
ready taken place, one very import ant
derIsion hes been reached. That lS, ii
there are any differences OF opinion tie
tween the allied governments over the
application Of President Wilson's terms
or over supplementary terms that one
government ar another may wish 10
submit for the consideration of its allies,
they must not lead TO diplomatic con-
troversy until after Germany mas been
defeated.
President Nison> mas Intentionally
SO shaped the situation, bv dealing with
the German oFeTtures and professions
OF acceptance. on the purely military
basis OF an armistiCe that il the Ger
man government seeks To give the ques-
tion Of peace preferred position over
that OF an annjstiee, such notes can be
thrown back with the warning that the
questions of evacuation and an arm
istice are paramount
ENTENTE DIPLOMATS HAPPY
Entente diplomats here were very
happy yesterday over the President s
course. specl
No mention was iieally made in
the Presidents note of the German
Navy, but it is said that the under
standing already reached in exchanges
between the Allies over the matter Of
arrnistice are broad enough 10 vest thc