The Sentinel=record., 1918-10-22

Washington, Oct. 21- Iermauy has replied 10 President Wilson with q note which, though no one is prepar- ed to say it will lead the president even to continue exchanges on the subject of an armistice and peace at least has served almost 10 bring con viction here that the people of Ger many actually are taking the reins oi government and sincerely desire peace on any terms the United States and the allies are willing to give.
 There was no official intimation here tonight of the attitude of th, president and probably there will be none until the official text of the new German communication has been re- ceived.
 The rrC sident was in conference all evening with Secretary Lansing dis cussing the ncte as received by wire less earlier in the day
 Like the reply to thc presidents in- quiries a week ago, this note was sent out from the German wireless stations and picked up in the allied countries many ho1rs before the of- ficial text could move by cable The official version probobly will come tomorrow through the Swiss legion here
 As received by wireless the note is believed 10 be slightly garbled in thl important sentences regarding condi- tions for the evacuation of invaded territory and for an armstice. but nevertheless it is regarded as m awkward attempt to meet the condi- tions laid down by President Wilson for consideration of an armistice
 And t makes the significant decla- ration that the government in Berlin no longer is responsible to a single arbitrary inlluence-the kai7er-bul is supported by an oyerwhelmine ma jority of the German people
 This declaration is supported by the statement that constitutional re- forms are m progress in accord with the determination of the people undo, which no government can take or hold office without the confidence al the majority of a rechstae elected by universal secret Yrfragc
 It is accorded moro consideration here Lecausc of confidential advices received only today Indicating that the German middle classes have re- solved 10 have peace at any prime ana ii necessary are prepared to get rid of the kaiser, he crown prince ana all military control
 Thus the belief is strcnetAened that the present note and those that have gone before are genuine efforts to obtain peqcc and are in conclu slye merely because the Germans conducting the exchanges are seeking to bargain for something better thal the unconditional surrender they arg prepared to give if pushed to tho wall
 is assumed also that they want to prepare gradually the German public for a realization of what ha. happened 10 their military machine and the war lords dreams of power so as to avoid a complete collapse oI government.
 Eiplomatic observers point out thai the president is at liberty with pre- feet consi tenoy to make no response at this time, but 10 await develop ments: to await the performances ot the promise of the Germans not tC torpedo passenger ships their m- piled promise to wonk no more de sIuctiou during their retreat iron Belgium and France than military necessity requires, and finally tC await further development of the po- litical leavon that evidently is work ing toward the complete overthrow o military and autocratic power in the empire.
 No one believes that an immediate cessation of hostilties is in sight