Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-15

WASHINGTON, Oct 14.-Great
events we're moving. swiftly today be-
hind the veil of diplomatic secrecy to-
ward the formulation of President Will
sons next move IN answer to Germany's
peace plea
There was stfll no official Indication
to guide the public mind toward what
the president is considering, but the
idea that there conld be no armistice
| without guarantees which in themselves
would constitute an unconditional sur
render gained strength everywhere.
Apparently il reflected the state oil
mind of the country and there were I'M
mtstakable signs that the foreign offices
Of Great Britain, France and Italy had
determined that there must be no deVel-
opment which viii give the German
armies a breathiJ spell.
President Wilsb< Just before noon.
received the official text of the German
reply to has inquiries to Chancellor
Macmillan He already had been IN
conference with Secretary Lansing, Sec
rotary Baker, Secretary Daniels and Col
oneI q. NJ. House, his personal friend
ana conhdante.
Later, and gust about the time Asso-
claIe Press dispatches from London re-
ported Great britain inclined 10 demand
satisfying guarantees, inc udlng ootn
military ana naval proYl6lOnS, as me
prerequisite to an ar1nlSLlce, IL there
snouiu be one, Counsellor Polk of ina
state department, hurried to the British
EN- baSsy.
NO announcement OF the purnosa Of
his visit was made but it seemed likely
thai If he did not 20 TO acqualnt the
embassy with President Wilson's intend
ed answer, il was to set I'D a uuick and
CONFIDENTIAL means OF conference with
Lloyd George.
The promise that whatever action Is
taken viii De without delay still heId
good today. There will be very littIe
suspense while the people withhold
their judgment, as they nave been re-
quested TO do by the government.
The movements now under wav are
very rapidly taking form and soon VIII
be made known TO the German govern
ment and the world
otncaa1 Text Arrives
Germany's reply to President Wilson
reached the swiss legation in officia1
form by ca0le this morning 1t was in
German text, a translation OF which w..
IDENTICAL with that received by wireless
oaTurda ynight.
Instead OF taking the note directly to
The White House as he did Prince Maxi
nllian's peace plea, Frederick OederIin
SWISS charge, communicated with tTs
state department. He was asked to pre-
sent it to Secretary Lansing at Ills
The Swiss charge appeared at the
state department shortly after the an
pointed time and delivered the note
without comment Colonel House was
in Secretary Lansings' office at the
time.
A few minutes later the note was in
the hands of the president A state
department messenger took it to the
White House as soon as Secretary
Lansing had read the document and
found it did not differ from the wireless
version.
Lansing and Baker called
In the meantime President Wilson.
had called Secretaries Lansing and
Baker to the White House for a cor
ference The president and Mr. Lansing
had been considering the German com
munication Sinces Saturday night when
the unofficial text reached them. and
France, was. prepared to give first-hand
information about the situation at the
battle frort which has brought about
the German eagerness for peace
the president last night on his return
from the New York Liberty Loan trip,
Joined in the confidence.
Secretary Daniels Joined the White
House conference. The president and
his. advisers were together for nearly
two hours, then the cabinet officers ana
war and navy building, leaving the
president alone in his study, where
nearly all of his notes and utterances
have been drafted.
The only official intimation that has
come regarding the probable course of
the president is that he is sure to act
quickly and positively. Everywhere in
Washington, however, the confident be-
lief prevailed that whatever might be
the fem of that action, it would not
contemplate a cessation of hostilities
nor negotiations for peace with the Ger
man government except upon conditions
amounting to unconditional surrender.
Last night the government asked the
American people to suspend judgment
upon the German note until the presia
Continued ON Page 3, Column D.,