Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-09-17
AMERICAS mo"
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the secretary acted with this unpre-
cedented promptness in a matter or
such great import with the design
not only to indicate clearly the po-
sition of the United States govern
ment but perhaps to anticipate ana
! prevent as far as possible newspaper
discussions Of the Austrian PROPOSE
! ton, which might convey to the en-
envy a misleading impression that
| there was any considerable element in
the United States willing to consider
negotiated peace which in the
! Non binding discussions proposed
| by Austria. might develop.
| Also, it is understood there was a
purpose to sound the note which the
| Entente powers might repeat in max
| ing their own answers. All these
powers had gone on record formally
as accepting the conditions OF peace
laid down by President Wilson as
their own.
While no reference to it was made
in the reply which the United States
government is making to Austria it
is known that one of the most OBJ
iectionable features Of Baron Bur
ian's proposition was the secrecy
suggested for the ronbinding con-
ferences. 1t was realized by officials
here that the purpose was TO barter
away the rights Of various national
tiles in star chamber proceedings so
that the victims would have no
knowledge of their fate until it was
beyond recall. This system of bar
ter was particularly denounced by
President Wilson in one of his speech
es.
THAT the German people them
| selves We're to be kept in the dark by
the military masters and prevented
from having any voice IN the peace
which is n be imposed upon them
was regarded as an assured fact.
There has been some Apprehension
| in administration circles that COM
binatior of great financial interests,
that know no nationality, and fear
the destruction CT all wealth and
business by the spread of BolsheViK
ideas. might in some way be behlnd
this movement to bring about peace
and terminate the wa before II hau
been fought to a clear declsioh.
There is no such apprehension on
the rart Of the administration of q
cataclysm which will bring down all
civilized institutions, and instead the
general staff has given every assur
ance that the war is proceeding ~
reasonably early and complete VIE
tory which will Involve the accept
Do
only possible terms of peace-name-
" those laid down by President Will
son.
These terms, referred to in the re-
ply dictated today TO the Austria
note were clearly set out in PEesi-
cent Wilson'S Fourth Of July speech
at Mount Vernon.
The destruction of every arbitrary
power anywher> that can separate
", secretly and of its single choice
disturbe the peace of the world; or
if it cannot be presently destroyed
at least its reduction to virtual I'M
potence.
; 1.-THE settlement Of every cues
ton, whether OF territory on soVer-
eighty Of economic arrangements or
political relationship upon the basis
Of the free acceptance of that set
!, tlement by the people Immediately
concerned and not upon the basis OF
material interest or advantage Oh
any other nation Of people which
may desire different settlement Tor
the sake of it's own exterior inft-
enCe or mastery.
"3-The consent of all nations to be
, governed in their conduct toward each
, other by the same principles Of honor
and OF respect for the common law of
all modern states in their relations with
one another; to the end that all prom
Uses and covenants may be sacredly OBJ
, served. no private plots or conspiracy
Matched, no selfish injuries wrought
with ir1punty and a mutual trust es-