The Washington herald., 1918-10-23
OFFICIAL TEXT
OF hun REPLY
ARRIVES
Note to Be Handed State De-
partment This
Morning.
EXPECT A STRONG REPLY
Answer Is Likely to Satisfy
America and Her
Allies.
CABINET DISCUSSES ACTION
Official Comment Withheld But
Belief General Enemy
Ready to Quit
CABINET DISCUSSES ACTION

The official text of the German
note will be presented to the State
Department this morning and the
only thing that can prevent quick
action on the part OF President
Wilson is a radical difference be-
tween the unofficial version and
the official document
The country has given, in
emphatic terms, its belief that the
German acceptance" is not trust
worthy 1t has also reaffirmed its
faith in the ability OF the Presi-
dent to handle the situation, and
he IS prepared, it is understood, to
act in a manner which will satisfy
not only the people OF the United
States, but those Of the allied gov
ernments.
Cabinet Discusses Plans.
The President was in session yes
terday afternoon with members of his
Cabinet for moro than two hours. at
which time the outline of his plan OF
action was fully discussed.
The State Department could have
received. by o'clock yesterday aft
ernoOn, the official note from Fred
eriCk Oederiin, the Swiss charge
d'afTaires. but his appointment with
Secretary of State Lansing was set
for 10 O'Clock this morning. The Ger
man note reached the Swiss legation
shortly after noon, but several hours
were consumed in DECIDING and
translating the contents.
Oficial comment was again with
held pending announcement of the
Presidents stand. but the belief is
general here that Germany is slowly
but surely approaching the point of
unconditional surrender. and that this
action is the only bona fide evidence
the world can consider as acceptance
OF the Presidents conditions.
Former Promises worthless.
Germany has promised much in her
present message, but all of her former
promises. it is recalled. have been
worthless. and this country, therefore,
it is held. should not assume that
words and phrases made in Germany
are worthy OF friendly consideration.
For that matter. however, the coun-
try has already made up its mind to
the contrary and so have the allied
nations. judging by the comments
from their officials and in their news
papers.
Another thing which must be borne
in mind. it was said. Is the ambigu-
Gus phraseolOgy of the present note.
One word may cover a multitude of
TeUtOn sins and yet appear innocent.
with the purpose of conveying an
idea other than that meant by its
writer In this connection, a question
has arisen as to Germany's meaning
with regard to the conditions of an
aFmistiCe. She says that these con-
ditiOns be left to the Judgment of the
military advisers and that the actual
standard of power on both sides in
the field has to form the basis for ar
rangements safeguarding and guaran-
teeing this standard"
Trade Out of Question.
This would Indicate. according to
military men, that Hindenburg and
LudendorfT would like to trade. or at
tempt to trade with FOch. Trading
at this stage of the game, they saw.
is out of the question
Another question is the one which
has to do with Germany's conception
Of evacuation. as applied to Russia
and Rumania. two nations with
whom she is presumably at peace.
Although the Presidents terms pre-
scribe the evacuation of all occupied
territory Germany may have the idea
that Russia and Rumania are not in
cluded in this prescription, and this
situation constitutes a vital point that
will have to he explained.
Meantime, though. il is I'D to the
United States and the allies to con-
tinue fighting and to keep a stiff
upper lip to take an expression used
in an official quarter today.
The enemy is beaten and knows IF
Each succeeding peace note from Ger
many contains more concessions than
its predecessor. and shows the
strength of the peace movement in
Germany.
German People Must Respond,
Each succeeding message from the
President shows no recession from
his original demands, which are
tantamount to unconditional surren-
der, and hts every word means an in
creased desire for peace on the part
Of the German people. In the Iast
analysis the German people are the
only ones with whom a peace can be
arranged. and II they so sincerely de-
sire il they must first produce a
valid claim, according to the view of
officials and diplomats here.
While the present message is un-
satisfactory, chiefly because IL gives
the impress:ony that Germany seems
CONTINUED ON FACE TWO.