Omaha daily bee., 1918-10-09
WILSON'S NOTE
CRITICISED BY
c. 0.P.LEADERS
Senator Lodge and Rep. Fess
Express Disappointment
at Course Taken by
the President.

WdSHlhst oh, W. o'-V hiiS AiOsl
congressional leaders tonight ap-
proved President Wilson's note of
inquiry to Germany, and especially
his refusal to accept any proposal
for an armistice until the enemy
evacuates occupied territory, Sena-
tor Lodge of Massachusetts, repub-
lican leader and senior minority
member of the senate foreign rela-
tions committee, and Representative
Fess of Ohio, chairman Of the re-
publican congressional campaign
committee, expressed keen disap-
pointment in the course taken by
the president.
Il am keenly disappointed" said
Senator Lodge, that the president
should, at this stage, enter into a
discussion with the imperial Ger
man government as he has done in
the note signed by Mr.. Lansing.
In his first and second paragraphs he
asks for further information and in
vites further discussion. 1t is true
that in the last paragraph he in
quires whether Prince Macmillan
of Baden represents merely the con-
stituted authorities of the German
empire. Prince Macmillan is the
chancellor Of the German empire,
appointed by the kaiser. | do not
understand what he can possibly
represent except the constituted au-
thorities, which represent the Ger
man empire and the German people
unless a revolution has occurred OF
which the world has as yet no know
ledge
Opposes Any Compromise.
PERSONALLY I adhere to the state
ment of the president made in his
speech of September 27, in which he
said:
awe are all agreed that there can
be no peace obtained by any kind OF
bargain or compromise with the
governments of the central empires,
because we have dealt with them al
ready and have seen them deal with
other governments that were parties
to this struggle. at Brest-Litovsk
and Bucharest
1.-THE president answering the sug-
gestion by the imperial German gov
eminent of an armistice says the
good faith of this proposal rests on
the consent of the central powers to
withdraw their armies from invaded
territory. Are they to withdraw
unattached from Belgium and
northern France, burning and rob-
bine and destroying as they go to
positions behind the Rhine to
where they will have time and OPP
portunity to refresh their armies
aud replenish their munitions;
Alsace and Lorraine are not invaded
territory.
II cannot but feel painful anxiety
as to what effect this note will have
upon the allies, upon our armies,
upon the soldiers who are fighting
and diving and conquering in or
der to crush the thing with which
the president is opening discus
sion"
Wrong Step, Says Tess.
In expressing his disappointment,
Representative Tess said the pres
ident had taken the step against
which the country had been
warned" -, -,
"The way has been opened" said
Mr.. Fess, ''for Germany to save her
self by withdrawing her armies
within her own border by agreement
rather than under fire as she has
been forced to do the past few
weeks.
peace discussion with Germany
before our armies are on her soil
will not insure the future. / had
hoped that no step would be taken
to transfer the discussion from the
field to the table. / do not believe
the soldiers or the country will ever
be satisfied with anything short of
a conclusive peace which can only
be assured by such chastisement OF
Germany as will make like sacri-
flee in the future impossible"
Senator Hitchcock Of Nebraka,
chairman Of the foreign relations
committee, declared the presidents
course will compel a peace on his
terms.
1t is evident said Senator Hitch
cock, "the president intends to say
that Germany must accept the
terms he has laid down. think
the note will elecit the exact issue
between the countries"
Senator Borah of Idaho, republi-
can. said the note us we'll designed
to clarity a very involved situa-
ton"