Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-16

Has Not Reached State Dept.
Austria's peace note had, not
reached the State Department early to-
day.. por had the department heard
through official channels Of Gefih6nyee
reported offer of a separate peace
to Belgium.
Both Of these moves are recognized
in both government and diplomatic
quarters here as the definite begin
ming of the expected desperate Teu-
tonic efforts to confuse the issue, SOW
up the positions of their governments
at ehene through peace propaganda
while they still hold the spoils of war.
No doubt is to be found in any
quarter as to what the answer OF
America and the allies will be to the
Vienna proposal for "non-binding'
peace discussions, although. of course.
onicials carefully refrain from formal
comment before the note actually is
received. Even when victorious Ger
man armies were advancing into
France such a suggestion would not
that the tide is turning and America
and the allies propose soon to drive
the enemy out of conquered soil there
IS no disposition to parely over what
the Teutoas shall be allowed to keep.
Off1cials have read carefully the
in press dispatches, and exchanges be-
tween tha cobelligerent governments
on the subject probably already are
under way. 1t is assumed that the off,
cial version will come in a few hours
through one of the neutral legations.
Held as Impossible.
The Washington government al
ready has made up its mind and
formed its own opinion regarding
Baron Burian's plan. and 1T can be
stated that even in the formal shape
in which 1t is now presented 1t Is
quite as Objectionable as it was orig
finally and does not present a single
point upon which the entente powers
and the United States are likely to
agree with the authors. Familiar
notes of insincerity and underlying
sinister purpose are heard by Of
acials.
The allied leaders recognize it as an
effort by Germany to obtain the best
terms possible.
There will be no round table con-
ference. no sounding-out process. such
a. Germany proposes, and which she
hopes will give opportunity probably
TO deal with her enemies separately.
No Change In Stand. =.
If any reply at all is made. 1t will
Be after an exchange of views between
the United States and the other CO.
belligerents, SO that a reply for all may
be made in one. On every side, among
American officials and allied diplomats,
1t seemed agreed that the only grounds
on which Germany may have a con-
ference Is the acceptance Of the prin-
Siples laid down by President Wilson.
the allies as their watchword.
American officials have been noting
for some time the various steps that
have led to the proposition for q
meeting at some neutral point of
delegates from all the ben1gerent
countries to enter into "non-binding
discussions" with . view to bringing
about peace.
Move Was Expected.
From German and Austrian offi-
eials Of high rank from the German
emperor himself down to the vice
chancellor of Germany. within the last
fortnight have como public utterances,
differing widely in their tone and
Scope. But by singular coincidence
) declaration Of willingness to extend
he hand of peace
Tney were coupled with denials OF
Responsibility for the further con-
kinuance Of hostilftiea Baron Burian,
3hs Austrian foreign minister. ada
<Hnoed tho movement toward the
peace offensive further than any other
speaker in his recent address to
Visiting German journalists. and the
IDEAS he then reached are now recog-
nixsd here as the foundation upon
which has been built the proposition
which Vienna now 10 presenting to the
world at arms in q formal way.
Germany's latest peace feeler. ad-
vanced through Austria, 1t Is ofhcially
ktated, best finds its answer in Presi-
dent Wilson's Baltimore speech de-
6vered last April
Force, force to the utmost. force
without stint or limit. the righteous
Ind triumphant force which shall
&akn ytghtzthe lsW- Of tho-W0eldeAnd