Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-14
Would NOT ACCEPT
REPLY OF GERMANY
Senator Chamberlain Says
Note to President Does Not
Mean Surrender.
Germany's reply to the Presidents

Germany's reply to the Presidents
note should not be accepted, said SEN
ator Chamberlain, chairman of the
military affairs committee, today. He
insisted that there should be an I'M
conditional surrender on the part Of
Germany.
1 approved of the Presidents note to
Germany, because 1 felt that it was
4 diplomatic demand for an uncondi-
tional surrender. said Senator Cham
bcrlain. whether Germany's reply
amounts to promise of unconditional
surrender or not am in doubt. There
should be no doubt in any mind.
Il have no confidence in Germany
or in her promises, and, reading be-
tween the lines of her answer to the
Presidents note, l feel that it is
rather q suggestion of negotiations
than promise to surrender, and SO
feeling l am not in favor of it's ac-
ceptance.
THE President ought to insist that
Germany's reply to his note should
be positive and unequivocal, and that
there ought to be no room for negotia-
tons or compromise. Congress and
the American people will sustain him
in the course herein outlined"
Senator Lodge Not Satisfied.
Demanding an unconditional sur
render by Germany, Senator Lodge of
Massachusetts,, republican leader of
the Senate, today declared that the
German reply to President Wilson's
note of inquiry is not an uncondi-
tional surrender, but is highly condi-
tional.'
Mr.. McAdoo and some of the press
speak of the German note, if anthem
tic, as complete surrender" said
Senator Lodge. 1T is nothing of the
kind. 1t is just the reverse. II is not
a surrender, and it is highly condi-
tional. If we accept that note it
means that Germany has failed to
conquer the world at this moment and
that we have lost the war.
The President made three inquiries.
He proposed no terms; he made no
promises; he committed himself to
nothing, no matter what the answer
might be.
The Germans represent his ques-
tons as terms offered, and then say
that for the purpose of bringing about
an armistice they are ready to accept
the Presidents general propositions
and to discuss details. The armistice
is the first step, and they propose
that evacuation should be arranged
by 4 mixed commission, on which
they would be repreented.
Armistice Means War Is Lost.
IF we agree to an armistice now
the war is lost. If We refuse an ar
mistice the war will be won. If we
agree to an armistice Germany will
have opportunity to restore and re-
fresh her armies and accumulate mu-
nitions. Her fleet is untouched. She
will be on exactly the same position
territorially as she was when the war
began. Then she will discuss. under
the Presidents general propositions.
the details. The details include every
thing that is tal-AlSace-Lorraine.
Italia Irredenta, the Independence of
tho Zecho-Slovaks. Jugo-Slavs and
Poland, the expulsion of Turkey from
Europe and much else equally impor-
tant to a real peace-and we are to
sit around table and discuss them
with Germany, who can refuse every
thing she does not like under the
threat of renewing the war in a more
advantageous position.
1T will be a peace of bargain and
compromise and the President has said
that there can be no peace obtained
by any kind of bargain or compro-
mise. Our only assurance for what
may be agreed to after weeks of dis
sion would be the German word and
the German signature-both worth
less. The President has said that we
cannot accept the word of those who
forced this war upon u.s. The gov
eminent of Germany has not changed.
The chancellor has changed. Chang
ing the chancellor no more changes
the German government than the
President changing his Secretary of
state would change our government.
No PREPARATION Proposed.
There is nothing in the propositions
about reparation: nothing about the
destruction of life by submarine war
fare. We SHOULD be left to the mercy
of the German diplomats to decide
what reparation we should obtain,
what retributiou there should be for
the murders Of the submarines.
If the German note is authentic
and il we accept it in any degree the
war is lost and all our sacrifices have
been made in vain We are on the
eve Of victory. We must have uncon-
ditionAl surrender, We must impose
our own terms II We accept the Ger
man note there win be no surrender
&Dd ~ shAu - left to humiliating
0sGDa9 b . DsosAoe bargain and com
promise"