Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-08
NOTE IS DELIVERED
BY SWISS MINISTER
TO THE PRESIDENT
While Swiss Envoy Is Person
ally Delivering German Note
to Wilson, Sweden's Minister
Presents Austrian Note

ISOOiihO tNSlO
| WASHINGTON. Oct 7.-Germany's
peace note was delivered to President
Wilson personally today by Frederick
Oederlin, an attache of the Swiss lega-
ton. This gave rise to suggestions that
it came from Emperor William himself.
Minister Ekengren, of Sweden, pre-
scented the note from Baron Burian., the
foreign minister, to
Secretary Lansing at 1890 o'clock. He
was at the state department only few
minutes.
A prompt and decisive reply is indi-
Gated by developments in Washington
carly today.
President Wilson cancelled his usual
morning recreation hour and remained
secluded in his study at work. Prince
Maximilian's note was received during
the night at the Swiss legation.
Quite irrespective of the nature OF the
reply. it seemed to be agreed that the
German note called for a prompt re-
ply. so that American people might not
be misled into relaxing their efforts for
the fourth Liberty Loan. so that the
American troops in the field may know
at once the position of their govern
ment, and so that an offer of peace may
receive such diplomatic attentions as 1t
deserves
Official announcements of the attitude
of the United States government still
were being withheld. but there was. no
abatement OF the Indication that if Ger
many seeks a negotiation" leading to
round table conferences and diplomatic
Quibbling the offer will fan aat-
wtsh0zt Qualification
If she actually accepts the principles
Of peace as repeatedly laid down by
President Wilson and accepted by all
the co-beIligerents, the way is open TO
peace, with the withdrawal of all Ger
man troops from invaded territory as
the first. requirement
The Austrian ofrer. which IS substan-
tally similar to that OF Germany. was
delivered to Secretary Lansing this
morning. :.
Official washington regards the lat
est peace efforts Of the Teutcn as at
tenpts to attain peace by barter-a
peace to Germany's advantage before
American-allied arms visit retribution
on the Boche armies. Inasmuch as
these offers contain no proposals for
withdrawing troops from allied terri
tory and no proposals for general and
complete laying down of arms they
are not acceptable. international authcri-
ties declare
They are timed to befog the air at
moment when America is putting forth
its maximum effort with its fourth LIB
erty Loan. and when American-alffed
forces are smashing the BOche armies
back along the west front
But in so far as America is concerned,
there is a unity of feeling against the
proposals And, both England and
France are likely now to make a state
ment of war aims, attuned to President
wilson's desires along that line.
Presidents Purpose
Prince MAX. German chancellor, has
asked that President Wilson communi-
cate with the allies anent the peace
proposals. The president may discuss
with them the subject of restatement
of war aims making the allied purposes
Enthusiastically clear. In any event, he
will let Germany and Austria know
that Americas terms are plain and that
no insincere peace offers will swerVe
this nation from its purposes.
Some authorities believed he might
tell the Teuton that peace negotiations
could be Instituted IL Germany cleared
her armies out of occupied territory
absolutely; if she also laid down her
arms ana gave the United States con-
troll over them; If, in other words, she
made a complete military surrender
not a breathing spell armiStice.
This would be comparable to the
terms given Bulgaria Bulgaria sur
rendered when she accepted, but there
are no signs that Germany is ready to
accept the peace of the loser. On the
contrary, authorities say. she is at
tempting to deceive the world by appear
ing to have had change of heart
But, the state department has said
privately on a number of occasions, ''ac-
lions speak louder than words" refer
ring to the fact that Germany utters
Meas while she still holds
strangle on parts of Russia and Ru-
mania, and while her armies are still
on the soil OF France and Belgium. Of
ficial Washington can be said to favor
military action, without stint, until Ger
many is forced TO Surrender-until she
is ready to clear out of these occupied
lands, and until there is a real Spokes-
man representative of the German peo-
pie rather than of the kaiser
Army men point out that victory is
a certainty next year. They say that il
would be the greatest tragedy of ali
time were the allies now to wipe the
slate clean after sacrificing hundreds of
thousands of lives. Quitting now would
leave Germany intact and not contrite .
The old nIilitaristS rule would still be
in force; and the world would have no
guarantee that this clique, headed by
the HohenzollernS, would not attemnt
in the next generation to fnflfct IT'S
gluttonouS desire for world domination
upon it's neighbors. A continuance of
the war into 1919, say the military men.
will effectively crush the military sp1r-
it of Germany. She WIN be ready then
to put things in order in her own house
and will hearken quite readily to the
terms of President Wilson.
Incidentally, Prince Max's speech as
received through the committee on pup-
lie information, shows that he criticized
Confined on Page 6, Column 81