New-York tribune., 1918-10-23
Patent Insincerity Calls for
Prompt Answer From
Wilson, Is View
Sea Atrocities Cited
Against Hun Demands
General Opinion Is That
Germans Seek Only to
Keep Up Argument

LONDON, Oct 22.--The German re-
ply to President Wilson is regarded
here as mot business. but mere argu-
ment and protestation." In govern
ment, diplomatic and political circles
the view is that it is not reply, but
simply resort to verbiage designed
to cover the absence OF reply.
One highly placed official described
il rs "badly camouhaged insincerity." j"
Ihc government has not considered the
reply in detail. although Premier Lloyd
George and his colleagues held pro
tracted deliberations to-day.
Henry Nj. Hyndman, leader of the
British Socialists, said:
"The reply is simply another piece
OF shufiing. I hope President Wilson
will answer it very abruptly and brief
~. At any rate. he has given En-
peror William an opportunity to say
that he and his people are one in the
same sort of duplicity and treachery
to which we have been treated through
out the wal.
IAN t AHOrd to Farley
eff President Wilson were to ac-
copt this reply as basis for negota-
tion, in my opinion. he would simply
be sacrificing the dignity of the po-
sition which he has worthily gained"
Frederick George Kclloway. Parlia-
mentary Secretary to the Minister Of
Munitions. said:
"The note says that evacuation and
armistice must be based on the actual
standard of power on both sides in
the field. Does that phrase cover rela-
tive strength at sea, relative strength
in production of guns, shells, air
planes and material? If not, why are
they ruled out? Only our leaders,
Premier l. oyd George Premier E.
menceau and President Wilson. on the
political side. and Marshal Foch, Field
Marshal Haig and General Pershing,
on the military side, can say if the
note means that Germany is at last
prepared to face the facts and draw
the inevitable conclusion. For the
rest of us our duty is plain. 1t is to
go on producing munitions or fighting
az if it were at the beginning of the
war rather than approaching the in
ovitable end. The way to make an early
peace is to be ready for q long vIar"
Is Called "Insincere"
% monument of insincerity," is the
way "The Times characterizes the
German reply 1t brusquely valves
detailed examination of the note, say
ing~hat the only important consdera-
het INIT Ac to
accept an arlnistice in accordance With
the method defined by President vii
son. The Times" continues:
An armi istice is to be had on terms
laid down by the military and naval
authorities Of the associated forces
IL is not to be had on the enemy's
terms or upon any terms that leave
room for subterfu@e. In comparison
with this main issue the rest of the
note is unimDortant.'
"The Manchester Guardian" says it
does not see that this particular CON
tioversy can with advantage be carried
much further.
President Wilson," the paper goes
on. "insisted from the first that as a
preliminary condition to an armistice
the German armies must be withdrawn
on all fronts within their own from
tiers, and this condition has already
been accepted by DR.. Solf. The condi-
tions of an armistice, therefore, eau
only be considered with this as start
ing point, and the actual position of
the forces in the field cannot be taken
as Standard"
With reference to the paragraph
denying that the German navy in sink
ing ships ever purposely destroyed life
boats with their passengers, it is
pointed out in government circles that
many cases could be quoted in reply
to this denial. Two recent cases are
the Llandovery Castle. the Canadian
hospital ship sunk in the Atlantic, and
the French steamer Lydiana, sunk off
the north coast of Spain July 16.