The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-09
Wilson Demands to Know
if Maximilian Speaks
for People.
AMOUNTS TO REJECTION
Inquiry, Not Reply, Is o.
ficial Description of
Answer.
BLOCK WAR PROPAGANDA
Interrogations Bar Rulers
From Declaring Life of Ma
tion Is at Stake.
BLOCK WAR PROPAGANDA
Special Despetch to TIE srH.


will be considered by this Govern
ment or even discussed by 1t with It's
cobelligerents until the armies Of the
Central Empires have been with
drawn from every foot of territory
invaded since the war began.
No thought Of peace discussion
with Germany will be entertained
by this Government until Germany
makes 1t clear that she accepts 40 a
basis of agreement and not Of nego-
tiation the terms already laid down
by President Wilson.
No peace overtures Of any descrip-
ton from Germany will be considered
by the United States until the Presl-
dent is satisfied that they emanate
from responsible representatives Of
the German people. These are the
salient features of q communication
which the President to-day addressed
to the Imperial German Chancellor.
Not Reply, hut Inquiry.
This communication is not a reply
to the German note of October 9, but
is an inquiry designed to force
clarification of the German note IT.
self. upon which the reply Of this
Government will later be framed.
Although interrogatory in its nature
the Presidents communication deliV-
, cred to-day to the Swiss Legation for
| transmission to Berlin Is in effect q
| fiat rejection of the German appeal
| for an ,arnistice and a refusal to ac-
/ cede to the German request to invite
the Entente nations to take up peace
| negotiations The President indig-
nantly refuses even to sound out off,
cially the cobelligerents until Ger
many, to the Presidents satisfaction,
! answers these three questions:
| |. Does the German Government
I accept the fourteen points of the
Presidents January s address and
also the terms of his subsequent ad
dresses as a basis. not OF discussion,
, but of agreement?
] ,. Are the Central Powers pre-
/ vaded territory and withdraw within
their own boundaries as a guarantee
| of good faith?
3. Is the Imperial German Chan
| cellor merely acting as spokesman
| for the Kaiser and the war party or
is he speaking for the German
| people?
Has Not Closed Door.
! II is upon the answer to these quss-
tions that the Presidents next move de-
pends In other words he has not closed
! the door by demanding unconditional
surrender the prerequisite of peace
| but has put II up TO Germany to define
| her exact position before asking to be
heard. In this the President undoubt-
! edly has been aCtuated by the desire to
avoid giving the German war party any
excuse for using this Governments po-
sltion to stiffen the resistance of the
German people.
| In fact there Is generally seen in the
procedure adopted to-day a plan to de-
tach the German people from the mill
tary authorities which still hold them in
their grip. In this connection It is sig
nilcant that no reply has been made to
; the Austrian note, this implying the pur-
pose Of dealing with Germany sepa-
rately and further the detachment OF
Austria from her ally,
/ While not sEecinc II was emphasized
! that the President In insisting upon the
! evacuation of all invaded territory be-
fore discussing an armstice meant the
withdrawal of the troops of the Central
Empires not only from France and BEL
Sum but fiom Rumania, Serbia, Monte
negro and all parts Of Russia. II also
means presumably the immediate with
drRwal of German submarines from the
high seas,
T Means Laying Down of Arms,
The Interpretation placed upon this fl,
! official circles close TO the President il
virtually laying down of arms by Ger.
! many as a prerequisite TO any peace dis
! cussion.
! Comment in diplomatic circles tonight
! was restrained and reserved. There il
some fear that the opening of the door to
peace discussion in any form at this time
| Is bound TO have an effect on the war
| enthusiasm here and abroad.
The fact that the President had ad.
| dressed a query to the German Govern
! ment instead of a reply has taken every
one by surprise, Friends Of the Pres-
dent regard Il as n master stroke.
| While in theory the communication o.
| to-day Is from the President alone as the
person to whom the German Governmsn,
addressed its request. there Is every rea,