The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-09-17


Austrian peac. note to visiting
journalists, said;
"lt is incredible that anything
can come OF this proposal
Coming after the recent speech Of
Friedrich Won Payer, the German
imperial vice chancellor, Mr.. Bal
four said, this synical proposal OF
the Austrian government is not a
genuine attempt to obtain peace. Il
is an attempt to divide the allies.
81 cannot honestly, in the pro-
posals now made TO us as l have
been able to study them" Mr.. Bal
iour said, "see the slightest hope
that the goal we desire--thc goal
OF a peace which shall be more than
. truce-can really be attained
The foreign secretary said he was
utterly unable to see that confer
ence proposed by Austria could have
the desired end.
Mr.. Baliour said no one should
take upon himself the task OF re-
iecting with light heart any pro-
posal which would shorten the
length OF the war. He also de-
clared that no coalition ever had
been so strong as the allied coalition
and that the enemy would not sue
ceed in breaking it.
Conversations such as were pro-
posed by Austria-Hungary, Mr..
Balfour said, undoubtedly would
have great value under certain cir
cumstanceS. He said they would
serve to smooth out obscurities,
such as questions OF pride, but he
declare dthat the questions now be-
tween the belligerents were deli
nitely defined.
81 am not taking the proposals of
two years ago or OF last year, but
last week" Secretary Balfour said.
The German vice chancellor, speak
ing for the German government
clearly and without obscure verbiage
showed where Germany stood on
the question OF Belgium, Aalsace-
Lorraine, the German colonies and
the Brest-Litovsk and Rumanian
treaties"
The foreign secretary said he
agreed with the Austrian note when
its authors pointed out that the
whole OF civilization was at stake
and that the prolongation OF hostil-
ties was a risking or sacrificing OF
a great deal that was really dear to
everybody interested in the progress
of mankind.
The terms OF peace and war were
SO tremendous. and the calamitieS
imposed by the continuation, on hos
tilities, SO overwhelming, he said,
that he would never treat with dis
respect any peace proposal.
1t could not be more clearly set
forth than it was by Won Payer last
week that Germany intended to pay
10 indemnity to Belgium, Mr.. Bal-
four continued.
He indicated, the foreign secretary
said, that Germany did not believe
in the principles OF indemnities and
vet al the same time she was squeez-
ing millions OF dollars out OF Rus
sia.
"This,55 the speaker went on,
"was for the wrongs Russia is sup
posed ohaye done Germany. How
can those wrongs be compared with
the devastation and ruin which
Germany is wreaking on Russia
now:'
Regarding the question OF Colo
MES, Secretary Balfour said:
The colonies are one question
upon which there is no mlsunder-
standing. We stand on one side and
Germany Oh the other"
Referring to the lack OF concert
ed effort by the central powers, as
emphasized by the Won Payer
speech and the Austrian note, the
foreign secretary pointed 20 the
clumsiness OF German diplomacy.
The German he added, "excels
in direct, simple. brutality, but when
ne tried to dress III President Will
sons clothes or tries to act as Pres
ident Wilson would act, he is clum-
sy.
Manchester, Eng, Sept. lo.-l he
Guardian, discussing the Austrian
peace note, asks il the central pow
crs would be willing TO restore the
countries they have overrun, reverse
the Brest-Litovsk treaty, set RuS-
sia free and leave Poland, Lithuania,
Finland and the Ukraine TO deter
mine their own destinies.
These are among the questions
which the allied governments are
entitled to ask before consenting to
enter upon confidential negotia-
tons" The Guardian declared.
The newspaper considers, however,
that 1T would be monstrous thing
TO flout this proposal as proposals
have been flouted before" and
thinks the allied government should
request some expression OF views as
TO the possibilities OF settlement
on such lines as President Wilson
and Premier Lloyd George have
laid down.