The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1918-09-20


latest peace feeler, advanced through
Austria, it is officially stated, best
finds its answer in President Wilson's
Baltimore speech. delivered last April.
aForce, force to the utmost, force
without stint or limit, the righteous
and triumphant force which shallmake
right the law of the world, and cast
every selfish domination down in the
dust"
That was the presidents answer
then and it is reiterated today; it is
his answer now.
No one doubts that it is the answer
of all the triumphant allies.
While Austria's proposal, reported
last night from Amsterdam, had not
reached Washington in official form
last night, it is expected hourly thru
some neutral-possibly Sweden-and
in it is recognized the long heralded
peace offensive upon which Germany
is counting to rouse enough sentiment
for peace among the people OF the al
lied countries to compel an end Of
the war on terms which substantially
would preserve the Prussian conquest
The allied leaders recognize this as
the cry of a Germany which knows
she is beaten, and hopes by regotia-
tion to get the best terms possible.
There will be no round-table confer
ence, no sounding out process, such as
Germany proposes, and which she
hopes will give opportunity probably
to deal with her enemies separately
If any reply at all is made, it will be
after an exchange of views between
the United States and the other Co
belligerents so that reply for al
may be made in one. Officials and al
lied diplomatic it seems agreed thai
the only ground on which Germany
may have conference is the accept
ance Of the principles laid down BY
President Wilson, and which have
been accepted by all the allies as theil
watchword.
American officials have been noting
for some time the various steps tina
have led to a proposition for meet
ing at some neutral point of dele
gate from all the belligerents coun
tries to enter into non-binding discus
sion with view to bringing abou
peace.
From German and Austrian official
of high rank, from the German EN-
peror himself down to the vice-chan
cellor of Germany, within the pas
fortnight have come public utterances
differing widely in their tone an
scope, but by singular coincidence
each and all containing 10 some plac
declaration of Willingness to extern
the hand Of peace, while they wer
coupled With denials of responsible,
for the further continuance of hostil
.-ities. Baron Burian, the Austrian for
eign minister advanced the move
ment toward the peace offensive fur
Their than any other speaker in hi
recent address to visiting German
journalists, and the ideas he the
preached are now recognized here a
the foundation upon which has bee
built the proposition which Vienn
now is presenting to the world at arm
in a formal way.
The Washington government al
ready has made up its mind and form
ed its own opinion regarding Barol
Burian's plan,and it can be stated tina
even in the formal shape in which ]
is now presented it is quite as objec
tionable as it was originally and doe
not present single point upon whiel
the entente powers and the Unite,
States are likely to agree with tn
authors. In the opinion of the off
cials here, the principal object 0
Baron Burian and the Germans VIII
stand behind him is to convince tn
Austrian and German peoples tina
their governments really desire peace
course made necessary by the highl
dangerous and rebellious state of min
in Germany and particularly in Aus
tria.
This could be accomplished effective
ly, it is pointed out by officials here
by an open declaration Of full and IN
qualified acceptance by Berlin and vi
emma of the fourteen points laid dow
by President Wilson, as a proper ba