Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-11
MUST NOT
MISTNTERPRET HUN
PEACE MANEUVERS
ny THEODORE rrLLER

WASHINGTON, Oct S.--This govern.
ment is not ready 20 accept the latest
peace feelers from Germany. Austria.
Hungary and Turkey. Reports come tc
Washington that in some sections OF
the country patriotic but misguided
Americans have miSinterpreted the Ger.
man move and believe the war is over
1t is reported that in some communities
even peace celebrations are under way
Such reports will be extremely pleas
ing to the German propagandiStS. Ot'
fetal Washington would warn the coun'
try against a misunderstanding of the
situation There is danger in a mis-
construction of the diplomatic strategy
Although, as this is written the state
department still awaited the otticia
texts of the peace proposals, il. is pos:
opinion. Washington will consider
the peace overtures, but there is moth
ing to indicate they will be accepted
Their consideration promises to be brief
and the reply, direct or indirect, en-
phatic
In the presidents recent New York
address, his latest utterance on the
subject Of peace overtures, officia'
Wash.ngtou is inclined to believe today
the central powers Will find their answer
to their bid for an armistice. The presi.
dent. speaking not alone for the United
States but the allied nations, spoke a:
plainly in New York as though he had
had before him then the peace proposals
of the kaiser. Mr.. Wilson said:
1--WE are all agreed that there can be
no peace obtained by any kind of bar
gain or compromise with the govern
ments of the central empires, because
we have dealt with them already ano
have seen them deal with other gov
ernments that were parties to this
struggle at Brest-Litovsk and Buch'
"They have convinced, us that they are
without honor and do not intend jus
cept no principle but force and their
own interest. We cannot come &c
terms with them. They have made il
impossible"
Move Had Been Expected
This ringing statement of the presi,
dent is construed here as the allied
answer to the peace offers which now
come from Germany, Austria Hungary
and Turkey. That these, peace feeIers
were about to be put out has been prac
tically known at the state department
for week or more. European reports
were that Austria's restlessness ano
was known to Germany and Turkey anC
had the approval of those nations
With the elevation of Prince Max, Ger,
many apparently. has gone further anc
actually Joined in extending the olive
branch to the allied nations crowdint
fast upon her heels.
The state department became con
WINGED early last week that new peac
move could be expected with the aP
pointment of Prince Max. an opponen
of the Pan-German idea. State depart
ment officials at the same time sought
to convey the impression that this
peace offer would fall upon unresponsivt
ears here and that in the mind of thu
allies the time had not arrived for {
discussion" binding or unbtnding, o.
a cessation of hoStilitieS.
Aimed at Bond Sales
Except for the fact that Teutor
armies are now on the retreat, there is
no reason here to believe in the sin.
certify of the German offer. 1t is the
psychological time for a German peace
move. America is in the midst of 9
campaign to sell six billion dollars
worth of liberty bonds. Her war prep
arations and program are now reaching
the peak of activity and production
Initial successes of her armies may
create in the minds of the unknowing
belief that "it is all over, we have
got them licked; let's see what the en-
envy has got to say"
The Huns have shown themselves to
be past masters in the nefarious arts
of ruthlessness, spying and propaganda
spreading. If Germany is able to check
Liberty Bond sales and war prepare
tions by whisperings of peace, her prop
agandists will be deemed entitled &c
special bestowalS of the iron cross The
signs all point to the need of caution
on the part of this government and its
co-belligerents. With Foch, Pershtns
and Haig sweeping toward the Rhine, ii