Arizona republican., 1918-09-18
WILSON 'SREPLY
 T0 PEACE NOTE
 |S COMMENDED
Austria $ Famous Peace
 Offensive" Is Now Closed
 Incident So Far As U. $. Government Is Concerned
Republican A. p. Leased Wire1

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17.-Austris peace offensive is closed incident so far as the American government is concerned.
 Secretary Lansing sent to the Swed- lsh minister today the note authorized last night by President Wilson flativ rejecting in two short sentences inc proposal of the Austro- Hungarian gov efnment Tor secret and non-bindins: peace discussions. It was started on the cables at once for transmission 10 Vienna by the foreign office at Stoci; holm
 The presidents action-including the precendont-setting brevity of the reply and the promptness with which It was delivered-drew expressions cf approval at the capitol, among offi- cials and throughout the allied difrio- matlc corps. Similar responses frora the other nations at war with Ger many are expected quickly
 Voices Feelings at Conqress
 In the senate, Senator Lodge of Massachusetts. republican floor lead CT and the ranking minority member of the foreign relations committee. voiced the feelings of congress on the subject in a prepared speech heartily approving the presidents course as both wise and right. The United states, the senator said can talk peare only to Germany beaten and deprived of power further to harm a wron-ed world. He was followed by Senator 1 McCumber of North Dakota, republi- can. and Senator Thomas of Colorado. | democrat. with like expressions. On the house side Representative Fess of | Ohio, chairman of the republican cou- Sressional committee, spoke in sp proval
 In Accordance With Allies Policy unequlvocal rejections of the Aus trian offer from all the allies will bc In accordance with the policy which has governed the entente powers and America in meeting the German neace offensives. Prompt action is regarded as the surest terms of defeating the underlying purposes of the central powers to shake the allies and develop fatal Weaknesses by the encouraee- ment of the expression of the iudi Vldual aims and views of the separate states. Foreign Minister Balfour's comment yesterday is accepted in Washington as a sufficient indication of the attitude of Great Britain and if IS not doubted similar expressions will be forthcoming from other enton,e capitals soon.
 Regarding this phase of the peace campaign as practically closed, the ad mln1stratlon is closely watching for the next move on the part of the CT emy, for it is not believed that .hoy will abandon their efforts. It has leen suggested that, denied unlimited .ialds or secret discussion of war issues Aus trla may attempt coup by assentins to restriction of the discussion to tl,e principles laid down by President Will son as the only possible basis of peace
 Central Powers Must Withdraw
 It was said authoritatively today that such a proposition undouhtedly would be accepted. But this statement was accompanied by a significant re- mnder of conditions which must bc met preliminary to any such discus sion. These are that the central DOW CTS must withdraw completely from all occupied territory in France and Belgium, Italy, Russia and Serbia. Thr Germans must drop the subterfuge ot the Brest-Litovsk treaty made by Ger many with Russian agents hired tc betray their country. They must loosar their hold upon the wheat fields q, Ckrainia and the oil wells of Serbi4 and Russia, and all of this must ,,, done before America would consent f, talk peace. even upon the basis of in, presidents stipulation.
 Said It July Fourth Attention was called to the fact tha in his reply Secretary Lansing referred to the terms upon which the Unite, States would consider peace as hay ing been stated repeatedly. Ina
 Continued on Page Two)