The Washington times., 1918-10-26
FRENCH FORESEE
NO ARMISTICE

PARIS, Oct. 26.-In authoritative
quarters the opinion Is well defined
today that no armIstice and no peace
will result from President Wilson's
Transmission Of his correspondence
with Germany.
On the whole, French opinion Is
satisfied with Wilson's action, but
welI-informed persons declare this ma
tion would have been as well satisfied
had the President not replied, or had
he refused to go further with the ne
gotiations. In fact, they predict his
step in turning the AFFAIR over to the
allies within the end-amount to the
same thing as calling halt to the
correspondence
Tive Replies Possible.
II is believed the allied govern
ments, after a consultation, will reply
in one OF the two ways indicated in
Wilson's Notwithstanding either the
allies are not disposed to make peace
"upon the terms and principles indi-
Gated" and do not deem an armistice
possible from the military viewpoint:
or that the allied military leaders, in
cluding those Of the United States,
will draft terms for such an armistice
as will fully protect the interests OF
the peoples involves" !" which terms. in
view of the distrust of The present
masters of Germany. will amount vir-
tually to unconditional surrender.
II Is considered practically certain
that Germany would not accept such
terms as would be necessary to in
sure the allies against treachery. As
Wilson stated in the note the guaran-
tee would have to be such as to make
impossible a renewal of hostilities in
Germany. 1t is pointed out that this
means only one thing-surrender of
guns, munitions, submarines. air
planes. and all means OF making war.
Authorities here believe that Ger
many Is not sufficiently beaten back
to accept the drastic conditions and
extraordinary guarantees which are
necessary. Therefore, II IL predicted
that negotiations will quickly come
to an end.
Ne Hope for Peace.
As one Bell-informed authority
said: There is no hope that these
negotiations will come to anything.
The war must go on. Arms only. and
not words. will settle the big differen-
ces between the viewpoints OF the al
lies and the Germans. Wilson has
left IT to Foch."
All those interviewed caution
against the people of the allied ma
tions raising up any false hopes OF a
quick peace until Germany is whipped
nee and for all
When Wilson's reply first became
known 1t created some slight sur
prise, the newspapers having led the
public to expect q curt "see Foch" or
else silence.
The hotheads desired the door-slam-
ming method. Others openly stated
that Wilson ran the risk OF furnishing
his brilliant reputation for statesman
ship II he wrote further. Some OF
these, however. are now expressing
approval Of Wilson's latest note, II the
Temps editorial is any indication. IT
is headed: "Foch Has the Floor" and
concludes:
FOeh VIII Reply.
Marshal Foch and the allied mill
tary and naval chiefs will reply with
an the necessary clear-sightedness
and rigor recommended by Presidenti
Wilson himself. Nothing will be left
TO chance"
Meanwhile the British armies are
advancing toward Maubeuge and
Mons, beyond which stretch the val
Ieys Of the Sambre and the Meuse,
to cut Won Hindenburg's
forces between Metz and Holland in
two. the same as General D'Esperey
did the Bulgarians.