Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-09-18
KAISER NEXT PEACE
PLEADER| IS REPORT
Presidents Prompt Rejection OF
Austria's Proposal Places U. S.
in Lead of Allies.

Washington, Sept 1s.-The text of
President Wilson's reply to the Austrian
peace overture, as made public last
night by Secretary Lansing, and which
already has been photographed into Ger
many and Austria and to the four cor
ners of the globe, was delivered yesterday
afternoon to w A. +. Ekengrcn, the
Swedish minister to the United States.
1t is not believed that President Will
sons action will more tnan check the
peace offensive. The State Department
has advices from abroad that Germany
has prepared plans for peace offensive
of the most persistent character.
The support given here TO President
Wilson's reply to Austria serves to pre-
sent the most solid front of any i'm
portant foreign policy move since the
outbreak of the war. Not even the
declaration Of war against Germany, IN
April. 1917, had such solid backing, for
there we're afew votes against the decla-
ration of war All political leaders hav
publicly proclaimed their support of the
President s decision. Meyer London, the
Socialist member Of Congress who has
not always voted for the war measures
of the administration, declared himself
in favor of the action the President has
taken
LEADERSHIP OF UNITED sTATEs.
By being the first of the associated
free nations to reject the Vienna over
ture and without having exchanged
views with the nations allied with the
United States, this government took the
leadership. The action taken by the
American government is regarded IN
diplomatic circles as action which the
allied nations could not take indepen-
IDENTIFY. but only after consultation. nc
cause of the Treaty. Of London. This
instrument while requiring the allied
powers to act in common, Is not binding
upon the W ashington government.
The pcohable course of Germany ana
Austria following the rebuff admins
tered by President Wilson ls matter
of speculation. Neither the Vatican nor
anv neutral government can be induced,
DIPLOMATS believe. 10 become an instrt-
mentality to forward and enemy peace
movement similar to the present pro
posal
Diplomatic observers here do not be-
hcvc the Reichstag facing the inevitable
defeat of Germany, will attempt 10 over
throw the present German government =,
but will become live issue before next
spring
PRESS STILL sKIMPs TRUTH
The attitude Of the German press
toward the Austrian proposal rs not ms
leading official Washington. German
newspapers have sought 10 give the i'm
preston that the Vienna government 9
action was taken on its own RESPONSE
bilitv. intimaurg, as IN the instance OF
the Tagclische Rundschau, quoted in Of
fetal advices yesterday. that the differ
cnccs between Germany and Austria
Hungary over the solution of the Polish
question might have furnished the mo-
tive for Vienna = action.
The Austrian press, ON the other hand,
declares that Nicnnas action was taken
in full accord with the Berlin govern
ment. The Vienna Frcmdcnblatt says:
at is supcrfiuous 10 point out that
Austria-Hungary only speaks after hav-
ing come to an understanding with all
hrr friends on the side of whom she has
been fighting for the last four years.
At the very moment when Austris-uun-
earian soldiers are fighting on the west-
crn front. il is perfectly natural that IN
her province Of activity Austria-Huni
gary should have desired 10 follow the
inspiration which she thinks will serve
the cause OF peace