Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-18
Wilson'S Reply Leaves No Doubt


Y sixty-eight-word reply rejecting the Aus
tria proffer Of an "unbnding peace confer
ence" reflect the temper Of the American
people toward all manner of peace intrigue
but II one may judge by expressions OF the
London and Paris press, he reflected as we'll
the attitude of all tho allied nations and in
"A larger sense, the desire of enlightened men
everywhere. When America entered the war
II had fully made up its mind us to the neces-
sity for its action. and at no time since has
there been any wayering Of purpose to prose-
cute it with the utmost vigor possible until
the power OF the enemy is completely over
thrown and the selfish interests which II rep
resents are rendered incapable for all time
to come of again disturbing the peace and
security of mankind.
The answer which the President so prompt
ly returned 10 the enemy's insidious peace ma
neuver is characteristic of his whole attitude
toward such propaganda since our entrance
into the war. Early in the year, in ad-
dressing Congress on the subject Of various
peace feelers from enemy sources, lie ex-
plicitly laid down the conditions upon which
America would be willing to discuss peace
preliminaries, and announced that short of
acceptance OF these basic conditions, it would
be useless for the enemy to pursue the subject
further. Having set our hand to this task,
he said, we shall not turn back. Il have
spoken thus he explained, "only that the
whole world may know the true spirit Of
America-that men everywhere may know
that our passion for justice and for self
government is no mere passion Of words, but
a passion, which once set in motion, must be
satisfied In no subsequent utterance has
the President varied in the slightest degree
from the unalterable purpose so clearly and
emphaticaly announced in the statement
then made, in which the enemy was suf-
fciently put on notice Of the futility Of fur
Their effort which did not disclose a complete
change OF attitude toward the whole ques-
ton of new international order.
Hence, in his brief reply rejecting this
new Austrian proposal, the President drives
directly to the point in language so unmis-
takably clear that the enemy is left in no
doubt as to its meaning, while at the same
time there is sharp rebuke for the implied
insolence of the note doubling the candor of
the Presidents previous direct statements on
the subject of peace: 1T (the government
has repeatedly and with entire candor stated
the terms upon which the United States
would consider peace, and can, and will.
terrain no proposal for conference upon
matter concerning which it has made ITS posi-
ton and purpose SO plain
Thus the enemy is thrown back upon his
own powers of Interpretation of the plain
B statement of the terms, previously
placed within his possession, upon which the
war may be brought TO conclusion and
peace reinstated in the lands made desolate
by his contempt for human rights. Autocracy
may no longer blink its eyes to the meaning
of this pointed reply The Hapsburg and
Hohenzollern dynasties may as we'll make up
their minds that their days of grace are about
over. They might as we'll begin making
preparations for the new order OF things in
which no government shall hereafter ave any
voice among the family OF nations which does
not regard a treaty to which it has affixed
its signature something more than "a
mere scrap OF paper"