The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1918-09-21
AUSTRIAN PEACE
SCHEME REJECTED


definitely and emphaiicailN RE-
,jecis the Austrian peace scheme
America viii entertain no pro-
Ipasals to discuss matter on
(which oar position haS heen 80
'distineily and nneomprom'sineiy
stated. not once bui atien Ans
tria and Germany have onr peace
terms before them Thev can
either accept them how OF wait
until they are forced npon them.
The newspapers of the lnliel
states voicing. We believe the
opinion of the people are prae-
teal amt in declaring the Aus
,irian peace proposal trek ae-
signed to divide or weaken ihe
Allies and insist ing thai the war
'mus1 continue nn'll the principles
fnr which America entered the
conflict are aftained The one
,nofable and lameniable exception
is the New York Times. whic~
,arges ms Ia ateepi the Austrian
offer as The sincere expression
lof desire for nneh-needed
peace. al indication q "a
change of heart and purpose on
,he parf Of the enemg There has
been DO such indication in the
part of the enemy. There has
been no such indication in the
acts of The foe This peace prof
FER i nol nearly sc explicit as that
made BIZ the TeHion diplomats Il
Bresi-Liioysk, only TO bc ruth
lcssly brushed aside and repadi.
ated hy the prnssiau military
leaders when the victim took the
bai,. Can the democratic peo-
pies again place amy trnst IN The
withdrawing powers that treat
"a IS ca mere scrap Of paper
their solmen pledge to respect and
uphold the neutrality Of Bel
fgiumg The Answer is found IN
the declaration Of the President
,of the United States at the tomb
.of Washington On Independence
,Day.
Whist we seek is the reign Of
: law based upon the consent ot The
+ governed and sustained by The or
T. ganized opinion Of mankind
I These great ends can not be
achieved by debating and seeking
10 reconcile and accommodate
whai statesmen may wish with
their projects for balances OF
power or Of national cppormn-
I ity
The Austrian statement that
President Wilson 5 .our principles
of peace haze encountered no op.
position. which The Times imper-
: fectly quotes, Is completed with
} The significan, qualification pre-
{ supposinc that this application Is
z general and reconcilable with the
: vital interests of the States con
d cerned /, is an acceptance with
a reservation which nnllifies the
, acceptance, making II contingent
; npon what the rulers Of Austria
and Germany may consider their
r vital interests Ii is q plain at
r Fgnpt 10 invei1le the Allies into
p ,rasi debating ot what states
p men with their balances Of power
! wish. which Mr. Wilson has ex-
pieiily and emphstically declared
: can not achieve the peace we
i. strive for Il IS true the Times
attempts 10 qualify lis surrender
j. with reiferafion that Germany
r must not be left master. bat the
only danger Of that lies in follow
n ing lis advice that reason and
humanity demand the Austrian IN
: vifafion be accepted. " The enemy
has lost Tie possibility Of winning
the war OF the field of hsfile. and
+ recognizes i lis one hope of
| victory is IN confidential
secret intrigue between states
men with their projects ot bal.
ances Of power. The foe VIII
not stop TO snslyze the quslifyin :
cianses IN the Times editorial. I;
VII he busy Haunting the hnmili-
atinc fact thsi a leading Amer
can newspaper has been hood
winked hv Austrian ad-Oiiness
| il j. all the more necessary Amer
ics should repudiate It.
/ There Is. IS the President says
no need for discussion. The
| Allies have made their war aim.
clear and unmisfakable- Wien
the enemy Is prepared 10 submit
70 a reign Of lsw based on con
sent OF the governed and sustain
| ed by the organized opinion oi
l -uantssas3s- !. azr have r,aaaa an