The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-10-09

IfOE1CScu GJ SCAAiA<eAo >N~~~~
Terms Stated by Wilson on.S
Ground Upon Which Washington
VIII Agree 70 Cessation of Eossih-
ties With Central Empires.
washington, Oct. Germany s
newest peace offer-proposinG an ar
n,istice while President Wilson con-
siders ard conveys 20 the allies pro-
pcsal on the basis of terms laid down
by the president himself-had not
reached Washington in official forn2
tonight and there was, therefore no
authorized statement of how 1t was
REGARDED by the United States.
Plainly, however, it was recognized
as the next step in the continuing Ell
forts of the German statesmen TO save
something from the wreckage OF leeaf
dream of world domination, the step
which might be expected from los
ing trader who makes his propos,tlon,
has it rejected and offers his next
best, each time coming nearer to tae
demands of his adversary, meanwhile
endeavoring to hold out in the hope
of getting the best terms he can
1t hardly is taking a position in ad-
vance Of the American government Id
say that if the present proposition
signifies Germanys unqualified &C
ceptarce OF the four principles OF
peace laid down by President Wilson
IN his Fourth Of July speech at th2
tomb Of Washington, it will be con-
s:dered. Il it does not; il it is an &C
ceptarce .'in principle" with saving
diplomatic language paving the way
for quibbliug around a council table
it will not be considered.
Those terms accepted by all the al
lies as their own, the president con-
pressed into q single sentence:
Reign of law based upoI the con-
sent of the governed and sustained by
the organized opinion Of mankind.
They provided for the destruction
Or reduction to virtual impotence o:
any arbitrary power capable Of dis
turbing the peace Of the world; the
settlement Of every question on the
,jasis Of the interest Of the people con
eerned and in effect league Of ma
tions to enforce peace.
# in the offer of Prince Maxnlil-
ian. the new imperial chancellor
Germany is willing to accept these
terms. and the remainder Of the wori"
Is satisfied that he speaks not alone
hut with the military masters OF Ger
many in acquiescence, the next logl-
cal step would be the withdrawal .oi
every, German from every foot Of oc-
cupied territory. From that point tfc
allies might begin to test the SINGER
ity Of Germany's willingness to con-
form to the world peace preserving
program.
No one in Washington even rs
much as gives a thought to any pro-
posal that the victorious troops O!
Great Britain, France, Italy and the
United States should halt in an ar
mistice while a "discussicn", is con-
Quoted There might be an arms
tice of the same nature as was given
to Bulgaria, an arlnistice Of uncondi-
t;cnal surrender When Austria pro
posed peace negotiations the official
view was summed up this way:
Austria is breaking, this is the
time to hit her hardest, not the Tins
to talk peace"
! There is nothing to indicate that the
view has been changed. No one here
doubts that sooner or later Germany
is going to make peace offer that
may be worth considering. None Oh
the allies wishes to assume the re-
sponsibility Of prolonging the war a
day longer than is necessary TO insure
tie future peace OF the world. There
fore, it is realized that offers OF peace
arc not TO be rejected before they are
examined. prince Maxim:lian's Of
fer. with those said to be coming sim
uitaneoasly from Austria and Turke;v
; will go under the same acid test which
nas been applied to ;,ll the others. l..
il fails to stand the test it will so the
way CT all the others.
Germany herself is participating
formally now for the first time in an
open and direct proposal OF peace.
The move is believed to mark the be-
ginning Of the last phase of The Of
for 70 substitute diplomatic discus
sion for military operations before ;ha
allied and American armies cross tue
Rhine and give German soil 4 taste
OF what happened ID RelGiunl and
northern France. The proposal cfea
may be little more specific than Of
ticials Of the american government
had expected as scduei to Presi-
Gent Wilson's fat rejection Of Aus
tria's request for secret and non
binding discussions. but apparentl;'
no one here is ready TO conclude that
the kaiser's government has reached
the poin. whore it will accept with
out more fighting the only terms up
on which tnei:' enemies are willing II
. lay down their arms
Officials who. informally. say they
iind 20 reason for thinking peace will
DC brought apprec;ahly nearcr by th~
latest Developments point 20 the pes
ent situation in Germany and at the
hattle fronts. i'hey say there hae
been no real charge in control in
Germany. despite the cal! OF Prince