The Washington herald., 1918-10-31
PEACE NOTES
KEPT SECRET
BY LANSING
Regarded as Hun Propa-
ganda, and Have No Bear
ing on Armistice Terms.
ACTION is PUZZLNG
Wonder Expressed That
Notes Are Listed in Same
Category.

ne Sldtc btpdI tinchtt uCPdi I
ing from its usual custom, yester-
day withheld the contents of the
latest German and Austrian notes.
1t is the first time since the
start of the peace offensive that
this government has kept secret
the text of any official notes,
either its own or those of the
enemy. Two reasons were cited
in semi-official quarters for the
unusual procedure.
The first was that both armis-
tice and peace terms will be made
public today, or very shortly
thereafter, by the Supreme Coun-
Gil at Versailles, and that "subsi-
diary" notes from the Central
Powers might prove distracting
TO the public mind.
More Hun Propaganda
The second reason was that the
German note. which slipped unher-
aided into the State Department at
noon yesterday. was considered but
another sample of German propa-
ganda and nothing else.
II is said to be a supplementary
memorandum, explaining in detail the
electoral and other reforms that are
supposed to have taken place in the
dernocratization of Germany.
Communication between the United
States and the allies. which presum-
ably took the form of messages be-
tween President Wilson and Colonel
House, his personal representative at
Versailles. assumed such unprece-
dented proportions yesterday as to,
sidetrack all other radio and cable
messages and dispatches. An in
stance of this was afforded by en-
tente diplomatic and military mis-
sipns which Nerterdsy, fer the first
time since their appearance in this
country, failed to receive the custom
ary radio press dispatches from their
own and neutral countries.
Everything in Washington was sub
ordinated to the most important busi-
ness Of the war-the ironing out OF all
difficulties and the settling OF all de-
tails in connection with the consid-
Grafton of the terms of an armisuce.
and also the peace terms of the allies
and the United States.
Relieve Peace Imminent.
Each day increases the belief in the
Capital that the war is on its last
legs, and the only thing awaited no"
IL The manner in which the Supreme
Council will see fit to end 1t. There
is slight doubt here but that Germany
IN ha Of
fered her, but in the event she re-
fuses them her action would only pro-
long the war for a short time, 1t is
believed.
The German note of yesterday,
which is the fifth of the present series
thus far received from her, is an
other evidence of her desire to know
the terms of the armtstice, and
everything else the entente nations
and this country have in store for her.
Its text, which was received by Sec
retary of State Lansing from Fred
erick Oederlin, the Swiss charge
d'affaires, is said to have been relayed
tC the allies yesterday afternoon.
The action of the State Department
with regard to the two notes is lit
tie puzzling The text OF the Austrian
note is generally known by the pub
lie through the press dispatches
which carried it, while the text of the
German note is not. Wonder was evil
denced at the action of the depart
ment in listing both notes in appa-
renHy the same category.
Andrassy's Note Missing.
Secretary Lansing had not received
the separate note addressed to him
by Count Andrassy. the Austrian
foreign minister, who asks the secre-
tary to bring his good offices to bear
on President Wilson so the latter
may hasten peace negotiations
The President was reported yester-
day morning as preparing an answer
to the Austrian note. which came in
Tuesday and appears to be a bid for
a separate peace. The notes are com
ing SO fast now that each needs ex-
PLANTATION. He had not completed his
reply last night, however. and the
assumption was that the negotiations
on the other side prevented him from
| finishing IL.
The report that the President might
attend the peace conference lacked
confirmation at the White House yes
| terday afternoon where 1t was said
such a conference might require an
extensive absence from the United
States, and the President is unwilling