South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-09
WILSON s NOTE
BARS WAY To
ANY PARLEYING
No FruitIeSS Exchanges Will
Follow But Club Has Been
Seized From Hands of
German MiIitariStS.
by JOHN EDWIN NEVIN.

international News Service:
WASHINGTON, oct 9.-Prest
Wilson has not opened the way for
| fruitless exchanges between Ger
many and the United States.
Officials made this fact emphati-
cally clear today in discussing the
presidents three questions ad
dressed to Germany touching upon
/ her good faith in proposing an ar
mistice and peace negotiations.
The president has asked for in
/ formation. He is perfectly free TO
do as he believes wisest when that
/ information is in his hands. Sug-
! gestions that he has opened a door
| to general negotiations are resented
/ in official circles here.
May Address Congress.
/ 1t is understood today to be Pres't
Wilson's intention to go before
! congress when he receives the Ger
man. reply and to explain the rea-
sons for his note Of yesterday and
/ for the final action that he will
take.
Pres't Wilson went TO the state
department during the noon hour
and held a conference with Sec'y of
State Lansing 1t was assumed, of
course. that the note 10 Germany
was the topic of discussion. Soon
after the president arrived Gen.
March, chief Of staff, was sent for.
Washington today was even more
/ pleased with Pres't Wilson's note 10
/ Germany than when it was first an
| nounced II was felt that the presi-
dent had taken the only step where
/ by Germany would be unable 10 say
! that she had offered peace on Amer
/ ica's terms and been rejected. He
I has placed the burden Of proving
/ sincerity on the present German gov
eminent In doing so, officials say.
/ he has thrown wide open the door
for lasting peace and closed il TO
! deceit and hypocrisy.
incidentally it was admitted that
/ the president has much more infor-
nation on the exact conditions
within Germany than any other per
/ son IN the United States.
War Weariness Spreads.
The spread Of war WEAKNESS
throughout the empire in the last
/ few weeks since the German armies
have shown that they could no.
stand up against Foch's trip-ham-
mer blows has been constantly in
c-easing. The people everywhere are
/ demanding peace Pres't Wilson now
/ has made il plain that there is only
/ one way 10 secure that peace
/ Withdrawal Of all German armies
/ within their own territorial limits
and her underseas assassins from the
I lanes Of The ocean; acceptance OF the
/ terms already laid down by him and
/ endorsed by the allies; and an ad-
. mission by Prince Max, of Baden.
F that in accepting peace he repre-
/ sents the German people and not
merely the military masters Of the
( nation.
N.xr Move mp TO Berlin.
The next move is up 10 Berlin.
y And while waiting for It the great
4 allied armies on the western front
will continue their operations
/ against the armies Of Hindenburg
and LUderdorff
Oficials very frankly admitted to-
7 day that they do not look for a fav-
orable response 20 the presidents
/ three queries from Germany. The
/ position ~ the kaiser is too well
\ known. they say. 20 believe that he
/ ard his followers will accept a sit
uation which compels them 10 admit
defeat in 2 military sense. And.
after all. robbed OF its high sounding
words. that is exactly what Pres't
Wilson demands when he makes the
| condition OF asking for an armis-
tice withdrawal from all occupied
erritory-nOrthern France. Bel
gium. Luxembourg. Serbia Montene-
gro. Rounlania and Russia. Accept
oCONTISI1ED on PAGE FOUR,