Arizona republican., 1918-10-08
WILSON WILL NOT
 BUDGE AN INCH
 FROM HIS TERMS
No Haste in Answering the
 Peace Proposal = May
 Demand Equivalent of an Unconditional Surrender

W WASHINGTON, Oct. 7.-President Wilson is conferring with the premiers Of the entente nations over the form or answer to be made to Germany's latest peace proposals. The indica- tions are that it will not be dispatched for a day or two.
 While there may be some questions as to the form of the reply, there is no question whatever as to it's nature It may not use the short and forceful term unconditional surrender" which would reflect the sentiment which has come from the spokesmen of the na- tion, but it is sure to convey to the German government very clearly, the fact that nothing less than the terms already laid down, can be accepted, and that those terms cannot be made merely the basis for negotiations" As to an armistice, such a step would be looked upon as suicidal and not to be thought of.
 By this time, Prince Maximilian S note and that of Baron Burian, the Austro- Hungarian foreign minister, in official form, undoubtedly, are in the foreign offices in London, Paris and Rome, forwarded by President Wilson as requested by the central powers.
 The exchanges now going on have a two-fold purpose:
 To Avoid Curt Answer
 @Obviously the American govern ment would not proceed to speak for the other belIgerenes on a matter of such importance, without consulta ton among them, and, it is purposed to avoid the mistake of making a curt and peremptory rejection which could be used by the central powers before their own people to bolster the arqu- ment that they are waging a 'defen sive' war and that the objects of the co -beligerents are to destroy them.' .'
 Lacking official announcement of what the president has done, it is highly probable that he has taken one of these two courses:
 Either he has asked Premiers Lloyd George, Clemenceau and Orlando tc advise him of their replies, or, more likely still, the president already has | formulated reply and asked tho premiers for their acquiscence.
 The temper of debate in the senate today and and the general tone of pub 1 lie opinion in the United States, as expressed in the newspaper comments are very fair index of the govern ment's views. The concensus of opin- ion in the senate debate was that the offer should be rejected; the practi- cally, unanimous public opinion as re | flecteu- in newspapers all over tn country was that no peace terms shor of unconditional surrender should b. discussed.
 Reply to be Historical
 It is very clear that the reply wil be not only an answer to Germany an. her allies, but a statement for tn historical record of the world. It i realized on every hand that rejec ton of peace offer must be con vincing one and one which will justif the prooneing of the war to the end sought. 1t is realized that it must b convincing to the people of Great Brit ain, France, Italy and the Unite States, so that they may be warne against the insidious danger of throw ing away tho hardwon victory, s near their grasp, and at the same tim leave no opportunity for the mlitaris leaders of the central powers to lur their people on to more bloodshed an sacrifice.
 There is a suggestion that to carr out this purpose more fully, Presiden Wilson, after dispatching the repl. may decide to address congress an state in detail the reasons whic caused the allies to reject the proposa There is no official indication that tn president plans such a course, but is being discussed among many pos abilities.
 President, Writes Alone
 Colonel F. M. Hope. the president constant adviser, |; ' personal repro sentative on mar confidential el rands, arrived at White Hou' tonight. His comi ,llowed a bus day for the presidei in which all otht business was put aside, recreation wa abandoned and except for an hour ( two given over to entertaining $ Eric Geddes, first lord of the Britis admiralty at luncheon, MT. Wilso spent the day in his study. It ws said he was writing.
 The official communication fro Germany was delivered to the Whi House this morning by the charge the Swiss legation and the note frol Austria was taken to the state d' partment and handed to Secreta1 Lansing by MT. Ekengren, the minist' from Sweden.
 The president already had the UT official texts, as transmitted by u Associated Press. before him and u official copies added little or nothir Ia,