The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-07

France and Belgium he is asking for
an impossibility. Negotiating under
such circumstances would be an ad-
mission of German superiority and
concede the loss of the war by the ma
lions who are aiming to break Ger
man militarism. For this reason, we
canhot believe the peace offer to be
seriously meant"
The newspaper repudiates the idea
of trying to reach an understanding as
to indemnity for Belgium. 1t says:
at it a requirement of simple JUS
tice that Germany meet the account
which will be presented her for the
devastation and plundering of Bel
GUM. There are no fundamental
changes in the German administration:
Only few men lave been shifted and
the kaiser, and those who rule him
are still the rulers Of Germany"
Most Important Yet.
Admitting that the latest German
peace move is the most important of
any thus far made, and confident that
the allies will give the closest atten-
ton to it, the Chronicle says they will
find it insufficient.
No statesman who. believes in the
Wilsonian policy of trying to end war
once and for all can be content with
anything less than the final and I'M
equiyocaI, elimination of the Potsdam
must be restitution, PREPARATION and
guarantees and the criminals who
launched the war must be SO un-
mista keab bly, beaten that never q doubt
may be raised as to who won 1t and
who lost it.
THE chancellor's promise that an
effort will be made to reach an I'M
dersta nding regarding an indemnity
to Belgium is not enough for our pur-
poses; it is indispensable that in Bel
gums case no equivocation should re-
main. Germany must say outright, I
did wrong and l undertake as far as
possible to pay for it, Prince Maxi
miliar's standpoint still seems essen
TALLY different from what is vital to
us. Germany has undergone neither
change of outlook nor change of
heart, which alone can permit world
peace to be permanent"
Perhaps the most welcome feature
of Germany's hastily arranged move is
that it can only be measure of her
military necessity" says the Times.
Ambiguous Stuff.
After reviewing the chancellor's
speech the Times declares it to be
ambiguous and disipgenuous stuff"
and asks:
viii Germany ever realize there
is only one way for her, namely, by
deeds and not words?" 1t is far too
late to talk of a basis for peace nego-
tiations. The. determination of the al
lied peoples is that the defeat of those
who made war shall be complete and
absolute. That task they have under
taken and it shall be performed 10
the very end and there will be no
peace until Germany has surrendered
without condition to terms which will
leave her not merely without a will,
but without power to break it,
son cancelled his usual morning recrea-
ton hour and remained secluded in
his study at-work. Prince Maximil-
ian's note was received during the
night at the Swiss legation where ar
rangements were made to deliver it at
once to the state department for
transmission to the president
Quite irrespective Of the nature of
the reply, it seemed to be agreed that
the German note called for a prompt
reply SO that the American people
might not be misled into relaxing their
efforts for the fourth liberty loan, SO
that the American troops in the field.
may know at once the position of their
government and SO that an offer of
peace may receive such diplomatic at
tention as it deserves.
Kansas Wants Surrender.
The middle west is demanding the
unconditional surrender of Germany
as the only peace terms this nation
will consider, according to a telegram
reaching <he White HOUSE from Kan
saS today.
Note Mt 1890.
The Swedish minister had a double
engagement today to see Secretary of
State Lansing at 1880 and President
Wilson at 4:30.
Turned 1t Down.
Paris. Oct. 7.--Austria- Hungary re-
Gently again insisted that the vatican
undertake steps toward peace, it is
reported in Rome, according to
Havas dispatch from that city. The
vatican, it is added, rejected the same.