The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-15
WILSON ULTIMATUM
Is ENTIRE NATIONS
Chief Newspapers Indorse
Blunt Refusal to Deal With
Autocracy's Agents.
PAPER PEACE SHATTERED
Criticism Is Made That Sur
render and Punishment
Are Not Mentioned.
PAPER PEACE SHATTERED

The editorial comments OF tho Nsp
York city papers upon the Presidents
note to Germany are as toiIoSs:
The worid--Again has President Will
son bluntly informed the German people
that there can be no peace with au-
tocracy.
The Presidents answer to the German
note Is the answer of the American peo-
rle. There can be no doubt that 1t is
likewise the answer of the British and
French peoples Democracy will not come
to terms with autocracy. II the German
people are sincerely DESTROYS of peace,
and we believe they are. they must begin
at home by establishing a government
with which honest men can deal.
Presidents Wilson's response to the
German proposals Is more than a diplo-
matte paper He himself calls II a de
cison." and as such 1t is the decision of
the most powerful court known to hui
man history, the great self-governing
democracies of the world.
The President at one stroke has swept
AWAY this whole German structure Of a
paper peace. without guarantees. He has
also swept away the foolish fears of all
those timid people at home melted by
INSCRIPTIONS politicians who have been
In the German offer of surrender and
have been shivering lest civilization be
cheated OF the fruits of victory by SUI
perior German intelligence. There are
no German supermen and there Is no
superior German intelligence. What
German intelligence remains is now de-
voting itself to desperate efforts to sal
wage as much as possible from the
wreck.
Germany Is beaten. and Germany
knows II is beaten. What is left to do
now Is to make the defeat so decisive
and convincing that every German for
generations to come will know that Ger
many was beaten, how 1t was beaten and
why II was beaten. That is the immedi-
ate task of the United States and the
Allies.
Asks Why "Surrender" Is Taboo.
The Tribune-Almost we are glad to
believe that Germany still has in the
United States secret agents who tell her
what Is going on. They will have told
her that the country In all its length and
breadth Is vibrant with two ominous
words: UNCONDITIONAL SURREN-
DER! This is Americas historic answer.
They will have told her. also. that a
demand for the personal punishment Of
Colts unholy partners in the crimes OF
the last four years is rising like tidal
wave
None of this Information will be found
IN what President Wilson calls n frank
and direct statement of his decision with
regard to the communication of the Ger
man Government of the sth of October,
1918"
This statement discusses two things,
namely, an armistice and peace.
Why in our growing correspondence
with Germany Is the word surrender
taboo?
Why is 1t that we cannot talk as we
fight?
To the Imperial German Governments
peace overture We returned an INJURY. |
To our inquiry the Imperial German
Government returned an answer. To
that answer we reply, and the reply calls
for another answer. Germany's answer
will call for an answer. So it was with
the Lusitania.
We are negotiating with Germany to-
ward an armistice-toward peace.
Does the American Government know
the heart of the American people. and
how IL sinks as each further expectation
is so vaguely disappointed? That is our
inquiry" The answer Is vital.
InterIudc Time Wasted.
Herald-The reply sent yesterday is
we best possible proof that the inter-
iude consisting of the Presidents pues-
t'onng of the German Imperial Chan
celior and that functionary's reply was
as unnecessary as It was futile. . . =.
II In any respect the Presidents reply
seems inadequate to the American peo-
PIE II will be in the absence from II of
any mention of reparation and punish
nent
The Tlmes-The Presidents answer to
Germany will stir the blood of the Amer
!can people and command their instant
assent by reclamation. To its requests
the terms of peace he replies with an
unsparing candor BETTING communica-
tons addressed to n brutal government.
No peace will be concluded with Ger
many until she has made an end of the
Hohenzollern autocratlc rule; conditions
OF evacuation and armistice must be left
10 the judgment and advice OF Foch and
lIaig and Pershing and Diaz: and no
armistice will be considered SO long as
the armed forces of Germany. on land
and sea, continue the illegal and inhu-
name practices which they persist in
That is President Wilson's answer to the
German proposals of the Sth and 18th
OF October. 1t is an American answer.
given by a great American. and it gives
voice to the deep conviction OF the whole
American people.
On the blessed relief tho Presidents
answer to Germany will bring to those
gentlemen of public or private station
who have expressed real or simulated
fears that lie would be betrayed into
proftless and dangerous Interchange of
written notes we may extend our con-