The daily times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1902-1936, 1918-10-08
THE GERMANS ARE QUIT
TING THE BELGIAN COAST
PRESIDENT CONFERS
WITH OUR ALLIES
No Answer Will Be Sent Until
America Has Heard from
Them. Negotiations
WILL NOT BE TOLERATED

Washington, Oct. 8.-President
Wilson is comforting with the pre-
miers of the entente nations over the
form of answer to be made to Ger
many's latest peace proposals. The
indications are that 1t will not be
dispatched for day or two.
While there may be some ques-
ton as to the form of the reply there
is no question whatever as to its ma
ture. It may not use the short and
forceful term unconditional sur
render" which would reflect the SEN
timent which has come from the
spokesmen of the nation, but 1t is
sure to convey to the German gov
ernment clearly the fact that moth
ing less than the terms already laid
down can be accepted and that thoe
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 s
note and that of Baron Burian, the
ro-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:
| Obviously the American govern
ment would not proceed to speak
for the other belligerents on a mat
ter of such Importance without con-
isultation among them and it is pur-
posed to avoid the mistake of max
ing curt and peremptory rejection
(which could be used by the central
powers, before their own people, to
bolster up the argument that they
re waging defensive" war and
hat the objects of the co-belliger,
tents are to destroy them"
| Lacking official announcements OF
what the President has done it is
probable that he had taken
Ae o fthese two courses:
Either he has asked Premiers
Lloyd George, Clemenceau and Or
lando to advise him of their replies
or, more likely still, the President al
ready has formulated a reply ant
asked the premiers for their ac
quiescence.
The temper of debate in the sen
ate yesterday and the general tone
of public opinion in the United
States as expressed in the newspa
per comment are a very fair index O
the government views. The con
census of opinion in the senate de
bate was that the offer should DE re
jected: the practically unanimous
public opinion as reflected in news
papers all over the country wal
y hot fnr ch 1rt 80
conditional surrender could be dis
cussed.
It is very clear that the reply will
be not only an answer to German,
and her allies, but statement TO
the historical record of the world
It is ealized on evey hand that e
lection of a peace offer must be
convincing one and one which will
Justify the prolonging of the war t,
the ends sought. 1t is realized tina
1t must be convincing to the peopl
of Great Britain, France, Italy an,
the United States, SO that they ma,
be warned against the insidious dan
ger Of throwing away the hard wol
victory so near their grasp, and a
the same time leave no opportunit,
for the militarist leaders of the cen
trail powers to lure their people OF
to more bloodshed and sacrifices.
There is suggestion that to car
:, ry out this purpose more fnlly, Pres
ident Wilson, after dispatching tn
:, reply, maj decide to address Con
:, gress and state in detail the rca
sons which cause the olIies 10 re