Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1918-10-11
BY JOHN EDWIN NEvIN

| Washington, Oct. 9.-Presi-
dent Wilson late yesterday aft
ernOOn called on Germany to
throw aside all subterfuge and
ten the world whether its latest
appeal for an armistice and a
peace conference to end the war
Is candid and straightforward.
To the declaration Of the Ger
man imperial chancellor, Prince
Maximilan, of Baden, asking the
president "tO take steps for the
restoration of peace" the presi.
dent addresses several vital
queries upon which depend
whether he will take any further
action In the matter.
First and foremost, the presi-
dent makes it plain that the
terms laid down by him in his
address to congress on January
8, last, meant what they said,
and he asks whether Germany in
reality accepts them or simply
desires to use them as q basis for
negotiations.
Then the president makes it very
plain Germany cannot expect him to
arrange for an ar1nistice while her
forces remain on invaded soil. The
good faith Of any peace discussions,
the president explains, would mani
festly depend upon the consent Of the
central powers Immediately to with
draw their forces everywhere from in
vaded territory. And officials this
afternoon emphasized this meant ev-
erywherc in the east, as well as in the
west.
Concluding his brief note to the
German government, the president
also asks whether the new imperial
chancellor represents the German peo-
pie themselves or ''the constituted
authorities. of the empire who have
30 far conducted the war;" By this
means he will be able to place the
chancellor on record as to whether he
is speaking for the kaiser and the
high command or whether he repre-
sents in his appeal for peace all Of
the element of the German people.
Officials declared this afternoon the
president, in adopting the course he
did, has shifted the burden Of proof
of good intentions directly to Ger
many. If the German note was de
signed to aid in reestablishing Ger
man morale at home by throwing the
responsibility for the continuation Of
the war on the United States and its
allies, it has failed Of its purpose, Of
ficials said.
The president has pointed the way
out If the purpose is to end the war.
The central powers can have peace If
they sincerely desire it. And while
there is no mention of unconditional
surrender" in the presidents note, he
makes It emphatically plain that Ger
many must be willing to retire from
invaded territory before she could ex-
pcct that an armistice would be grant
ed or even asked for.
On the reply to this one question
much will hinge. If Germany is will
ing to retire within her own boundar-
les and here await further action de-
signed to carry out the peace princi-
pies enunciated by the president in his
address to congress last January,
then she voluntarily comedies defeat
from the military standpoint, officials
soy. If she does not desire to do SO,
why, then, there is absolutely nothing
to be done but for the allied armies
to continue their operations until the
German military machine is wiped out
Of existence.
Officials generally expressed their
complete satisfaction this afternoon
over the course that the president has
taken. All along, they have pointed
out, he has left the door to peace ajar.
Today he has thrown it wide open II
there is q sincere desire to end the
war while, at the same time, he has
snapped a trap which had been set
further intrigue.
in plain sight If the desire was for
The text Of the reply follows:
"Sir: ] have the honor to acknowl-
edge, on behalf Of the president, your
note of October 9, enclosing a COM
munication from the German govern
meut to the president; and ! am in
structed by the president to request
you to make the following commune
cation to the imperial German chan
cellor:
"'Before making reply to the re-
quest Of the imperial German govern
uJent, and In order that that reply