The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-14
WHITMAN CALLS
FOES NOTE A SNARE
Only Man to Make Peace Is
Marshal Foch, Asserts
the Governor.
AL SMITH ALSO OBJECTS
Nothing Should Interfere With
Prosecution Of War, He
Declares.

Most men Of note were chary OF COM
snent yesterday on the German note.
They generally took the attitude that II
would be better for the President to
issue his reply to Germany before any
body else did much talking. They were
afraid, obviously. Of being criticised for
speaking ahead Of the President for ex-
pressing even their individual opinions
as American citizens. Every man
seemed to have very definite impressions.
but almost every one shrank from speak,
ing out Gov. whitman didn't.
The German note is plainly an effort
70 temporixe ana that's all in the\ world
It Is" said the Governor. who was at
the Hotel St. Regis. Its insincerity Is so
clear. so patent. that don't believe any
body will be deceived. What's the use
Of talking back and forth with these
barbarians who want only to save what
they can out of their collapsing for
tunes? The only man TO make peace. to
settle the terms OF peace. is Marshal
Foch. Nothing should be done to ham,
per this great French patriot and genius
nothing!
ct am speaking not as the Governor
of New York but as Charles 8. Whit
man, American citizen. Therefore say
do not believe that tho American peo-
pie. and especially our boys who are
fighting in France. will tolerate negotia-
lions with Germany. In the name OF
heaven! why negotiate with an enemy
who IL being beaten to a pulp!"
Mr.. Smiths Views.
The leader OF the Democratic party in
this State. Alfred f. Smith. President of
the Board OF Aldermen and Democratic
nominee for Governor. was hardly less
outspoken than his Republican opponent.
Mr.. Whitman. At his ONCE In the City
Hail yesterday afternoon Mr.. Smith
said:
Nothing must interfere with the
prosecution of the war-nothing! We
must keep driving ahead with men, with
the Liberty Loan. with munitions. ships.
food. everything that will eventually win
the war. This German note or anything
else must not be allowed to weaken or
sacken our efforts. I am sure that all
Of our people sec this very clearly.
Last night was in Brooklyn. where
talked to a good many people. This
morning I was around in down town
Manhattan a good deal. near my home in
Orchard street, where, Of course, I had
opportunity to get tho opinion of the
average man. I know what they think
around my house-keep right on fighting.
There Is q strong undercurrent Of unbe-
lief in the sincerity Of the German pro-
posals; an impression that they are Just
talk and cannot come to anything very
definite. But the main thing is to keep
on hghting!"
Henry W. Taft. whose views are in
line with those Of William H. Taft, Sen
Rtor Lodge. Theodore Roosevelt and
other eminent Republicans. said yester-
day at the Garden City Hotel:
This note lays the foundation for n
positive answer by President Wilson.
This answer. as I interpret the will Of
the American people. must be: Cncon-
dtional surrender. The danger il that we
may now drift into a discussion of terms.
into such negotiations as would fairly
paralyze the American spirit. But there
must be no mere talk. The time for that
!s long past I devoutly hope that the
Presidents reply will consist OF two
words only: Unconditional surrender !
How the country would leap at these
words
There is no question in my mind as
10 the necessity for revising the fourteen
clauses submitted some time ago by the
L.
them himself. l need not go into de-
Jailed discussion of this. but It is obvious
that the terms must be made more bind
ing, more ample"
Depew Not Ready to Talk.
before giving an opinion I should
want to consult Field Marshal Haig and
Gems Foch and Pershing." was all
Chauncey NJ. Depew would say last
n ght.
I'm my Judgment" said DR.. Nicholas
Murray Butler, 1.-THE present situation is
highly unsatisfactory and may possibly
become grave. The Germans. who are
on the verge Of q complete military
overthrow. have won signal victory by
inveigling US into what the dfplomatists
call Conversation
The Presidents speech at tn. Metro
politan Opera House September II
stated the case against negotiations With
Germany perfectly stand on that. In
The interval nothing whatever has hap
rened in Germany except that the politl-
al offensive has advanced from tho Won
Hertling line to the Prince Max line. 1t
will doubtless move forward shortly to
the Erzberger line and then probably to
the Scheidemann line later on.
"All this Is In strict accord with the
German political character and German
political methods. They are now en-
gagged in a last desperate endeavor to
save their dynasty, their army. their
Russian acquisitions and their colonies"
I'm my opinion" said Henry Ciews,
there should be an absolute surrender
and evacuation OF all obtained territory
Akce the commencement of the war. Tho
allied armies should remain in the bat
tlefield and follow the enemies as they
retreat until all their armies have been
forced within the,r cwn borders. as they
were when the war commenced, ana then
agree to lay down their arms. Then,
and not till then, will an armistics be IN