The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-16
sForce to the Utmost, Force
Without Stint or Limit
That Is Wilson's Answer to the
Hun Peace Talk.
AUSTRIA MAKES A PROPOSAL
Suggests an Informal Confer
ence of Belligerents.
Germany Makes a Definit;
Proposition to Belgium.

Washington, Aug. 16.-Germany'S
latest peace feeler, advanced thru
best finds its answer in President
Wilson's Baltimore speech delivered
last April.
Force, force to the utmost, force
without stint or limit, the righteous
and triumphant force which shall
make right the law of the world, and
cast every selfish dominion down in
the dust"
That was the presidents answer
then and it was reiterated today, it is
his answer now.
Austria's Peace Proposal.
Amsterdam, Sept. 16.-The Austro-
Hungarian government has invited all
belligerent governments to enter into
a non-binding discussion at some neu-
trail meeting place with a view to
bringing about peace. The holy see
and all neutral nations also will be
notified. An official statement from
Vienna making the above announce
ment has been received here.
Would Secure Exchange of Views.
In extending an invitation to all the
belligerent governments to enter into
nom binding discussions at some neu-
trail meeting place, the Austro-Hun-
garian government stated that the OBJ
ject of the conference would be to
secure an exchange of views which
| would show whether those prerequi-
sites exist which would make the
sepedy Inauguration of peace negotia-
tons appear promising"
Proposes No Interruption of War.
The Austrian proposal, which is an
nounced in an official communication
telegraphed here from Vienna, sug-
gests that there be no interruption OF
the war, and that the discussions
would go only so far as considered by
| the participants to offer prospects OF
success" the proposal calls for all the
belligerents to send delegates for a
confidential and unbinding discussion
on the basic principles for the conclu-
sion of peace, in a place in a neutral
country and at near date that would
yet have to be agreed uponl''
The proposal says the conference
would be one CT delegates who would
be charged to make known to one
another the conception of their gov
ernments regarding those principles
and to receive analogous communica-
tons. as well as to request and give
frank and candid explanations on all
| those points which need TO be precise
| ly defined"
The government announces that a
note embodying its suggestions had
been addressed to the various beIliger-
| ent powers and that the holy see had
been apprised of the proposal in a
| special note. The governments of the
neutral states also had been made ac-
quainted with the proposal.
-. Peace Offer to Belgium.
london, Sept. LIT is understood
| that the government has received the
Austro-Hungarian peace note and also
the proposal previously referred to-
that all the powers should withdraw
their troops from the Thurman terri.
| tory.
1t is also learned that Germany
has made a peace offer to Belgium
The terms of this proposal are as
! follows:
| That Belgium shall remain neutral
until the end of the war.
| That thereafter the entire economic
and political independence of Belgium
shall be reconstructed.
! That the pre-war commercial
treaties between German and Bel
GUM shall again be put into opera.
ton after the war for an indefinite
period.
That Belgium shall use her goot
| offices to secure the return OF the
German colonies.
That the Flemish question shall
be considered and the Flemish
minority, which aided the German
invaders, shall not be penalized.
The proposal contains no WORD
respecting reparation or indemnities
no admission that Germany wronget
Belgium