Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-14

United States of America by telegraph
that the Imperial Government re-
quests the President of the United
States of America to take upon him.
self the task of the re-establishment
of peace: to notify all belligerent
States of this demand and to invite
them to delegate plenipotentiaries to
initiate negotiations. 1t the Imperial
GovernmenD accepts as a basis for
negotiations the program laid down
by the President of the United States
I'm his message to Congress of January
8. 1918. and in his subsequent declara-
( tions; especially the speech of Sep
tember 27.
"In order to put an end to the shed.
ding of blood, the Imperial Ottoman
Government requests that steps be
taken for the immediate conclusion
of a general armistice on land, on sea
and in the air."
The September % speech sreferred
to above was the Presidents talk in
New York. declaring for impartial Jus
tice to all, whether friends or enemies.
Will Take Positive Action
The only official intimation that has
come regarding the probable course OF
the President in regard to Ger
many is that he is sure to
act quickly and positively. Every
where in Washington, however, the
confident belief prevailed that. what
ever might be the form of that action
it would not contemplate cessation
of hostilities nor negotiations for
peace with the German Government
except upon conditions amounting to
unconditional surrender.
Last night the Government asked
the American people to suspend judg
ment upon the German note until the
President could consider it. II the
reflected by editorial comment coming
from every corner Of the country, the
people already have made up theii
minds that there should be no tenn
porizing with an enemy whose word
is worth only what the victorious Al
lied armies make 1t.
It Is assumed that since Saturday
night at least informal exchanges have
taken place between Washington ant
the capitals of the co-belligerents. In
formed Of the views of the ALLIED
Premiers, the President may determine
before the day Is over whether hi.
reply. to the German request that ht
propose an armistice and peace nego
tiations shall be a refusal to MAX,
any such proposal at the instance o.
the present German Government or
renewed statement of the conditions
under which peace must be restored.
} 1t was suggested that the Presiden
might ask for joint session Of thu
House and Senate to communicate hi
decision and the reasons for 1t to Con
gress, the country and the world.
Next Step Soon
The Associated Press is enabled I
say that official views are crystallizln
rapidly, and the next step will be take
= promptly, probably sooner than may b
expected.
President Wilson is expected to decid
II Foreign Secretary Solfs reply to tn
inquiries addressed to Chancellor Max
milan warrants him in presenting Ger
many's original proposal to the Entent
Allies.
1t should be borne in mind that tn
! Presidents inquiry merely was NOV
ad interim, in which he proposed moth
ing. bound himself to nothing, and mere
ly asked some questions which. he d,
clared. required an answer before
could go further.
) Allies Have Made Decision
} II he puts the proposition before tn
2 Entente It undoubtedly will draw a quic
! reply. Dispatches from London. quotin
! the London Express as announcin
g that the British. French and Italian Gov
ernments had reached unanimou
I decision for a line OF common actioi
a were regarded as being deeply signif
cant.
d Lacking guidance on which to base
Y prediction. observers are forced to r,