Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-09-18
ANSWER GOES TO AUSTRIA
Lansing Sends Note to Swed,
ish Minister for Transla-
ton to Government.
NEXT MOVE NOW AWAITED
Speculation Is Rife on What
Will BE Next Step, for
One Is Looked For.

WARRINGTON, scit i7.-Aus-
tria's peace offensive is closed in
cident 10 far as the American gov
crnment ~ concerned
Secretary Lansing sent 10 lho swc-
dish minister today the note au-
thorizcd last night by President Will
son. tauy rejecting I'M two short sem
tencos tho proposal " the Austro-
Hungarian governments for secret
and non-binding peace discussions
II was started on the cables at once
FOR transmission 20 Vienna by the
foreign office at Stockholm
The presidents action Including
tho setting breylty OF the
reply and the promptness with which
81 was delivered drew expressions
OF approval during the day cvrry -
whore In Washington, al the caIatoI.
among officials and throughout the
allied diplomatic corps. Similar re-
sponses from the other nations az
war with Germany are expected to-
follow quickly.
senators Approve.
In tho senate, Senator Lodge OF
Massa chusotts. republican floor lead
er. and the ranking minority mem
Der or the foreign relations commit
tee, voiced the feeling Of congress
on the subject In a prepared speech
heartily approving the presidents
course as both wise and right The
United States. the senator said. can
talk peace only TO % Germany beaten
and deprived OF power further to
harm wrOnEed world. lie was fol-
lowed by Senator McCumber, Of
North Dakota, republican. and Senu.
tor Thomas OF Colorado. democrat,
with like expressions. on the house
side Representative Fess OF Ohio,
chairman OF the republican congres.
sional committee, spoke In approval.
declaring that the quick reply might
tar upon diplomatic ears but il JUS
ufed as rebuke TO the dopble deal
ing OF our enemy"
Allies To Follow Lead.
Unequvocal reflections OF the Aus
trian OFFER from ali the allies will
be In accordance with the general
policy which has governed the en-
tente powers and America in meeting
the German peace offensive. Prompt
action is regarded as the surest
means OF defeating the underlying
pruposely OF the central powers TO
shake allies and develop fatal weak
nesses 10y the encouragement OF the
expression of the individual aims and
views OF the separate states For
eign Minister Balfours comment yes
terday. IL accepted in Washington
as a sufficient indication OF tho at
titude OF Great Britain and IL Is not
doubted similar expressions will be
forthcoming from other entente capt
tails in the next few DAYS.
Regarding this phase ot the peace
campaign as practically closed, the
administration Is now closely watch
ing for the next move on the part
OF the enemy. for IL Is not believed
that they will abandon. their efforts
Austria May Assent
II has been suggested that. denied
unlimited fields OF secret discussions
OF war issues. Austria may attempt
a coup by asserting to "A restriction
OF tho discussion TO the principles
laid down by President Wilson as
the only possible basis OF peace
II was said authorithtivoly today
that such a proposition undoubtedly
would be accepted But this state
ment was accompanied by a signlfis
cant reminder OF conditions whichr
must be met preliminary 20 any such
discussion. These are that the CEN
trNl powers must withdraw COM
pletely from all coupled territory in
France and Belgium, italy, Russia
and Serbia The Germans must drop
the sJibterfuge OF che Brest-Litovsk
treaty made by Germany with RUS
sian agents, hired to betray their
country. They must loosen their
hold upon the wheat fields OF ukrai-
MIA and the oil wells OF Serbia and
Russia and nj OF this must be done
before America would consent to talk
OF peace, even upon the basis OF the