Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-10-11
PRESIDENT In reply
Does Germany Really Mean What
She Says
1T Is NO tine FOR idle PRETENSE

If Germany Is Sincere In Her Offer to
Agree to Terms Proposed by the
President, Il Is All Right; But un.
til Germany Gives Evidence Of That
Sincerity BY Withdrawing Her Ar
mics From Invaded Territory There
Is No Use Talking Of Peace.
Washington. October S.-President
Wilson has met Germany's peace note
with move which will, at one stroke.
develop whether her proposal Is sin
ccre or merely pretension, and II a
pretension 1t be, fully justified for all
time before the world the prolonging
OF the war with force to the utmost,
force without stint or limit. At the
same time the president has left wide
open the door to peace.
Declining to propose an armistice
while the armies of the Central powers
remain on invaded soil. the president
today called on the German chancellor
TO state. as an absolutely necessary
preliminary to a reply from the En-
tcnte Allies and the United States.
whether Germany accepts the princi-
pies OF peace as repeatedly laid down.
or merely proposes to accept them las
the basis of negotiation" and whether
the chancellor merely speaks for the
German military masters conducting
the war or the whole German people.
AS the full significance Of the presi-
dents diplomacy is disclosed 1t be-
comes evident that he has left open
the way TO peace and at the same
time left the military leaders Of the
Central powers with a question they
must necessarily answer in n way that
will lead to peace or confront them
with an embarrassing situation In
their own country.
Among diplomats here the presi-
dents communication is regarded as
one Of his master strokes. II Is point
cd out that upon cursory examination
it may not show such strong terms as
some may have desired. All the pres
ident's advisers however. are confident
that as a close consideration reveals
its full import, 1t will be apparent that
It is long step forward II Germany
really means peace, and that if she
does not it will strip bare another hy-
pocrisy of German diplomacy so COM
pletely that the responsibility for pro-
longing the war never can be charged
to the Allies, even by the German peo-
pie themselves.
Text Of Presidents Reply.
The text of the presidents commu-
nication was made public today by
Secret atSsIansin9. together with tha
offS Text of Prince Maximilians
note, now published in America for the
first time. At the same time officials
let 1t be known that there would be
no reply at present to the Austrian
note, similar to that of the German
chancellor. 1t is not considered nee
cssary to deal with Austria until after
the time comes for a reply to her DOM
mating ally.
The following correspondence was
given out at the state department.:
Department of State, October 8.
1918:
THE secretary of state makes pub
lie the following communications:
From the charge d'affaires ad interim
of Switzerland in charge of German
interests in the United States:
Legation of Switzerland. Washing
ton. d. c.. October 6, 1918:
Department Of German interests.
mfr. President:
81 have the honor to transmit here
with, upon instructions from my gov
ernment the original text of a commu-
nication from the German government
received by this legation late this aft
ernoon from the Swiss foreign office.
An English translation of this COM
munication is also inclosed, The Ger
man original text, however. Is alone to
be considered as authoritative, Please
accept, Mr. President, the assurances
of my highest consideration.
(Signed) IF. Odcrlin,
charge d'affalres A. l. Of Switzerland.
in charge of German interests In
the United States.
Mr.. Woodrow Wilson.
president of the United States,
Washington"
(Inclosure).