Mexico Missouri message., 1918-10-24
Press Comment.

New York World.-In dealing with
the German peace offensive President
Wilson has employed the same tactics
that Foch used in breaking the Ger
man military offensive-a counter Of
fensive.
New York Stats Zeitung-The re-
ply of President Wilson to the recent
proposal of the German chancellor
opens possibility for ending the war.
In his answer President Will
son gives proof that the annihilation
of Germany is not his intention, that
he solely desires sufficient guarantees
for a permanent peace.
Philadelphia Inquirer-If the nation
expected that the President would re-
turn as the answer to Germany's peace
proposals two words-unconditiOnal
surrender-it will be disappointed.
Apparently the time to proclaim that
ultimatum lin the opinion of the Presi.
denD has not yet come.
Fort Worth (Tex.) Record-Presi-
dent Wilson's message tears to tatters
the Teutcnic camoufage for a nego-
tiated peace and carries the warning
to the German people that annihila-
tion awaits their armies in the field
and destruction their fortified cities
and towns unless the rulers Of Ger
many step aside.
Topeka CKan.) Capital-While Pres
ident Wilson's reply to the German
peace note is not the definite rejection
that was expected, it implies such a
rejection unless Germany is ready to
accept dictated terms
Kansas City (Mo.) Times-It is pos
sible that the President expects by
the terms of his inquiry to invite
revolution in Germany by conveying
the intimation that revolutioniZed
Germany could get peace.
Rocky Mountain News (Denver)-
President Wilson's answer is but the
beginning, we fear, of diplomatic cor
respondence between Washington and
Berlin regarding construction of
phrases that may give the enemy time
to mend the break along the fronts.
Los Angeles (Cal.) Times-The
President does not turn down" Prince
Maximilian; he does not reject" his
proposition. He asks him how far the
German people go in their alleged ac-
ceptance of the Presidents terms.
st. Paul Pioneer Press-The Hun
government has been outmaneuvered.
Since it has chosen, like Hindenburg
and Ludendorff, to resort to subterfuge
and indirect attack, the President, like
Foch and Pershing, has answered his
adversary in kind-he has adopted
tactics" rather than point-blank fire.
Oklahoma City (Okla) Oklahoman-
The purpose of the note evidently is
to bring the German people into the
discussion.
Des Moines Qowa) Register-The
question is, did the German chancel-
lor really mean it? If he did, the way
Of further negotiations is plain.
Lincoln CNeb.) State Journal-The
Wilson reply is on level with his
preceding state papers. 1t voices the
firmness of the allied nations in re.
jecting a premature cessation of the
war and it leaves the way open for the
central powers to apply once more
when they are in mood to ask a
peace that the rest Of the world. can
afford to grant.
Leavenworth (Kan.) Times-Presi.
dent Wilson's reply to the German pro,
posal of an armistice to discuss terms
of peace is what the American people
expected of him, what the whole civil
lied world demanded.
Indianapolis Star-It goes without
saying that the reply is not what we
have all expected and hoped for. Most
of us would wish to see the sincerity
of Germany frankly indicted and oul
minimum demands set out in naked
simplicity and severity. 1t is the part
of wisdom, however, to conclude thai
the President is right, knowing more
than we can know.
Salt Lake City (Utah) Herald-We
cannot help but regret that the Presi
dents note to Germany was not more
decisive
Providence (R. ~ Journal-"ThC
good faith of any discussion" Mr.. Will
son said, would manifestly de >epC
upon the consent Of the central powers
Immediately to withdraw their forces
everywhere from invaded territory"
Boston Post--The Presidents re
sponse to the Kaiser's desperate peac,
move deposits Germany and her al
lies in a terrible diplomatic hole.
New York Sun-Perhaps no docu
ment has ever gone so swiftly to tn,
heart of the question or disposed witt
such candid and yet subtle dialetica
skill Of dangerously plausible tricl
OF the enemy's diplomacy as the Presl
dents reply