'tl'ff. r5 ffJ i r.irj i. si li ... vii i' k Ki i EVENING PUBLIC LEDGER- PHILADELPHIA, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1918 r iV AUSTRIA'S NEW "PEACE" PROPOSAL SPURNED IN EUROPEAN CAPITALS AND AT WASHINGTON .&- . , . l 'AUSTRIA'S VOICE, KAISER'S TEXT OF LATEST TEUTON LURE OF PEACE TO ALLIED NATIONS WPV AUSTRIAN PEACE MOVE HAD KAISER'S CONSENT i I,, I, i Was Considered at Length at Imperial Conference. Germans Don't Want Plan Accepted, However , j HAND IN PEACE PROPOSAL T&jk'- j.a W. r i M British Press Riddles Plea Emanating From Vienna and Quotes Wilson's Watchword Special Cable to Evening Public ledger Copvrioht, 1918, bv .Veto York Times Co. London, Sept. 16 Tho Dally Mall thti morning under the heading. 'The Words of Austria, But tho Kaiser's V"!oe,'' sa)s the Aus trian Imitation to the Allies to open "ft confidential nonblmllng discussion' of peaco terms is another form of tho old German trick. It has been disposed of In advanco by President Wllon In his masterly pecches There can bo nono but 'open C0enantB of peace openly arrled at" ho said on January 8, and on June 14 of last year ho pointed out that Aus tria was alwas merely a puppet of Tots dam "Tho Kaiser," the piper goes on Is a ventrlloquls; whose voice we heir In this Austrian telegnm, and we hear It because the mlll'ar) masters under whom Germany Is bleeding are afraid They aro afraid that if they fall back Or ore forced back an Inch their power both abroad and at home w i 1 fall to pieces like a house of cards. Under the blows of tho Allies In Trance they nro becoming nerous It Is not hu- ... . .. . . manlty that they have really In view It Is tho safet of their own skins "Austria for a generation has been in Mr. Stead's expressive phrase 'a sul tanate, not a nation," nnd this new world Into which wo are moving has no use for despots 'No peice with Mtocracy ,' President V llson's great Watchword, applies to her as well ns to Prussia, and for tho simo causo no Germany autocracy can be trusted for an hour," It Is pointed out In the Chronicle that three c'osely related Incidents of the last week-end reveal more vividly even than the Kaiser's hectic oration or tho portenous manfestos of Hlndenburg tin. changed mentality of our enemies under tho Influence of the Allied victory on tho western front. The Dally Telegraph sajs- "Negotiations at tno present momnt ven though they brought lemporarj peace, would only postpone the final struggle between might and right Tor no longer In this tremendous war Is It a question of territorial concessions or economical arrangements or demarca tion of boundaries, 0r the mere, righting of actual wrongs The Issue Is more augvst and majestic, for it Is nothing less than the secular conflict between two great conceptions of world power the arrogant despotism of might arrn)cd against a league of nations gui led by principle! of Justice and hum-inlty." Cannot Stand Alone The Morning Post says. - "The Austrian note cannot be taken alone It must be rend together with first tho German offer to w Ithdraw from Northern Russia If the Allies would do the same and next tho German bid for Belgian neutrality, a bid which there Is reason to believe has been made within the last day or two "It Is a shameless proposal which Is put forward, net to benefit Belgium or satisfy tho Allies but to provide an oc caslon for defeatist activities GERMANY DENIES ACTING WITH ALLY Berlin Report Declares Bu- rian Peace Move Binds Austria Alone PARIS SCOFFS AT IDEA By the Associated Press Paris, Sept 16 (Havas ) It Is reported from Berlin semiofficial source that Foreign Minister Burlan s move In Inditing the note Inviting the belligerents to a conference constituted an act binding Austria alone, sas a Zurich dispatch todaj. German, It Is declared, took no part whatever In draw ing up tho note The Matin, In commenting on this as sertion, draWB attention to the prob ability that It Is Incorrect It points to the Interviews hat rccenlj took place In Vienna between liurian and Admiral von Hlntze, the German foreign mln- : liter. "It Is Impossible to bellevu in the absence of an agreement between tho two empires, the Matin adds This clumsy comedy will deceive no one k The Echo do Paris says It is probable that Spain will transmit the Austro Hungarlan note to the London and Paris cabinets. Premier Clemenceau and For eign Minister Plchon, who were absent from Paris when the news of the not s issuance was received, were lmmidl ately advised of the Austro-Hungarlan 'move. The Austrian proposal for a confer ence of the belligerents was not much of a "surprise In Parlsinn political cen ters, where It Is considered to be a consequence of the recent mllltars suc cesses of the Allies The general lm presBlon Is that the new peaco offensive cannot be fruitful KAISER'S SPEECH CENSORED Vorwnerts Declares Portions Re garding x rucbiuu ivcicirius crc ir Cut Out a? 'Special Cable to Evening Public Ledger f Copyright, ins, bv Jfrui York Tlmta Ci. Th Hague, Sept 16 Tho Vorvvaerts, commenting on the Kaiser's speech, says l innain if, liavn lmn rensnrpit nnri lp, that especially In the labor press sec- tlons concerning the Prussian franchise were, not published. Anyway, the paper adds, the Wolff Bureau's official report of the speech d'd not mention Prussian reiormn, -wnere-- aa we now learn from authoritative di nt.KAAA thn, tha imph Winf 11 ltlrl rlfift. p'nit recognition of tho demands for 'Prussian franchise according to the L j Government program." I W - -.- if V.iraPI ANkS AITfllK KAKIS ti Soinbs Inflict Casualties and i,, Cause Material Damage La. By the United Press 8pt It Several enemy alr- acnea fans iai nigni, u announced today. t mm ciuUe and mate- c . a ..' J T. V , rf.Ystfv Tho Manchester Guardian nays "It UfltlM tin fi Irmnelrnim Uf. . Plant this nroiKiani !,r n.,1. , been planted In the pnst .Neither In this nor nny other country would general ui"",u oinu nny uupc neroics or mis hind It would also be an extreme nnd unwarrantable CCUrso to ln ilnun nnv dcllnltc mllltnrv ctndltlons as prorcnul- slto to any discussion On tho other hand we fear that th da) of peace would be delijed rather thin advanced If we were to enter Into confidential discussions without some suggestion from the other side of their approach to our clear nnd well known proposals We think therefore, tint the Illed Governments should request some I expression of lew as to the possibilities of a btttlommt on such lines as those which President Wilson nnd I,lo)d George tm i 1 lid dow n ' SCORN THE DOMINANT NOTE OF COMMENT I.nmlnn, ept 16 lis comment on the pirul The Times sivs In UHtriin peace pro- Gernnnv lp emplovlng Austria to re trw shim pinee propoMls and com r up her uTorts to gain Umt while Hlnden burg loorgantzos his fnnes It Is one of 'ho oldest and stilt t tricks of dlplo 'line, U li o. ,1. ........ ii..... i. .11. macs hat the intril 1 ninltrs rnllv hop, for is rijectlon of the proposal so thef cm igiln pusent to tlulr dlsheiit cnd peoples their reasons for (ontlnulng the war Thev nlsn hope to bienk tin Entente s solid front The Hxpiess snj s 'The Austrian note dors not bring real peice anv nentei The) who drew the sword are scheming to sive themselves from perishing b) the sword The dls Ingenuousniss of thi noto betrnjs thit it w.is written In Wllhclmtr ise Uer lin ltel.itlve to the offer of peace to llelglum the express sns This is another Urost-I.ltoisU schnnc nnd pirt of the sunt pi in for ptescrving the power of the Ilohcnzollerns The pacifist Hall) .Vows Is the soli exception to the prev ilent tone of com ment Antlilpatlng general lojeetlnn of the Austrian proposals It sis tint responsible sober-minded men should nevertheless face the proposals squarel) The new vpiper argues th it discussions must occur sooner or liter ns a prcllm Inarv to peice nnd sujh There Is no solid grounc upon w tilth statesmen slncerelv zealous for peace can Jutlfv the rejection of the'Austrlin proposals Discussion would not Involve .in nrmlstlce Theie would be no ques tion of the Allies compromising their fundamental principles Against the more than remote prospect that discus sions might leave Herman obdurate thev might have a verv different result In the case of Turkej, Bulgarl i and even Austrl i The Allies with an unassail able moral case, hive ever thing to gain and nothing to lose bj discussion " The Telegraph savs1 Tho note is absurd onthe verv face of It It Is disingenuous, cvnical and Insincere, while the propns il to lielglum is both Insincere and Insolent Gei manv as a Power Is not to bo trusted ihr most solemn compacts are falsified bv hir actions We must find a n -pentint and contrite Germ ins, and Oei- man poucv c.irriea out oy verv a rtcrent rulers neiorc we can even nope to llM cuss peace Above all. peace must be! one which In Mr Wilson's words, makes the wrTld safe for democracs Ar long I as the Kaiser and the Pan-Germans dl- rect with Irresistible authorltv the ilrs. 1 no' question" ofa'n rmTsflcT "orSSrcH I academic negotiations " Wilson's Outline of Allied Principles in Congress First That each pan of the fin xl settlement must be based upon tne essential Justico of that pirtlcular case and upon such adjustments as are most likely to bring a pence that w 111 be permanent Second That peoples ind prov inces ate not to be birtered about from soverelgntv to soverelgntv as It they were mere chattels and pawns in a game even the gieat game, now foiever discredited, of the balance of power but that, Third Every torrltoil.il settle ment Involved In this war must be mnde In the interest and for the benefit of the populations concci ned, and not as a part of anv mere adjustment or compro mise of claims among lival States, nnl 1 ourth That all well-defined nntionil aspirations shall bo ic coidetl the utmost satisfaction tint can he accoided them without Introducing new or perpetuiting old elements of discoid and antig onlsm thnt would be llkelj in time to break the peace of Europe, and consequent of the world TWO MORp SHIPS LAUNCHED Carrier Castle Point and Mine Svvceper 'Ilirush Leave Wiiys Two more ships a cargo carrier and a mine sweeper are floating on the Delaware todaj ready to enter the light against the Kaiser They are the fastle Point and the Thrush both of which were launched veterday ut the Pusey A. Jones jards Gloucester, X J Completed fifteen davs ahead of s-lhedule, the Castle Point, cargo carrier, glided from the way at Hie Vcw Jersey jard while the mines swieper Thrush slipped Into the water from the Peun sjhanla jards 100 feet away More than 5000 persons witnessed the launchlngs Doth ships went Into tho water Bldewlse Tho launchlngs were only a few minutes apart COMMISSIONED IN CAVALRY Three Philadelphians and Bris tol Man Made Lieutenants The list of officers commissioned to day nt the cavalry officers' school at Fort Bliss, Texas, contains three Phila delphians and one Bristol man William F Wendt, 2tH Watklns street, Clar ence U Bender 1032 North Sixty-second ijtreet. Frederick H. Iteticl, 2501 feouth Seventy-first street, and George H Hampson, 112 Walnut street, Bristol The four have risen rium tne ranks, be ing noncommissioned officers when they wen to the school Lieutenant Wendt Is thirty-seven vears old and has been In the army eighteen years He was a Sergeant, usslgned us Instructor at Fort Bliss Lieutenant Hetiel la twenty-two ears old, and has been In the cavalry four years. Naval District Wini Pottntown. r., Sept, 16 Fourth Naval District, of Philadelphia, blanked Pottstown here yesterday, 2 to 0, Jlng- Hnr Johnson was the master mounds- man, allowing tour wiaeiy separated liUfiaaaftriwng out Bin oaumen. Continued from Tare One it nnd to propose to them Jointly to , comparison of tho reception of tho oxnmlne In n free exchange of views peace proposal of the Towers of tho whether those prerequisites exist . Quadruple Alllnncn on the pnit of which would make tho speedy Inaugu- their opponents with the later utter rntion of peaco negotiations nppear ' nnccs of responsible stntesmon of the promising To this end tho Atlstro-i latter, ns Well ns of the nomespon ttungailnn Government has today ln-'slble, but, In ,a political respect, no- Mted tho Governments of nil tho bel llgerent States to u confidential nnd J unbinding discussion nt a neutrnl meet- Ing place, and hns addressed to them a noto drawn up In this sense. 'This step Ins been brought to the knowledge of tho Holy See In a special note, and an appeal theieby made to tho Pope's Interest In peace further more the Governments of tho neutral Stntcs have been acquainted with the step taken "Tlfe coiiM.atil close accord which exists between the four Allied (Cen tral) Powers warrants the assumption that the allies of Austrin-IIung.ar.v, to whom (lie proposal Is sent In the same nnnnrr. share the views developed in the note." Text of Note I to the Powers The official telegram savs the noto has been drnvvn up In French and runs as follows The price offer which the Power .. i..,- h(". u,mu ,w,iai.c-c- aiiiiic-s-e..,, in ine-ir uppiiiienis on uecemoer 12, 1916 nnd tho coneU itory basic Ideas of which they have nevei given up slgnifv, despite the t ejection which It experienced, nn important stage in the hlstorv ot this wai In contrast to the first two and a half war vears, the question of peace has from that moment been the centei of European, ave of world discussion, and domi nates It In over-Increasing measure "Almost all the belligerent States line in turn again and ngnln expres- scd themselves on tho question of domain of conciete win alms has trie pe'iue, its prerequisites and conditions ' rapprochement of conceptions pro Th line of development ef this dls- ceeded regarding those guiding lines cussion however, has not been unl- upon the basis of which peace shall form and steady. The basis stand-1 be concluded and the futuie older of point changed under the Influence of Europe and tho woild built up In the mllitarv and political position, nnd this direction President Wilson, in hla hitherto at any rate, it hns not led to I speeches of Telyuars 12 and July 4 a tangible general result thnt could he utilized ' It Is true that Independent of all these oscillations It can be stated th it the distance between the conceptions of the two sides has, on the whole, grown somewhat less, thnt despite the Indisputable continuance of decided and hitherto unbrldged dlffeiences, a paitlal turning from manj of the most I extreme conciete war alms Is visible I and a certain agreement upon tne i relative general basic principles of a world peace manifests ItRelf , Sees Hope in Both Camps . In both c.lmns them Is undniiht. c,,l b"W """e lasses of the population a growth of the will of EDITORS REJECT PEACE PROPOSAL Press of Country Flout the Austrian Plan to Discuss End of War ONE PAPER ONLY AGREES New 'V.ork, Sept 1C With one exception all the New ork newspapers rditorla l declare that the Austrian proposals for a discussion of peace terms must be spurned as they now stand Xo one but a Germ in or a vassil of (.ermany could Imagine th it, with the resM)iislblo luuleis nf Prussian mili tarism almost as false and boastful as ever, a pea e bv mgotutlon is possible" the World sa d The awful tragedy of this war is not to be thus adjusted No 'le is to come triumphant from the fields where so n anv brave men have perished ' The Tribune asked 'Do we believe whit we snj about this German thing that It Is frightful beond redemption, that it has no faith to pledge, that it has betrayed the verv principles of civlllzitlon thit It cannot bo lived with, and that It must be utter destroyed"' and then pointed to the crimes which have lxen committed 'Germanv hns lost the war ' It continued 'The peace offensive Is now her most dangerous weapon Let It break Itself upon the tit, Hu that leadeth In captivity shnll go into captivity, he that kllleth with thu sword mua be killed with the sword ' The Sun savs However Washing ton may view the Invitation. It is certain that the bid from Vienna will bring no change short of the Imminence of real peace In the American purpose to keep the wnr at Its present good speed " The single exception was noted In the Times which urged tho Allies to accept the Austrlrn proposal In these words 'It (tho ustrlan proposal) comes In a form which tho Allies mo) honorably accept in the confident belief that It will lead to the end of tho war The cuBtoms and prnctlce of nations demand that this Invitation to enter upon tho preliminar ies of peaco receive the most serious and respectful attention of the Governments to which It Is addressed " Comments of leading papers through out the country are appended HOsTON Hl.lt VI.I) Tho bait thus of fered ts not attractlvo and not even fresh It will not deter the Allies from their purpose to attain peace with vic tory, honor and Justice Hi'uinFii:i.i iti:i'Uiu.icAN it should be easv for the Allies to make It plain that It Is not merely Belgium that stands In the wa of peace, not to mention other requirements, some of which touch Austria, the whole policy of aggression in the east In which Austria-Hungary Is Germany's accomplice must of course be abandoned before dis cussion can so much as begin ST. LOVIS OI.OIIK.nKMOCIlAT We know all about how this war started and what a peace without victory means. If Germany Is ready to surrender un conditionally, let her speak. Germany can save the lives of her soldiers and spare her people many woes only by a complete surrender. America Is firm clples to whlrh, aerman spokesmen have Implacable enemies. In ono word, it la a the Austro-Hungarlan note benevolently I have the effect of assuring all Europe wiin we, tiuuniaiiiiuo ucuiu oi- i paid lip service, J3U j-osoiuisk reuni. uogus peat yivymmi. K ma thoroughly." K neml,T.'alHed ana neutral that thUi i-'fi 'ImBt -- -f'x ' "! f J - --assm-. .i ii j...f , j niMttrtMSKi '' J i r" IfffMMMiif ' t1 iTBlffiflrfffftli r ft WffMJfPsTsMlilil .. giMHHHitrt i HkMIi peaco and understanding. Moreover, a wise unlnfluential personalities, con firms this impression "While, for example, the' reply of tho Allies to President Wilson made demands which amounted to the dls memberment of Austila-Hungnrv, to a diminution and a deen Internal transformation of the German empire and tho destruction of Turkish Euro pean ownership, these demands, the realization of which was based on tho supposition of nn overwhelming vic tors, were later modified In many d( cj iratlons from official Entente quarters, or In part were dropped "Thus, In a declaration made In the 111 Itlsli House of Commons a jour ago, Secrctaiy toalfour expressly recog nized that Austrla-Huhgaiy must It self solve Its Internal pioblems, and that no one could Impose a constitu tion upon Germany from the outside. Piemler Lloyd George declared at the beginning of this soar that It was not one of the Allies' war alms to putitlon Austria-Hungary, to 10b the Ottoman Kmnlre nf ttu Turkish ni-nvlnnna m tn reform Germany ,ntcrnnm u may nl0 be considered svmptomatic tint in December, 1917, Mr Ilnlfour cate gorically repudiated the assumption that British policy had ever engaged ,tscIf for tne cretttton of an ndccn dent State out of the territories on the left bank of the Ithlne Merely Waging Defense Wur 'The Central Powers leave It In no doubt thnt thes are onls waging a wai of defense for the Integrity and secuilty of their tcirltoiles "Tnr more outspoken than In the of this year, has formulated prlncl pies which have not encountered con- ti.adlctlon on the part of his Allies and the far reaching application of which is likely to meet with no ob Jectlon on the part of the Powers of the Quadrtll lo Alliance also, presup posing that this application Is gen eral and reconcilable with the vital Intei ests of the States concerned. "It Is true It must be remembered that an agreement on general princi ples Is Insufficient, bflt there remains tho further matter of reaching an ac cord upon their Interpretation and their application to individual concrete war and peace questions. 'To an unprejudiced observer theie can be no doubt that In all the bel- tlent nation which has set out to see Justice estabVshed nw.TIMOKh si ustrla s proposil must be answered what shall the an swer be' Whit tho Instinctive answei of the average red-blooded Amerlcnn will bo we have no doubt He will repent Grants words and say that no terms will he accepted hut nn Immediate and unconditional surrender PITTsIll'KiJII DIHPATCII Austria s formal appeal for a peace conference is first and foremost an evldenco of des peration The nnlvosslble basis of peace has been stated by President Wilson In broad principles Austria Aims to Split Allies Continued from I'ae On proposal Until those ruling the des tinies of Germany whether the geneial staff, thi i:mperor, the Chancellor or the Helchstag are prepared at least to show an open mind mere conversa tions are useless " EXPECT WILSON TO VOICE ALLIES' VIEWS ON PEACE London Relieves He Will Again Act as Spokesman for All Special Cable to Evening Public Ledger Copyright, t01S, bv S'tw York Times Co London, Sept 16 It Is stated here that Austria's Invita tion to preliminary unbinding peace dls- cusslons will .receive the full consldera tlbn of the Allied Governments This statement may bo taken to mean noth ing more than It literally says What ever form It may be decided by the Al lied Governments, who will act as one In accordance with the stipulations of the pact of London, to give to tho re ply or whether any reply will be made by tho Kntente Powers Individually or unitedly, cannot, of course, be yet stated, for there has been no time for consultation, but It 1b suggested that probabilities are that the Kntente Pow ers will simply notify the Austrian Gov ernment that they have taken nctlco of the proposals made and leave It at mat Another suggestion Is that President Wilson, whose expression of tho Allies' policy has won universal admiration, will again act as spokesman of all tho Powers ariayed against Austria-Hungary and her confederates In some quarters It Is believed that Llojd George had foreknowledge of the Austrian move, and that his speech at Manches ter, In which he said victory was es sentlal to a sound peace, sounded the note on which Allied consideration of the Austrian note will be pitched The first Impression here was that acceptance of Austria's Invitation could have but one cf two results, either It would prolong the war or It would lead toward an unsatisfactory peace. In which would be found the germs of future wars Allied ItrqulremenU Not Met The Austrian prtposals meet none ot the requirements which British states men have laid down as essential prelimi naries to peace discussions It Is also held here that they omit to take Into consideration the vital point that Presi dent Wilson has laid down certain prln llgerent States, without exception, tho desire, for n peaco of understanding has been enormously strengthened: that the conxlctlon Is Increasingly spreading that the further continu ance of tho bloody struggle must transform Europe Into ruins and Into a state of exhaustion that will mar Its development for decades to come and this without nny guarantee of thereby bringing about that decision by nrms which has been vainly strh'en after by both sides In four years filled with enormous sacrifices, sufferings and exertions. Doubts Success of Tonner Plan "In what manner, however, can tho way be paved for an understanding and an understanding finally attained? Is there an serious prospect what ever of reaching this aim by continu ing tho discussion of tho peace prob lem In the way hitherto followed? "Wo hao not the eourngo to an swer the latter question In the affirma tive. The discussion from one public ttlbune to another, as has hitherto taken plnco between statesmen of tho various countries, was really only a series of monologues It lacked, above everj thing, directness. Speech and counter speech did not fit Into each other. The speakers spoke over ono another's heads "On tho other hnnd, was the pub llclty of these discussions, which rob' bed them of the possibility of fruitful progress In all public statements of this naturo a form of eloquence is used whlrh reckons with the effect at great distances and on the manses. Consciously or unconsciously, how ever, ono thereby Increases the dls tnnco of the opponent's conception, produces misunderstandings which take root nnd are, not temovod, npd makes the frank exchange of Ideas more difficult Every pronouncement Lof leading statesmen Is, directly after Its dellveiy and befoie tho nuthoil tatlvo quarters of the opposite side can reply to It, made the subject of passionate or enggoratcd discussion by li responsible elements "But anxiety lest they should en danger tho Interests of their arms by unfavorablv Influencing feeling nt homo and lest they prematurely betray their own ultimate Intentions, also causes tho responsible statesmen themselves to strike a higher tone and stubbornly to adhere to extreme standpoints Favors Hound Tabic Talk "If, therefore, nn attempt Is made to sec whether the basis exists for an understanding calculated to dellvci Europe from tho catastrophe of the suicidal continuation of tho stiugglc, then, in nny case, another method should be chosen which renders pos sible a direct, verbal discussion be tween the representatives of the Gov ernmcndSAP WlyMk eenthrem The opposing cofieeptlon or individual belligerent States would likewise havo tlon of which must precede and must form the basis of a peaco conference There la no recognition of tho four principles which the President In his nddrcss to Congress on February 11 said provided the test whether It was possible for either Government to go further In a comparison of views A general peaco erected upon the foundations which tho President out lined could bo discussed possibly with Austria alone, but Austria's dependence upon German) re renders her proposals sus- plcious now, as they wero Invalid bo-1 fore Presented menly ns nn Invitation to examine whether conditions permit of tho Inauguration of peaco negotiations the Austrian proposal, ns at first re ceived In summarized form, was regarded as a trap so obvious that only the will fully blind could walk Into It Though nn armistice Is not suggested, the hold ing of the conference, It was held, would produce results which would militate against the vigorous prosecution of the war, and that ut the very time when It Is the belief of the Allies that an early peace could only be brought about by pressing hostilities With a conference In session. It was thought .the ecs of all the world would be turned on Its meeting place and tho attention of the wcrld would be concen trated on Its discussions Meeting Would Aid Germany To whose advantage would that be, It wns asked Undoubtedly to the advan tage of tho Teutonic empires The spirit ct Germany, even when the fullest allow ances are made 'or possible exaggeration of the reports regarding conditions in Kilser Wllhelm s dominion, has received n shock of the severest description Ono of tho best Indications of the German people's anxiety Is found In the speeches delivered by trade-union dele gates who were iicelved by Chancellor von Hertllng Thursday Your correspondent learns thnt the Austrian note Is legarded In this coun try as a maneuver to needed breathing space for the sorely tried Central Em pires and to Impress their own people with the desire of their rulers for a cessation of tho struggle which Is wear ing them to a shadow The note Is believed to have behind It the full weight of all the Germanic allies It Is not the voice of Austria .alone Undoubtedly It 1b a part of tho combined peace offerslve which has been expected for somo time and which has taken definite form within the last few days As a matter of fact. It Is one of three moves which have ben made almost simultaneously by the enemy StateB Tho most Important after the direct offer from Austria Is tho secret proposal on the part of Germany to llelglum That offer. It Is understood, provides for no Indemnityfno reparation, but only for a cessation of hostilities and the evacua tion of Belgium if Belgium consents to neutrality. Coupled with this Is the suggestion that Belgium shall net as sort of mediator between her present allies and Germany with the object of the restcratlon of the aerman colonies The consideration offered to Belgium Is the re-establishment of the pre-wai sit uation There is a stipulation for tho restoring ot the old oconomio treaties with Germany. The belief entertained here Is that there la no reality behind these offers and no belief among those who made them that they have any chanco of ac ceptance. They are regarded as maneu vers to enable the Central Empires to convince their people that once again they have offered tho'ollva branch, and that again It has been rejected by their to form tho subject of such a discus sion, for mutual enlightenment, aB well ns the gencorl principle that shall servo an tho basis for peace and tho future relations of tho States to one anothet, and regarding which, In tho first place, an nccord can be sought with a prospect of sucocss. "" "As soon ns an ngreement were reached on the fundamental principles an attempt would have to be made in tho course ot the discussions to apply them concretely to individual peaco questions and thereby bring about their solution "AVc venture to hope that there will bo no objection on the part of any belligerents to such all exchange of views Wai activities would experience no Interruption The discussion, too, would only go so far as was considered by the participants to offer n piospect of success. No disadvantages would arise therefrom for tho States lcprc scnted. Far fiom harming, such an exchanre of views could only be useful to tho cause of peice Dul.v to Iluin.tnitv 'What did not succeed the flist time can bo i epeatcd ,nnd perhaps It has alreadj .it least contributed to tho claiiflc itlon of views Mountains of old misunderstandings might be re moved and many new things per ceived Htieims of pent-up human kindness would be released. In tho warmth of which everything essential would remain and, on the other hand much tint Is antagonistic, to which excessive Importance) Is still attrlbut ed, would disappear. "According to our conviction, all tho belllgeicnts jointly owo to hu manlty to examine whether now, after so man vears of a costly hut undo elded struggle, the entire com so ot which points to nn understanding, It Is possible to m ike an end to tho tcrilble grnpple "Tho Hnvnl nnd Imperial Oovern ment would llltp, therefore, to proposo tn the (iovcinmenls of nil tho bellig erent States to send delegates to a esinildoiillnl and unbinding discussion nn tho basic principles for tho con clusion nf peace, In n place in n neutral country and nt a near dato that would jet have to ho agreed upon delegates who were charged to miilto known to ono nnotlier the con ception of their Governments regard ing those principles and to receive analogous communications, as well as to request and give frank and rnnilld explanations on all thoso points which need to bo precisely defined. ' The Hoj al and Imperial Govei n ment has the honor to request the Government of thiough the kind mediation of Your Excel lency, to bring this communication to the knowledge of the Government of Tho names of the intermediary Govemment and of that addressed In tho particular note dispatched aie left blank REICHSTAG HEADS CONFER ON PEACE H e r 1 1 i n g Presides at P.- ,,, G: , TV pt Session to Di Austrian Offer ii utooiuu iu .LHSCU8S PRESS HOLDS NO HOPE Jj the Associated Press Amnterdnm, Sept. 10 An Important conference of lenders of the majority parties in tho Belchstag was held Sun day with reference to the Austrian peace note, telegrams from Berlin report. According to some of the reports, Count von Hertllng, tho Imperial Chan cellor, presided at tho conference, which lasted two hours nnd a half. Admiral von Hlntze, the 1 orelga Secretary, and Herr Walraf, the Minister of the In terlor, ulso are stated to have been present It was said the deliberations would be continued today. The peace Initiative snould havo been left to the I.'ntento Allies, according to the Tages Zeltung of Berlin, which com ments on the Austilm peace note 'The fate of all previous announce ments as to readiness for peace and a conciliator) spirit on the part of the Central Powers does not encourage great hopes that this offer will meet with greater success," the newspaper sa)s "It must natural!) encounter great skep ticism on our part " Austria's move may prove quite a "risky step," says the Neueste Xach rlchtcn, of Berlin Tho Boersen Zeltung places no very great hope In the offer, and tho Berlin Post fears tho orfer will be again In terpreted by Entente countriej as weak ness and a sign of Impending collapse, as well as a begging for peace, on the part of the Central Empires "A discussion of tho timeliness of the Austrian step Is useless " says tho Vor vvaerts. "Once It was made without tho German Government tnklng a similar step, there Is nothing for Germany to do but to give Its adhesion That Is the only way of preventing harmful effects and permitting tho good effects to be fully developed Austria's hcaco tenta tfves will be welcomed bv tho widest circles of the German people, and many hopes will be placed In them, but It Is necessary to utter a warning against overhasty optimism" Through tho fault of both sides, ob stacles to peace have been piled mountain high, according to Keuez Zeltung, which fears that the Austrian note will be futile and may even lead to a result op pnBlte to that intended. "All the 111 success when similar steps by the Central Powers have en countered from the Entente Allies has not taught the Austro-Hungarlan cabinet an) thing," says tho Taegllsche rtuml schau "It Is absolutely Inconceivable what motive Induced the Austro-Hungarlan Government now officially to repeat the step taken In the letter to Prince Slxtus " Tho Deutsche Zeltung says, "The III success which has hitherto attended our peace offers does not encourage us to hope for much from Count Burlan's p-nposals for the promotion of the peaco Idea That, of course, should not prevent the German Government from examining Dy GEORGE Special Cable to Evening Public Ledger Copurlaht, 101S, bv Ncv York Times Co. Amsterdam, Sept. 16 Tho Austrian proposal for a peaco conference, as I have good grounds for knowing, wns first seriously con sidered nt tho recent Imposing meet ing at German headquarters. In fact, It Is now quite clear that It was the only subject discussed at any length during tho gathering. So Insistent was tho Austrian de mand that such n step should bo taken that tho German Government had to glvo lather unwilling consent. In doing 60, according to my informa tion, It acted In the hopo that such a move might have n certain Influence on Entento pacifists, whom the Ger man Government persists In believing, to be a vei y much stronger force than 'hey really are It Is bejond all doubt that tho German military authorities nnd the German Government do not want any such conference ns Austria Hungaty suggests I sny the German Govern ment without reservation, because Von Paer'a speech clearly demonstrates that despite somo advances there are no elements In tho administration In clined or bold enough to break suffi ciently away from Pan Germanism to mako negotiations remotely possible for tho Entente Plain Words to Chancellor Much which I have lccontly re ported legal ding the state of affairs In Geimany receives remarkable con firmation In tho speeches delivered Thursday evening, when the German Chancelloi nnd other ministers re ceived a deputation consisting of leaders of trade unions In Oerman. In struight, blunt words Count von Hertllng was told tho truth regarding tho pitiful condition of tho working classes The chief Hpcaker was Herr Thomas, of Frankfort on-the-Mnln. "Tho coming nf this deputation." he said, "shows the workers' have still got a remnnnt of faith In tho Govern ment, even though on nccount of domestic nnd political happenings In the last few weeks almost the entire nation has becomo frightfully dls heartened 'The phvalcal strength of the workers Is steadily declining nnd they cannot now do what was formerly easy. Trade union leaders do not see things In unnecessarily black colors They aro not agitators nor defeatists, but It Is high time to Improve things for the commotion among the vvoik lng classes Is tremendous "The most Inspiring appeals have remained Ineffective, nnd the woikers aio determined not to starve any longer, for the rich do not hunger. It Is absolutely Imposslblo to under stand the leason for tho mad prices of shoes and clothes "In this connection there Is general U. S. WILL NOT HEED LURE OF PEACE HELD OUT BY FOE Continued from Pare On ence of this country Is sure to be large In England and France And a prompt and uncompromising rejection of Austria's appeal will have a wholesome effect upon llbernl opinion In both those countries where the lib erals of nil shades of opinion hive come to look to Mr. Wilson for guldnnco If Mr Wilson savs we cannot sit down nt the counsel table with rubbers who till have the loot in their norketx, and that in homely way Is what America's diplomatic view of the situation works out to be, the followers of Asquith and Henderson In England will bo estopped from ngltntlng over a lost oppoitunlty to end a war In which, so Ihelr argumen runs, a military decision Is Impossible And "the liberals of France nnd Italy villi be put In much the same position as the followers of Asquith and Hender son In England Therefore, wo sec here a rather frankei dealing with the press than has been usual when peace Interchanges were under way. The Admlnlntratlon plainly dors not want the rountry to lienltnte or withhold IIh opinion. It wants the Austrian proposal rejeeteil In the populur mind am soon as mude. And therefore a quick formal reply ma be expected when tho proposal Is officially presented VA HI Help t iiRland mid France In the last analysis It will be England and France which will reject or nccept the Austrian proposals They are war wear). It will bo much harder for an administration to tell the people of cither of those countries that this la no time lo meet around a table with Austria to talk peace, than It will be for Mr. WilBon to give thnt word to this coun tr) But Mr. Wilsons influence and example will make the problem of Mr I.lo)d-George and Mr Clemenceau easier than It otherwise would be The English situation Is complicated by the coming parliamentary election Mr. Llo)d George will not wish to give a handle to Mr Asquith and Mr Hen derson by rejecting any opportunity which gives even slight promise. of end ing tho war, while making the Interests of democracy safo. But Mr. Lloyd George linn alwnjs neted boldly and may be oxpeeted to do ho now. In Franco tho recent victories, the promise of 4,000,000 American troops and tho confident assertion of American generals that they will win tho war next year must hav e created a psychology favorable to the rejection of tho Austrian proposals Kffect of Rejection In all of these countries regard for the favor of America will be an Important factor. It is In vain that the Kaiser offers peace to Belgium If the greater Allies reject peace now Belgium must also reject It. Belgium must have the good will of England, France and of the United tates, In the years to come. In a similar way Franco must have the friendship of the United States dur ing peace and reconstruction And though England Is more Independent than the other Allies, England, too, val ues our friendship An uncompromising and prompt rejec tion of the Austrian plan by this coun try will have a powerful effect In all the Allied capitals The first step In giving voice to this countrj's answer will be mado tomor row, when Rjnator Lodge, tho ranking Republican member of tho Foreign Re lations Committee, will make a strong address to the Senate rejecting the Aus trian proposal Mr. Lodge's speech will probably be made In pursuance of the Republican party's policy to take an ad. vanced position on the war, but It will RENWICK and most barefaced profiteering, and hero Is where tho real traitors of the country nre to bo found. They ore driving tho German people td economic disaster. Workers' ordinary palra of stocking Instead of costing four shill ings now cost from fifty five tor sixty shillings, nnd last only a quarter of the time for which they could formerly bo worn. "Conditions, Indeed, nre such that family llfo threatens to break up. To compensate for underfeeding it -Is hour! of work. All economlo dim- 1 cultles nre being mado worse by tne unccrtnln. hesitating policy of the Government. Tho Hertllng adminis tration has not brought the hoped for stability. Anger regarding tho vacil lating attitude of the Government on tho question of franchise reform has risen to fever hent. The people re gard the comedy In the Prussian Upper House with fury and bitter ness Tho Government must speak a decisive word to dissolve Parliament and give effect to the Kaiser's prom ise " In conclusion Herr Thomas de manded definite renunciations by tho Government of Pan-Germans nnd of annexationist politicians HertliiiR's Reply Weak That certainly was a bold and out spoken utternnco to throw directly In the Chancellor's face, ana ns it was stiong so wero tho governmental re plies weak. Von Hertllng Insisted that the Gov ernment nnd the military command were united In striving for a peace by understanding, but nil peace offera bv Germany, he declared, had been mockingly rejected Chauvinism was raging In the enemy press, but he hoped peace was nearer than most peoplo believed. "Tho Government and the army command," ho said, "are against all conquests. There are, no differences of opinion on thnt point, and there need be no doubts or fears regarding It" Tho Chancellor expressed some sur prKo that doubts had been uttered as to his statements on franchise re form bv which leform he lepeated, he stood or fell, but the Chancellor i emlnded the deputation that the , Prt'sslan Upper House also had Its con'tltuttontl rights When he saw, hoMevei, no compromise possible, he would proceed Immediately to disso lution War Minister von Stein declared that In connection with the coming peace negotiations a German program of International social legislation had already been prepared, and. Major Biaun, of tho War Ministry, said the question of shorter working hours would be seriously considered, though foi tho mlneis It was Impossible to Introduce that change. Meanwhile, It Is Interesting to ob serve that for three successive days the Inspired Journal Gcrmanl.a has de voted Its leading nitlcle to the ques tion of the danger of the growth of- ' Belshevlk-llke beliefs In the father land, beliefs which, It thinks, rather nlarmlngly widespread. country Is strongly for fighting the war out to n military decision On this question of a military deci sion Mi Wilson's own words in the rei cent draft proclamation of August 31, which somehow have not attracted as much attention ns usual, were recalled toda) In that document the President speaks of organizing an army to obtain a decision of the Issues nt stake It Is the President's strongest utterance and will give little encouragement to the German peace propaganda If German) Is ns despeiato as the Allies' diplomats told our State Depart ment, she will probably follow the pro posal to Belgium by other proposals, perhapa by one to Franco and also by one on the part of her ally, Austria. She will try to- buy ofl the Allies of the United .State and I ngland J at any rate, to create a sentiment In countries like Belgium, France and Italy In favor of at least sitting down at a conference table with the enemy. If she Is less desperate nothing further may bo forthcoming at the present time than tho Austrian proposal and the Ger man proposition to Belgium The Cen tral Powers have the task on their hands of building up a defense psychology among their peoples This summer after the Russian debacle they filled their public with visions of conquest. Those visions havo been destroyed. Great de jection Is the normal consequence But If the two Kaisers can make Germany and Austria feel that they are fighting for their national lives an Improved national morale will follow. This much at least they hope from their present move towadr peace j?' nnvriiK I1KALC Sept 14 at Devon. Fa, MAItt ANNA, wife nt lute Truxton Dixon Beale. ot Washington D C Funeral erviees Tue . St Jamil the Less 3 JO p m Waihlngton papem ropv CHLCHIUST, Sept 13. MAKT J . daugh ter of Marv J and the late Jamei Gil christ Itelatlvea and frlenda Invited to tuneral services Wed J p m , from har mother a residence 313 Cedar ave Int private Friends may call Tuts , 8 to 10 p m IIFII' WANTED MALK YOUNG MEN' wanted several under 21 )ears of ace. to act as demonstrators for local manufacturer, sllary 13 per week or 5 per cent on sales, with assured advance ment to thosH who quaPfy Applv 3 to A p m or 10 to 12 a m , 510-12 N Broad. Ask for Sir stwvens CLhllK M'm with neneral office expsrl- ence to assist on ledger. 032 Market it., Phlla lint P WANTRD FEVtAI.K bTCNOOKAl'llERS A few Rood opportuni ties for ounr women between the asts of 18 and 21 to nil vacnnries In the stenogra phic dept. of an old-established banklnr house, excellent chances for advancemtnti itood hours and cheerful surroundlncs Apply. Mating ace. experience and salary desired. p 704 Ledger Office THK At'COUNTIM DKPAIVTMKNT OF Till- l'UHI.lu 1 EllllEK C'U mramTCji rim SF-IIVICK4 OP TWO nnOKKKKPERSi PI.BABANT HimnOUNDINOB ANIJ AS SURED FUTUP.K ASK FOP. MP. PRIOR l'UHI.IP I.EDOKH COMPANY, SIXTH AND I IIKSIIlll win CLERK Young- lady to writs orders and assist on books 032 Markst. Phlla. THE LAST WORD IN MOTOR CONSTRUCTION FAT Thm Mattmr Car For immudlatt dtllotry, Choic of colon. ' n ' TriTkXKT ! y- f tvi ,T'rM r - V . 5.0
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers