AUSTRIA'S PEACE KITE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17424, 19 September 1918, Page 5

AUSTRIA'S PEACE KITE

PRESIDENT WILSON'S REPLY. CURT REFUSAL TO CONSIDER. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association, WASHINGTON, September 16. _ The Secretary of State (Mr Lansing) has issued the following statement: — "I am authorised by the President to state that the following will be the reply of this Government to Austria-Hungary's Note proposing an. unofficial conference of the belligerents " : — The Government of the United States feels that there is only one reply whiqh it can make to the suggestion of the Imperial Austro-Hungarian Government. The United States government has repeatedly and with entire candour stated the terms upon which the United States -would consider peace, and the Government can and will entertain no proposal . for a conference upon a matter concerning which the Government has made its position and purpose so plain. President Wilson's reply was announced immediately after the United States received the Austrian Note. United States officials, Senators, and Congressmen warmly endorse President Wilson's reply. The newspapers also support the President's attitude. Senator Chamberlain, chairman of the Senate Military Committee, stated: "The time is not ripe for consideration of peace. The war must be fouiht out until the enemy is decisively beaten." Senator Weeks said: " The Central Powers are now ooming to the Allies and crying for peace. They are beginning to waver ; but Tsngland, France, and America will demand unconditional surrender." Senator Branden stated: "We wili first thrash the bully of Europe; after then we can talk about peace." AMERICAN PRESS APPROVAL. NEW YORK, September 17. The New York Tribune says: "This Gernian thing which we are resolved to destroy i 3 a criminal outlaw who cannot be parleyed with. Our business -with the enemy is to get him, dead or alive, though we have_ to go to Berlin to do it." ° The New York Herald welcomes President Wilson's prompt refusal to parley, saying: "Mr Wilson realises that we must smash the serpent's head, not talk to it. We have just begun to fight." SENATOR LODGE'S VIEW. ENEMY MADE HIS CHOICE. WASHINGTON, Septembepr 17. Senator Lodge (Republican leader), in his interview on President Wilson's reply to Austria, added : " Germany must abide by the decision of the sword to which she appealed; she cannot be allowed now to ' bargain for a decision. Germany must " discover that free, law-abiding peoples must for the future be allowed to be free and law-abiding, living their lives peaceably. The United States asks no more than this, and -will not be content with less." NEW YORK, September 17. Senator Lodge unqualifiedly endorsed President Wilson's curt refusal to discuss peace. He said : " Germany shall not now j talk and bargain 1 for a decision. We mean 1 to put her in physical bonds." i