Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 238, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 October 1918 — LODGE HAS FEARS, SPEAKS ON NOTE [ARTICLE]

LODGE HAS FEARS, SPEAKS ON NOTE

HE SAYS THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY DISCUSSION WITH BERLIN. Washington, Oct. 9.—Anxiety as to the result of President Wilson’s response to Germany was expressed by Senator Lodge, of Massachusetts, Republican leader and senior minority member of the senate foreign relations committee, and Representative Fess, of Ohio, chairman of the Republican congressional campaign committee. “I am keenly disappointed,” paid Senator Lodge, “that the President should at this stage enter into a discussion with the imperial German government as he has done in the note signed by Mr. Lansing. In his first and second paragraphs he asks for further information and invites further discussion. It is true that, in the last paragraph he Inquires whether Prince Maxmilian, of Baden, represents merely the constituted authorities of the German empire. Prince Maxmilian is the chancellor of the German empire, appointed by the kaiser. “I do not understand what he can possibly represent except the constituted authorities, which represent the German empire and the German people unless a revolution has occurred of' which the world has as yet no knowledge. * To us he stands as the representative of Germany and of the kaiser. “Personally { adhere to the statement of the President made in his speech of September f 7 in which he said: ‘We are all agreed that there can be no peace obtained by any kind of bargain or compromise with the governments of the central powers because we have dealt with them al- . ready and have seen them deal with other governments that were parties to this struggle, at Brest-Litovsk and Bucharest.

I feel very strongly that there should be rro discussion with the German government until they are ready and compelled to accept the terms we think it right to impose. “The President answering the suggestion by the imperial Germain gov-. ernment of an armistice says the good faith of this proposal rests on the consent of the central powers to withdraw their armifes from invaded territory. Are they to withdraw unattacked from Belgium and northern France, budhing and robbing and destroying as they go to positions behind the Rhine where they will have time and opportunity to refresh their armies and replenish their munitions? Alsace and Lorraine are not invaded territory. “I can not but feel a painful anxety as to what effect this note will have on the allies, upon our armies, upon our soldiers who are fighting and dying and conquering in order o ‘crush the thing* with which the President is opening a discussion.” In expressing his disappointment, Representative Fess said the President had taken the step “against which the country Has been warned.” “The way has been opened,” said Mr. Fess, “for Germany to save herself by withdrawing her armies within her own border by agreement rather thah by retreat under fire as she has been forced to do the last few weeks. Peace discussions with Germany before our armies are on her soil will not insure the future. The imperial chancellor, the appointee of the kaiser and as such the spokesman of the Hohenzollern government, will doubtless enter the door now open to declare himself the voice of the German people. Who will be able to refu'te it? “I had hoped that no step would be taken to transfer the discussion from the field to the table. Ido not believe the soldiers or the country will ever be satisfied with anything short of a conclusive peace which can only be assured by such chastisement of Germany as will make a like sacrifice in the future impossible.” Senator Martin, of Virginia, Democratic leader, declined to comment until he had examined the note more carefully. Senator Hitchcock, of Nebraska, chairman of the foreign relations committee, declared the President’s course will compel a peace on his terms.

“It is evident,” said Senator Hitchcock, “the President intends to say that Germany must accept the terms he has laid down. I think the note will elicit the exact issue between the countries.” Senator Borah, of Idaho, Republican, said the'note “is well designed to clarify a very involved situation." Representative Rainey, of Illinois, acting Democratic leader in the house, said the President’s note means that the war will continue until the enemy armies have been withdrawn, dnto their own countries and until the terms laid down by the President are accepted. . ' 1 \