Evening star., 1916-12-24

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, December 23.--Analyzins the
criticisms of President Wilson's note 10
the belligerent nations, the Manchester
Guardian in a remarkable editorial.
column long, which is unique because 1t
endeavors to interpret the President
viewpoint, sounds word of caution to-
day against hasty and ill-considered ac-
ton in making a reply.
The Guardian believes that the note. "if
coolly considered and wisely answered, can
only help the allies cause and throw into
stronger relief the moral weakness OF the
German position" The newspaper en-
phasizes a point which 1t says seems to
have been forgotten in this country, that
the identical note was addressed to all
belligerents. and says that careful read
ing of the passage in which President
Wilson suggests that both sides are hght-
ing for the same end reveals that the
President said that this is what the bel
ligerents tell their own countrymen. Con-
tinuing the Manchester Guardian says:
Same Language to All.
Coming on top of Germanys sug-
gestion of negotiations, the note ap
man view, and the reference to meas
ures which the United States may
have to take reads at first little too
like n suggestion of menace. However,
it must be borne In mind that a note
couched in similar If not identical
terms is being sent to all the bel
ligerents. =" For our part it will
require the very strongest evidence
TO persuade US that in the face Of the
great volume of sympathy for the al
lied cause which we are assured of
on the other side of the Atlantic that
any act seriously prejudicial to our
cause can be contemplated at Wash
ington.
another passage in the note which
comes in for even more criticism also
acquires a different value so soon as
we bethink ourselves that it is adj
dressed to both parties. This is the
passage which appears to suggest a
real identity of views as between the
belligerents. When the passage Is
carefully read it is seen to say not
that the two belligerent parties have
the same views or are hghtins Tor
the same ends, but that they profess
to doing so when tne governments
Justify the war to their own country
men. This is a very different PROPOSE
ton, and the passage as read by a
German of any humor might be taken
as a very severe piece of sarcasm"
Warns of German Game.
The Manchester Guardian then sounds
warning against the allies being be-
trayed into playing Germany's game,
because if we put ourselves wrong
with America we do play Germany's IS
game" The newspaper then adds this
advice:
Let us avoid imputing motives, take
the Presidents note at its face value
as a perfectly sincere document mean
ing simply what it says. The President
believes the two belligerent alliances
TO be less far apart than appears on
the surface. Washington probab bly, has
means of information that are not
fully available to US, and If this view
is taken at Washington it gives us a
valuable hint as to the mind Of Ger
many and conditions in Germany which
are working upon the minds of her
rulers.
In any case, believing rightly or
wrongly, Germany would go further to
meet US than we suppose, DR.. Wilson
suggests that the two sides compare
views Again be it remembered that
this suggestion is addressed to both sides
and not to one alone
Now, the only views that we have
from Germany are, first, that she con-
siders herself victorious, and. secondly.
that she invites us to negotiate. The
first position we deny. AS to the second
we want to know something of the
basis OF the negotiations"
The newspaper says when il is re-
membered that Germany has made no
definite proposal 1t must also be borne
in mind that President Wilson does
! not invite the allies to do anything