The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-12-27
THE GERMAN REPLY TO PREsI-
DENT WILSON 80 ''


Two distinct things would seen
10 be in the German mind, In refer
ence to ending thepresent war, judg
ing by the terms Of the brief note
which has been sent from Berlin ir
reply to President Wilson's note sug'
costing the initiation Of measures
looking toward peace. The German
reply to President Wilson was neces.
sarily sent in circumstances some
what difficult, because the entente
powers had not answered the Ger
man note that first suggested peace
efforts. But II Is hardly to be as
sumed that Germany separated, very
distinctly, the questions of ending
the present war, and providing guar
antics against like contests in flu
ture, without intending exactly what
her note said. Here is the exact
language Of the Berlin note:
The .high.minded suggestion
made by the President of"the United
states OF America, In order to
create a basis for the establish
ment OF n lastinB peace, has been
received and conSldered by the Inn
perial government In the friendly
spirit expressed In the Presidents
communication.
"The President points out that
which he has at heart and leaves
open the choice OF the road.
ITO tho imperial government an
Immediate exchange OF views seems
the most appropriate road In order
to reach the desired result
at begs therefore. In the sense
OF tho declaration made on Decem.
Der IL. which offered the hand for
peace negotiations, ito propose I'm.
.mediyteiy a meeting OF delegates OF
the beiiigerent states at some neu.
trial place. -
ALSO. the imperial government II
OF the opinion that the great work
OF prevention OF future wars can
be begun only after the present
struggle OF nations. II will, when
this moment shall have come. DO
ready with pleasure to collaborate
entirsiy with the United states at
this exalted task"
This very brief message is cordial
In tone and appreciative Of the
initiative Of the United States. That
much was TO be expected, for the
United States has in effect at least
united with Germany in the inaugu-
ration Of the effort to establish peace,
at time and under conditions alto
gether favorable to Germany. There
has been insistence throughout Ger
many on the idea Of a peace based
on the war map; II has come from
the highest official quarters, from MI
sections Of the press; and the press
In Germany is never very unrepre-
sentative Of the governments opin.
ions.
Germany and the entente are
fighting for two utterly different
things. The entente is aiming. first
Of all, TO prevent German domination
Of the Continent, and then to secure
guarantees that will make another
war like this impossible. Germany,
looking at the war map showing
her wide-fung, conquering lines, an
nounces:
,"We will end this war; after that
we will talk about conditions aimed
to prevent other wars"
Plainly enough. an ending Of this
war on this basis would assume that
and her allies were con-
querors. II they did not gain all
that they have taken, they would
yet gain much; particularly in pres
tige. Having gained that. having
themselves as able Ia
fight the rest Of the world and win
a favorable peace, what hope would
there be that they would agree. af.
ter peace had been made, on terms
TO lessen their weight in
the European scheme Of things?
The whole Prussian program, long
established, deliberately built up
backed by the systematic organiza-
ton of the entire national resources
at the beck of military might and
political ambition, has looked To
There can be no ulti-
mate domination without continu-
ance of preponderant military pow
ers and the privilege Of. employing
that power whenever conditions
shall be auspicious-as they were
when the present war was forced on
he world.
For, the entente powers to enter a
peace conference of belligerents ex-
as Germany proposes they
shall do, under present conditions,
means that they would presently be
quarreling among themselves. Some
of them would have to contribute
to paying Germany's bill
Would Russia be willing to give
Poland, and see Roumania sacrificed
while Britain secured the rehabilita-
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