Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-08-29
A MASTERFUL REPLY


logical and forceful papers ever Is
sued by the United States. There IS ''ot
superfluous word in it, and any at
tempt to make a synopsis of the
naper mars its beauty and force
Like the Sermon on the Mount II
cannot be abridged in any way oue
must be printed in full and reaa IN
full.
The reply is indicative of the Vlr-
final selection of the President by Inc
Allies as their spokesman before the
world. The note comes as Climax
to the remarkable series OF state
DOCUMENTS in which President wilson
has argued the cause Of world cenoc-
racy against autocracy IN the h'sh
cou,. of public opinion and accepted
more and more by the people OF all
the Allied countries as expressing
their ideals.
!, Students of. diplomacy see IN the
Presidents dcnunciation of the mill
ttarv autocracy fresh appeal to the
'war-r:dden German people to throw
off their military masters and JON
democracy with government lit TO
deal with the remainder Of the world.
!. That the response to the,;y Pope S
overture would be a courteous but
firm declination had been generally
believed. The feature that IS certain
to fix public attention is the cold de-
termination not even to permit the
subject Of peace negotiations to be
preached so long IS the evil and dom
mating forces of autocracy ana
militarism control the Central Pow
ers. 1t is not even necessary to READ
between the lines Of the President
response to see clearly apparent the
inficxiblc purpose.
The Presidents response. rejecting
as it does the views u the Entente
Allies. sounds the doom Of HohenZol-
lernism and military domination CT
ueoples. That this can and should be
accomplished without the destruction
Of the German people is one OF the
striking expressions IN the Presl-
dents note. when he expressly DIS
claims any intent to seek punitive
damages and the dismemberment Of
empires or even punishcnt of the
Central Powers after the war by 81
rantic economic combinations against
them.
This shaft is aimed straight over
the heads OF the army-controlled
Germany Foreign Office at the I'M
derstanding and appreciation of the
German people, already manlfestlns
MANY signs of determination to
assert their right to govern them
selves by parliamentary methods.
AS the United States cannot treat
with the present Germany, it is use
less to discuss the specific terms
which the Pope has proposed, and
the President wisely refralns from
such discussion. The implication is
that this nation would be glad to con-
fer regarding these matters with a
government that expressed the will
and purpose of a free German pee
Die, but Until it is possible to deal
with Such government. nothing
can be gained by futile debates.
Germany has not as yet shown a.
spirit that indicates any feeling OF
responsibility for the war. any re-
greet for the thousand Infamous
deeds it has committed, deeds for
which it can only atone by an open
confession of its wrong doinGs,
forced upon it by an ignominious de
feat. Only in that way, and in no
other way, can Germany be brought
to peace terms which the United
States can consider.
There is 10 crime in the calendar
German has not committed and re-
pea5ed with appalling frequency in
spite OF protests from every civilized
nation. From the very start Germany
has conducted the war with ruth
less disregard for human rights and
itz government has rewarded with
special honors the men who have
taken the highest rank among It's
mTrGerevs on land and sea.
The President has not closed the
danar5 to peace however. He has
Shown how easily>the German people
ray fling it wide open. His answer
expresses the will Of the American
people.