The Washington herald., 1917-12-17
Contrast, Confusion and War Aims.

In his famous "peace without victory" address to
the Senate of last January President Wilson informed
the world that he took it for granted any territorial
reconstruction after the would include an auton-
omous Poland"
Three weeks after this address-two weeks after
the United States had severed relations with Germany
NJ Sazonof Russian foreign minister, wrote the fol-
lowing to the Russian ambassador in London, regard
ing his negotiations with the British foreign office:
at particularly necessary to insist the exclu-
sion of te Polish question from subjects of inerna-
tional discussion and the elimination OF all attempts
10 place the future Of Poland under the guarantee and
control of the powers
"In general You must bear in mind that are pre-
pared to allow France and England complete freedom
in drawing up the Western frontiers of Germany in the
expectation that the allies their part would allow US
equal freedom in drawing up the frontiers OF Germany
and Austria"
The Bolsheviki appear to be expert pilferers at
work in the former Cars archives and what they are
now barring to the ght-secret agreements and under
standings between Great Britain and France on the one
side and the extinct Romanof dynasty on the other
agreements that arenot worth the paper they are
written on-ustrate the need Of clarifying the entire
international situation.
We see this the more clearly because of the furtve
imperialism implied in this backstars bargaining which
now is returning like boomerang upon Britain and
ident in referring to an autonomous Poland, not
ensnaring himself or his country in a mere European
Quarrel He knew what he was about He was striking
at the heart of a problem which will decide whether
liberals or imperasts viii control the peace settle
nent-whether self-seeking Metternchs will prevail and
"play the game" as it always has been played through
the weary centuries of war; whether genuine COM
radeship of peoples is be established, at least
attempted.
In the overthrow Of the Carbon the Russian
people renounced their centuriesod aspiration to pos
sess Consantnope-at least that is what their spokes
men tell us.
Whether they are ready to announce definite pro-
gram for the creation of an autonomous Poland, in
accordance with the ideas of President Wilson, we do
not know.
But this at least we ought to be able to know:
That Great Britain and France, having witnessed the
collapse of their diplomacy with despotism that
no longer exists will underwrite peace settlement
based on the American terms, guaranteeing the rights
of all peoples great and small giving to dismembered
Poland as to Serbia and Belgium the place in the
sun it has craved for more than century.
The Bolshevik revelations, sneakng and contempt
ble as they are will enhance the prestige of British
s-' ench diplomacy anywhere. They will strengthen
the use of the revolutonares in Russia and the grip
,.e miltarsts in Germany. To the latter they form
sabe evidence tha. the allies planning to add
-.-ys t German territory to Russian control
he President has the power to swing all of the
IS behind definite, solidifying war objective-the
tive outlined in his recent message to Congress
Ar present there is a political mist hanging
Europe dangerous than the military fog.
The strong west winds that will dissipate it must
come from America Will the President, taking the
role Of Aeolus, set them in motion?