The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-09-08
Wilson Tells Pope Peace With
German Autocracy Cannot
Be Considered.
KAISER NOT TO Be TRUSTED
Presidents Sweeping Embargo Procla-
nation a Severe Blow to the leu
tons Russians In Council
Agree to Continue War
Italians Keep Up Drive
on Trieste.
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARD.

There can be no peace with the en-
peror of Germany and the German au-
tocracy because no reliance can be
placed on their pledges unless ex-
plicitly supported by the will of the
German peoples themselves.
Such is the gist of President Will
sons reply to the pope rejecting, on
behalf Of the United States, the peace
proposals made by his holiness. 1t
was delivered at the Vatican Tuesday
and was regarded as the reply Of all
the nations leagued against the cen
trail powers.
Mr.. Wilson's note Is the climax of
the series of magnificent state docu-
ments in which he has set forth the
claims of world democracy and is an
other stirring indictment Of the auto
cratic government of Germany. 1t as
serts that peace on the terms pro-
posed by the pope would only give
Germany time to recuperate for re-
newal of it's furious and brutal pol
icy by which it seeks to dominate the.
world; would make necessary a per-
manent hostile combination of nations
against the German people, and would
result "in abandoning the newborn
Russia to the intrigue, the manifold
subtle interference, and the certain
counter-revolution which would be at
tempted by all the malign influences
to which the German government has
of late accustomed the world" Again
the president makes it clear that
America is making war without desire
for gain or revenge, and does not seek
the infliction of punitive damages, the
ACKNOWLEDGMENT of empires or the es-
tablishment of selfish and exclusive
economic leagues; but he says no
man, no nation could depend on trea-
ties or agreements made by the pres
ent German government and 1--WE must
await some new evidence of the pur-
poses Of the great peoples of the CEN
trail powers"
German People See the Light.
1t is thus made evident that great
change in Germany's form of govern
ment involving the fall of autocracy,
is requisite to peace negotiations, and
that the German people themselves are
becoming convinced Of this is shown
by the developments Of the week In
their struggle for characterization and
parliamentarism. Not since the war
began has there been such freedom of
speech and of the press as now exists,
and correspondents report that there
is now a solid political block in the
reichstag In favor Of effective guaran-
ties that the imperial government no
longer shall make vital decisions with
out the full knowledge, advice and con-
sent of the representatives of the peo-
pie.
1t is considered likely that Austria,
and perhaps Bulgaria and Turkey VIII
soon declare war on the United States,
because of the loans our government
has made to Italy and other nations
that are at war with the kaiser's al
lies. Diplomatic relations, of course,
we're severed long ago, and Uncle Sam
can contemplate with serenity decla-
ration of war because 1t will really
serve to free him from some embar-
easements in the combating of spy
work and other activities of those
who have been his actual If not
avowed enemies.
Embargo Is Blow to Kaiser.
One of the most serious blows the
kaiser has yet received was delivered
by President Wilson at the beginning
of the week when he proclaimed an
embargo that gives the United States