Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-30


and bracing plain speaking, especially by
newspapers which constantly oppose pa
c.fst tendencies These newspapers re-
gard the note as a stern rebuke to the
feeble spirits who see in the Pope pro-
posal an acceptable basis for negotiations.
The message also is welcomed as recall
ing the attention of the civilized world 10
the monstrouS character of warfare let
loose against mankind by common
enemy" of which it is contended there
has been danger of the peoples hearts
becoming hardened.
Reiterates His Purpose.
The Daily Mail In an editorial under
the caption I'VE Cannot Take Your Word
President Wilson's Message 10 the
president Wilson's reply to the Pope's
peace proposal has the spirit and point OF
view the world has learned during the
past six months to look for IN all MS
utterances on the war The United States
entered the struggle for the purpose OF
making the world safe for democracy
and with the conviction that II never
would be safe for democracy so long as an
ambitious. intriguing. irresponsible gov
eminent held the German people In ITS
ssP .s,a.n. v,,so, rs,terates both his
purpose and conviction. In few
courteous but unnistakable words he
shows that the Pope's suggestion for
general restoration of the status quo
ante would enable Germany to repeat
in a few years hence her attempt to
dominate the world and would involve
the creation of a permanent hostile
league to keep her in check"
The paper quotes from President Will
sons reply:
I'VE cannot take the word of the
present rulers of Germany as guar
5 antee of anything that is to endure,
and passages of similar tenor, and adds:
'They attest the utter disbelief of the
American people in the possibility that
the Hohenzollern system can ever re-
form itself"
The Daily Chronicle asserts that such
q reply from the most disinterested of
all the states at war will evoke a
grateful response not only from the
allies. but also from the democracies.
free and not free, throughout the world.
The Chronicle adds:
The resounding proclamation which
comes from the White House of the
reality of right and the reality of
wrong and of the impossibility of rec
onciling them or shading them into one
another by good natured words might
ancient repository of Christian verities.
There is a righteous anger in every
American reply which is not without
precedent in the history of the Chris
tian church"
Indictment Of German Rulers.
After citing President Wilson's in
dictment of Germany's rulers, the
Chronicle says:
This terrible Judgment gains its elo-
quence from no fine phrasing, but solely
from the fountains of noble wrath be-
hind it; wrath which the head of
Christian church might honorably
-covet."
The Morning Post saws:
The Presidents reply to the Pope's
note reveals man who has his eye
hxed on the realities and his mind re-
solved unfiinchingly on a great pur-
pose With a directness and con-
cfseness which cannot be too much adj
mfred, the President gives the Pope's
peace proposals the only answer which
those who are not ready to capitulate
to Germany could give"
The Times describes President Will
sons reply to the Pope the answer
OF practical statesman to peace
dream of the Vatican. and. maybe. of
other courts as well, and suggests that
It possibly will discourage similar pro-
posals IN the future. While wholly in
Times renews the exception it previ-
ousiy had taken to the Presidents dis
tinction between the German people and
tne German rulers. 1t says the distinc-
ton Is sound theoretically, but that up
70 the present it has proved quite neg
Hgtbie in practice.
is true" says the Times. '"that
10y 0ne German people) did not
cne9se the war, because the Bismarck
Ien constitution gave them no voice in
TO- matter. But they accepted it with
Ausiasm and have supported it
thronghout. while their press have ex-
ulted In its worst atrocities"
19e evening Standard, commenting
9ndsr double column headlines, fnclud-
ms the caption: Americas Trenchant
1xn1qtctment In Reply to the Pope-a
AABnincent Statement by Mr. wilson,"
oays In the Introductory PARAGRAPH:
The reply is clearly one of the
enarpest indictments of Prussian autoc-
racy yet made. Mr.. Wilson makes it
piaan that the war waged by the en-
fenfe is against the German rulers, and
inst before negotiations are entered
upon there must be some one to nego-
uate with whose word can be taken"
Clear and Logical.
The text of President Wilson's re-
Ply TO the Pope's peace overtures is
not oe1ore US as We write, but every
body In the United States had already
read II by yesterday noon, and sum-
mar1es and comments from American
newspapers leave us in no doubt about
ns character. says the Manchester
Guardian After declaring that the
position Of the President is clear and
logical the newspaper gives several ex-
tr1cts from Premier Lloyd Georges
speech at Glasgow last June, which it
says are much the same in shirt as
Mr.. Wilson's message to the Pope. con-
tinuing:
President Wilson's policy comes very
near to the formula no peace with the
Aohenzollerns. but it would be unfair
not to recognize the very narrow but
oeep gulf that separates him from that
formula The way in which he prefers
TO put his policy is that no peace can be
9urabie without the guarantee of the
German people. Guarantees given by
the German government, holding the
views that 1t does. cannot be durable.
DIr- Wilson has no desire to dictate
TO the German people their form of
government, but as good American he
has faith in the honesty and sincerity
or the democracy He is not concerned
TO insist that Germany must have forms
OF government like our own, but only
to assert the principle that in dealing
with an autocracy like that of Germany
we must in self-defense exact more
severe guarantees than if we. were
dealing, not with clique whose po-
1itica1 vices have been made notorious
by the war, but with a free people,
which in the mass are never dishonor-
able, never cynical, never treacherous"
Presidents Note on Peace
EOnVeVS ImnOrfanf Advice