New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-06

busy session the House of Commons
took keen interest in President Will
sons address, in anticipation Of which
several proposed lively debates had
been marking time
It was reported In the House to-
night that the Premier will refer 20
the Presidents address in a speech Fri
day at Gray's Inn. Asquith likewise
will give it attention at the war aims
meeting the first Of the week.
Like the rest Of the country, the diff
ferent parties in Parliament find much
20 praise and something 10 criticise IN
the Presidents message. The Con-
servative party view was given to me
in the lobby by Admiral Sir llepworth
MeuX, who declared:
president Wilson's words will, as
usual, act as a tonic for all the Allies,
particularly the British. Everybody
know is well pleased, but do not think
that there is as mucn difference be-
tween the German people and their
rulers as Mir. Wilson seems TO believe"
The other extreme viewpoint was
presented by Charles TTevclyan, the
p&ciiist and Liberal, who said:
mir. Wilson's speech is an excellent
statement Of the war aims for whlca
America is fighting. and also expresses
exactly the Russian point OF view. II
is q singing rebuke 20 the Jlngoes IN
France and England. The President is
entirely mistaken as regards the Ger
man peoples feeling toward the Ger
man rulers. They arc nearly ready TO
throw over their jingoes, and u Mr..
Wilson would only force the Allle5 70
proclaim the same aims this end could
be attained in a very short time. II
our LIMOGES would adopt the President 5
ideas the war would be over IN SIX
months"
The Liberals in the House of Com
mons are generally pleased with the
Presidents words, several prominent
members Of the party suggesting that
they wished il might have been clearer
on the league of nations. The Labor
members declare that the President
words Justify those who for three
wears have been urging the British
government 20 nut into clear language
its own war aims, and they believe that
the address comprises an admission TO
the world that the cause of the Rus
sian failure can be found in the fact
that Britain and the Allies refused 10
meet Russia in a conference for the
purpose Of discussing and restating
war aims.
Every one finds something good in
President Wilson's message to Con-
gress. No one is entirely pleased and
satisfied. ~
The British jingoes fail. as they did
eight months back, to accept his dis
tinc.ion between the German people
and their rulers. The British moder-
ates wish he had been more speclhe.
The British reactionaries consider his
war aims too idealistic. The British
radicals rejoice in his suggestion TO
use other weapons besides military
force 10 win "A victory.
The British "bitter-renders' inter-
pret the address as mo peace with the
HohenzolIerns." The British pacifsts
consider Wilson as a sympathetic
friend.
Perhaps none of his public utter
ances has been subjected to such varied
interpretations. Certainly none has
been studied with closer effort to get
the exact status Of the President.
To many his declaration for war
against Austria comes as a sensation.
But probably the idea which makes
the deepest impression on Europe IS
his elevation Of the war TO world
problem, his raising II from a family
quarrel over territory to general
struggle between forces Of reaction
and progress.
The President has accomplished one
thing already-he has put imperialism
on the defensive, not alone German I'M
perialism, but Italian, French and Brit
ish. He has put his stamp Of dlsap-
proyal on the boasts about Selling the
west bank of the Rhine, the dismem-
berment Of Austria. the occupation Of
Trieste and a lot Of other material is
sues.
lie has told Europe Americas re-
sources are 20 be used in the attain
ment of none of these, but in support
of the ideal. And Europe will give due
head. because American resources will
influence the whole course OF the war.
In Britain, in France and in Italy
there is powerful group who have
little faith in his idealism, but FORUM
ately they are greatly in the minority,
though their influence is far from
negligible.
They are perfectly honest and frank
in their opinion that the only way 10
heat force is TO match IL with greater
force. But as the war necessarily can
not last beyond the time when America
is satisfied and her demands accepted,
they know they must shape their policy
accordinRiy, That means q modifica-
ton OF British policy, French policy
and Italian policy. r coordination Of
war aims, the abandonment Of the pol
icy Of punishment. the acceptance Of
the Presidents ideals in practice if
not IN heart.
II comes home, now that Russia IS
dropping out Of the war, that many
loyal supporters Of the Entente have
been estranged, that the Prussian mill
tarists have been turning against the
Allies the very formulas which the lat.
Ter regarded as sufficient definition OF
their war aims.