The Washington times., 1917-12-06
AUSTRIAN PEACE
MOVE IS AIDED BY
WILSON'S MESSAGE
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.


(0ontinued from First Page)
to the sea, and says without equivoca-
tion 81 am thinking now of Austria
herself"
His message, significantly enough,
put in greater detail than any allied
statesman has heretofore the national
aspirations Of Austria, and says that
country shall be dealt with on
basis of Justice and equality OF
rights"
Would Weaken Germany.
To the American mind the request
for a declaration Of war on Austria al
the same time that words of friend.
ship are uttered may have seemed
somewhat inconsistent and odd logic.
but considering the purpose the Presi,
dent had in view. and the information
available to him. through diplomatic
channels, the message IL now de-
scribed as aiming plainly TO detach
Austria from her alliance with Ger
many and bring about an early peace
through a weakening Of the rssources
Of the central powers. And certainly
II Austria made separate peace,
Bulgaria and Turkey would follow
suit.
Since those who know conditions
inside the dual monarchy are arguing
that the declaration OF war will be
regarded as q technical affair by
Austria aimed mostly-to enable the
United States to have q voice in the
council which shall secure for the
dual monarchy. the generous princi-
81 - N~eA kNr
Mr.. Wilson. there was in many quar-.
ters an optimism approaching even
enthusiasm over the possible effects
OF the Presidents diplomatic drive.
President Asserts Self.
What is happening really is tina;
the President is asserting himself in
the councils of the allies with an un-
nistakable zeal. He has not had
things all his own way with the al
lies, but the time has come when he
is beginning to make clear that the
United States as q principal belliger-
ent aiding in the expenditure Of men
and money in ungdudging measure, Is
going to have a good deal to say
about an equitable and unselfish set
tlement o fthe war.
American diplomacy is going to be
more and more aggressive with re-
spect to Russia, where by tacit admis-
sions in the Presidents message, the
allied policy has not been altogether
happy. Mr.. Wilson's open affirmation
OF the Russian formula OF mo an
nexstions, no contributions, no puni-
tive indemnities," even though be-
lated. is calculated to show the Boil
sheviki that America stands with
them in their espousal Of pure and
not hypocritical democracy.
But the policy OF the President Is
calculated to do something more than
that-to prove conclusively to the
present rulers Of Russia that no mat mat
ter how extreme or radical their kind
Of democracy may be, no democracy
will be safe, nothing that Russia
establishes will be secure, so long as
adjacent to her is an intriguing and
designing Germany.
JudsOn Net RePudIated.
These things may be inferred from
the action OF the Department Of State
today in Indignantly denying that any
disavowal had been made Of the
broad Yisioned statement sent by
Colonel Judson OF the American mill
tary mission to the Bolshevild minis
try. Secretary Lansing made n clear
that when he revealed yesterday that
Colonel Judson was acting without in
structions he was by no means re-
oudIating what he had done.
The department simply has had no
word from Ambassador Francis or
Colonel Judson, but in circumstances
like the present the American Of
ficials on the spot have a great deal
Of leewRy and Discretionary power.
Undoubtedly, what they have done
will be approved. And Colonel Jud-
son made It plain that America did
not feel unfriendly to the Bolsheviki
government, that It did not question
RussIa's right to raise the question
of a general peace, and that II was
not threatening to withdraw its
moral support from the new Russian
democracy.
Although information from Petro-
grad is meagre, there is the highest
hopes here that American diplomacy
which 1t is believed is taking the lead
In dealing for the allies with the Rus
sian Bolsheviki, will yet succeed in
preventing any separate peace that
is negotiated from being OF much