The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-08-29
Presidents Reply Climax
to Remarkable Series
of State Papers
INVITES GERMANY TO
DROP MILITARY YOKE
Wilson Refuses to Even
Discuss Terms Under
Present Conditions
fRv Asaociated Press.l )


Washington, Aug. 29. = President
peace proposals is regarded here as
the highwater mark of the war
Furthermore, it rs indicative of the
virtual selection of tho president by
the allies as their spokesman before
the world. The note comes as a
climax to the remarkable series OF
the state documents in which Presi-
dent Wilson has argued the cause OF
world democracy against autocracy
in the high court of public opinion
and been accepted more and more by
the people of the allied countries as
expressing their ideals.
There appears to be no doubt that
the United States was selected to
make answer before the world in
advance of all the others. Whether
the entente nations will send extern
sive replies is not known here. 1t is
regarded as probable that they viii
in large measure adopt the presi-
dents reasoning for their own and
send notes of endorsement.
The general tenor of the presl-
dents reply has been anticipated
everywhere but there was no inkling
Of the forceful terms he would en-
ploy to say that the world can have
no faith in the autocratic govern
ment of Germany.
Students Of diplomacy see in his
denunciaticn of the. military
autocracy a fresh appeal to the war :
ridden German people to throw on
their military masters and Join
democracy with a government At to
deal with the remainder of the
world. Although this appeal prob
ably will not be permitted to become
known in Germany until the
autocracy has attempted to mold the
temper of the people for its recep-
ton by denunciation through a gov
ernment- controlled press of what has
been characterized as interference in
the internal affairs OF Germany, the
hope is that 1t will fall on fertile
soil.
Considering the extraordinary
character of the presidents COM
it's immense importance
in definitely determining for the pres
emit at least all efforts to reach al
compromise peace and the assured
fact that it represents the views OF
all the entente allied powers Joined
with America in the war against
the time consumed in the
of the reply was re-
short.
Causes No Surprise.
That the Presidents response to
the Pops's oyertures would be Q
courteous but firm declination had
been generally believed, so that III
his respect at least his communica-
ton vii cause no surprise. The fed-
.ure that is certain to fix public at-
.ention Is the cold determination not
even to permit the subject of peace
to be broached SO long
Is the evil and dominating forces OF
and militarism control the
central powers. 1t is not even neces-
;ary to read between the lines Of the |
response to see clearly i
apparent the inf1exible purpose.
For this reason the President was !
lot to be led into any discussion Of
he peace conditions detailed by
pope Benedict, though that field was
made alluring by the pontiff's adop- 1
ion of some of the proposals laid
lown by President Wilson himself
n early utterances. On the other
land there was no effort to evade
for an expression OF
yiew as to the bases of sound and
,nduring peace, for the Presidents
'esponse in its concluding para
restates the urpose for which
America entered the great war.
Points of Differences.
The radical difference that appears
O exist between the Pope and the
touches this very matter
{ a stable and enduring peace. The
'ontiff looks TO the restoration OF
onditions as they existed before the
var. The President turns his back
pom these. convinced that q return
8 the status quo ante bellum could
ever bring permanent peace, which
on be secured only by agreement
etween free peoples on both sides.
IS one ofTiciaI, commenting, ex-
ressed 1t. the Presidents response.
sfiecting as it does the views of the
ntente allies, sounds the doom or
and military domi-
alton OF peoples. That this can and
aould be accomplished without the
of the German people is
ne of the striking expressions in
le Presidents note, when he ex-
ressly disclaims any intent to seek
unitive damages and the dismem-
erment OF empires or even the prn-
hment of the central powers after
le war by gigantic economic com I
nations against them.
This shaft Is aimed straight over
le heads Of the army controlled
erman foreign office at the UNDER
anding and appreciation of the
erman people, already manifest
IL many signs Of a determination
assert their right to govern them
Ives BY parliamentary methods. II {
Continued or Page Eight.