The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-01-23
HARMONY WITH
GERMANY SEEN
Presidents Address Delights
the kaiser's Embassy
in Washington.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 22-The Presi-
dents address was received with pro-
nounced satisfaction in German circles
here tonight. 1t is regarded as placing
the United States in complete harmony
with the German Governments present
aims and ideals and is looked upon as
potential help to the Central Powers
during the next period OF the war.
Count Won Bernstorr. the German
Ambassador declined to comment. His
friends say that were he to speak his
mind his unreserved praise for the
Presidents altruist!c and exalted action
would again draw the fire OF certain
Senator's
The salient features OF the address
from the German viewpoint are that the
President has framed all the practical
IDEAS concerning the end of the war
along the line of statements recently
made by high German officials and by
leaders of thought in Berlin The So
called league for peace is in itself re-
garded as chiefly academic. but the
Presidents discussion of it assumed un-
expected Importance to Germany when
he virtually admitted that such n league
presupposed peace without victory for
either side.
Absolute Agreement.
Here, 1t 10 explained. is the first
| major point upon which the German
Government and the Administration
absolutely agree. In the note of the
| Central Powers to the Entente peace
was offered on the basis OF victory to
| neither side" In all the efforts to pro-
mote peace talk German diplomacy has
taken the position that the Entente can
not expect to defeat Germany and that
consequently II should give up the at
tempt and make peace.
Now in the face OF the Entente's in-
dignant rejection Of that idea President
| Wilson places the United States squarely
| on record as supporting Germanys con-
tention on this all important point. The
President says specifically that there
must be peace without victory" This
one sentence has assured him OF the
wholehearted support of German off,
cialdom.
AS leader OF the most powerful neu-
| trail nation his Endorsement OF Germany q
major contention Is viewed as extremely
| important This one sentence OF the
| Presidents address has stamped him IN
Berlin. It Is said. ae the logical arbiter
whom the Imperial Government would
desire TO see pass on the rival claims OF
the belligerents so far as the basic fea-
ture of peace negotiations Is concerned.
1t is explained tonight that the Ger
| man Government has long hoped that
the Presidents league to enforce peace
idea would lead logically to combating
the Entente's demand that peace be only
| obtained by an Entente victory ami BY
making Germany pay the costs for dam
age done SO far In the war. But despite
the adroit diplomacy OF Berlin 1t was
hardly expected that the President woult
be Influenced to the extent Of openly in
dorsing Germany's no victory plea.
The fact that he has done so is natu
rally hailed with undisguised acclama
ton.
"Freedom of the Seas"
Germany also takes keen satisfaction
in noting that the President has adopted
the freedom OF the seas propaganda o
the Berlin Foreign Office. This has heel
catchword used against Great Britain
In Germany since the war began, anC
has been harped on by German diplo
macy as one OF the great reforms whic'
the world must exact at the expense o
Great Britain.
In nearly every official German com
munication to this Government on qucs
t!ons pertaining to submarines or con
traband the freedom of the seas" pic
has been incorporated by the Berli>
Foreign Office. Germany has made pd'
sistent efforts to influence President VII
son to support Germany's definition o
freedom OF the seas or Germany's In
depreciation OF how the Entente has vio
lated international law In this regard
The Presidents address shows that I'll
efforts have at last succeeded
Throughout the address there Is. nc
cording to Teutonic circles. a strong in
tlmation that President Wilson square!
indorses such peace terms as German
Is ready to make. All the major Ger
! man points-early peace. peace withou
victory. guarantee OF territorial intec
rity-are found indorsed Just Az all tn
, ma jor points OF the Entente are virtual
( repudiated by the President.
3 In view Of the Eptente's expressed de
tcontinued on Second Pape>