The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-08-20
COUNTRY AWAITS
PRESIDENTS REPLY
TOPOPE'S APPEAL
Continued from Pag. on..l

CONTINUED from Page One.D
pursued is susceptible to two intsrprs-
tations-either the President believes
IT proper to await an exchange of
views with the entente powers or
there Is an expectation OF an utter
ance from Germany which may put q
different face on the whole matter.
not necessarily a announcement that
will demonstrate the futility OF dis
cussion, but one which may reveal 4
beginning OF that crumbllnE process
which the allied governments think
must set in before negotiation with =
free German government can be at.
tempted.
Close Cooperation in Reply.
Mindful OF opinion in America.
mindful Of the eagernsss Of the Rus
sian Socialists for peace, mindful of
the necessity Of stimulating the Ger
man liberals by making them clearly
understand that Efforts at conquest
on the part OF the entente are merely
distorted notions Of the Pan Germans,
there must be the closest cooperation
in framing & reply. And in phrase
ology as well as in spirit there must
be no encouragement or weakness
that might cause q relaxation OF war
effort. Small wonder that there is
hesitation and slowness.
But there Is less possibility of a
blunt rejection OF mediation today
than at any time since the war began.
Exhaustion and suffering is affecting
all beliEsrents alike, and while Amer
ica has hardly been pinched, there is
no question that II there were an
hannrgk1a 80 he
United States would follow. in the
footsteps OF England and France.
It is commonly said in Washington
that II Germany said she would give
back AlBace-Lorraine IL would bring
on an armistice in q hurry. Somehow
much a. American officials dislike to
admit II, they find themselves admit
ting that America will be ready for
peace as soon as Europe can come to
an agreement on territorial prob
lens.
So far as the President himself Is
concerned, he still believes the world
cannot be made safe for democracy
until 4 new kind Of government arises
in Germany that can be trusted as
partner in q world league to enforce
the peace OF the future.
Hope 81 Revolution In Germany Ends.
But this expectation OF a revolution
in Germany, considered last April as
likely to follow the Russian upheavel,
is now slowly vanishinE. What Of
hcials really believe will happen is 9
peaceful revolution, q change OF dem
ocratic tendency. And IL the trend
once turns toward democracy In Ger
many undoubtedly the allies will lend
moral support by showing q willing
able peace.
one knows. Information AS to what IL
happening in Germany, politically or
economically, is only fragmentaFy, and
few people in our Government know
enough about distant Germany to
form an opinion worth while.
The President is the best informed
man in Washington, and he is the
single person who has a clear concep-
tion OF what is going on behind the
German lines. for all data of q conf
Dental character gathered by Eng
land and France Is available to him.
Just as IT was the President alone
who could tell when America would
enter the war. so is the President
alone able TO forecast with any de-
gree Of accuracy when there will be
peace. And Mr.. Wilson's comment on
the Pope's peace note, when IL does is
sue from the White House, should be
studied in the light OF his extraordi-
nary opportunities to judge OF the
real condition Of both sets of Euro
pean belligerents.