Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-01-23
BRITISH EDITORS
NOT So KEEN TO
ASSA|L PRESIDENT
Experience Over Peace Note
Cause Of Less Hasty
Criticism
LIBERAL PRESS PRAISES
WILSON'S HIGH IDEALS
French Press Is More Open
and Frank In Its Public
Announcement
By Ed L. Keen

Omitted Press staff correspondent
London, Jan. 23.--Mindful of the
error into which they were drawn on
President Wilson s peace note by over
hastiness, British editors today were
generally cautious in their attempts to
analyze and interpret the president s
speech in the snate. They evidntly
feared a msconstruction of his remarks
Most of the comment, however, hing
ed on the American executive 8 use of
the term ''peace without victory -
The papers owned by Lord Northeliffe
insisted that there cannot be a drawn
war between the spirit with which the
allies are animated, on the one side,
and on the other the spirit of Prussian
miitarism.
The Morning Post answered Wilson'S
assumption that neither side desires
victory by pointing out sections OF tho
kaiser s recent proclamations and LETT
ters in which he emphasized Germany 8
determination for complete victory.
AS whole, the liberal press ap-
plauded the lofty principles apparent
| in the president IS statement, but balk-
ed at some of the applications thereof.
notably the reference to freedom Of
tn seas.
The general impression among both
press and public seems to be that the.
j speech was intended neither pyO-ally
nor pro -Grman--but rather pro Ameri-
can designed primarily for American
consumption.
The Pail Mall Gazette expressed no
doubt of Wilson IS q Observation-Disclosures
and his high mindedness, but only re-
grets the "exercise of these qualities
in purely theoretical atmosphere. -
Victory for the allies the news
paper continued, "is the first essential
safety-after that we can talk about
permanent SUPPRESSION of war at our
/ leisure. -
The Times editorial today illustrat-
ed the desire Of British editors to go
slow" in commenting on the Wilson
\ speech.
i Its language the editorial said,
"has evidently been weighed with so
much nicely and care that premature
comment must overlook or ministeHpret
the precise shade of meaning which par
ticular passages are intended to bear.
"The president s project is nothing
less abitious, less splendid than the es-
Establishment of q perpetual and OHiver-
sal reign of peace.
Continuing the Times lauds Wilson
as the first individual in big nation
who advances as a practical plan 1.-THE
dreams of many thinkers for q great
number of centuries, although express
ing doubt that such an appeal to the
: imagination and hearts Of people will
result in their unreserved approval.
e'The allies believe that victory
? peace is essential, y the Times cOncsud-
. cd, Gas Lincoln believed it essential
7 in the civil war. They believe it es-
/ sential for the attainment of those very
aims of the moral and ideal kind which
President Wilson regards as indispens-
ible to the foundation OF solil peace
such as America might help to guafan'
tee
l The Daily News also thinks the
speech should be welcomed in England
/ although asserting the argument con
IS tains many conclusions on which Eng
land cannot agree. Speaking of the
S ''peacc without q victory" passage
G The editorial declared:
G Extracted from the context, thai
e phrase might seem to invite compari
= son with one or two unfortunately am
V biguous passages in previous speeches
n and notes eminating from the white
house; but observation Of the sentences
IT Immediately following makes it eiea
4 that President Wilson is laying down
e principle that goes little, if at all, be
,e yond the declaration made to nm p!
le the allies a fortnight ago, that the'