Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-09-07
WILSON'S REPLY TO POPE PROMPTS
HOPES FOR EARLY END Of WAR
PRESIDENTS
ALLIANCES INFLUENCE GERMANS PEACE. DIPLO


here quoted, when they know that
refusal will not only carry the war
to an extreme length, with resultant
exhaustion and impoverishment to
the whole world, but even under
such a peace as Germany is now will
ling to accept, and which the papal
note outlined, the nations would
continue to be great armed camps,
waiting for an opportunity to renew
the struggle.
That this is the plan of the Allies
in case there should be a peace with
out the establishment of a constitu-
tional government in Germany, is
made plain by careful reading of
President Wilson's reply and the in
teresting and compelling part of the
matter, as viewed here, is that the
United States, and likewise Japan,
would join Great Britain, France,
Italy and Russia in this league of
armament and in carrying out the
NAoNi ICi LID VI tAC 10
conference. In other words. not only
would the world become an armed
camp but the commercial reprisals
which Germany now so much fears
would be actualized to the extent of
Allied ability.
On this point President Wilson
said in his note:
ITO deal with such power IRE
ferring to Germany by way of peace
upon the plan proposed by His Holt
ness Pope Bendict. would. so far as
we can see, make it necessary to
create a permanent hostile combina-
ton of nations against the German
people,"
The implication is plain. Should
the war result in draw, or rather a
truce, the United States would feel
obliged to abandon its historic atti-
tude of nonparticipation in European
affairs and make itself part of COM
bination against Germany.
Assumes Allied Victory.
1t is true that the president in his
note as has already been said, re-
ferred to the fact that he deemed in
expedient "the establishment of sell
fish and exclusive economic leagues"
But this statement, it is pointed out,
assumes an Allied victory and should
be read in the light of what is quoted
from his reply in the preceding para
graph of this dispatch.
There is no thought in any Allied
country that there will be peace
which Germany will dictate. The
Allies are more confident of victory
than at any previous time since the
war began. The participation of the
United States has made defeat i'm
possible.
In this connection 1t is we'll to state
that the Paris conference was held
more than year ago, when the
Allies believed that defeat might
overtake them and that its indorse-
ment of trade reprisals was made in
the light OF that belief. Not since
the United States joined hands with
them has there been any thought
among the Allies of carrying out the
terms of the Paris agreement, and
this point will be brought out clearly
in the days and weeks that are lust
ahead.
Will Influence Germans.
1t is this abandonment Of the Paris
agreement that is expected to in
fuence Germany in favor of peace.
Even a pretended surrender of autoc-
racy by the Hohenzollern dynasty,
for the purpose of making peace.
would not, 1t is believed stand in the
way of the real democracy in Ger
many.
Once peace is restored, say the men
whose opinions are responsible for
this dispatch. the natural revulsion OF
feeling in that country against mill
tarism would be SO great that an in
crease of ornaments would no longer
be tolerated, and the German people,
their political and economic future
made sure. would quickly come into
harmony with the rest of the world
1t may be all dream. but it is a
most interesting one. The men who
entertain this thought. however, be-
lieve there is something more sub
stantial back Of 1t than the stuff Of
which dreams are made.
Miss Mabel Talbot HOlloman,
daughter of Mrs. Maude T. Holloman,