The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1917-08-30
WILSON SPEAKS FOR ALLIES

l
of the War-Note Comes as Climax
To State Documents for Democracy
Fresh Appeal to War-Ridden Ger
man People
Washington Dispatch, Aug. %.
President Wilson's rejection OF the
Pope's peace proposals is regardeo
here as the high water mark Oh tne
war. Furthermore, it is indicative
of the virtual selection of the Presl-
dent by the Allies as their spokesman
before the world. :.
The note comes as a cllmax 10 Vie
remarkable series of State documents
in which President Wilson has argu-
ed the cause of world democracy
against autocracy, in the high court
of public opinion, and accepted more
and more by the people of all the al
lied countries as expressing tnelr
ideals.
There appears to be no doubt that
the United States was selected to
make answer before the world, in ad-
vance of all the others. whether the
Entente nations will send extensive
replies is not known here. 1t is re-
parded as probable that they Will IN
large measure adopt the Presldentss
reasoning for their own and seno
notes of endorsement.
The general tenor of the Presidents
reply had been anticipated every.
where. but there was no mixing OF
the forceful terms he would employ
70 saw that the world can have no
faith in the autocratic government OF
Germany.
Students of diplomacy see IN his de-
nunciation of the military autocracy
a fresh appeal to the war ridden Ger
man people to throw off their mill
tary masters. III
Although this appeal probably Will
not be permitted to become known IN
Germany until the autocracy has at
tempted to mold the temper of the
people for it's reception by denuncl
alton through a government controll-
ed press of what has been character
lied as interference in the INTERNAL
affairs of Germany, the hope is that
it will fall on fertile soil.
Courteous But Firm
That the Presidents response to
the Pope's overtures would be cour-
teous but firm declination had been
generally believed, so that in this re-
spect at least his communication will
cause no surprise. The feature that
is certain to fix public attention is
the cold determination not even to
permit the subject of peace negotla-
lions to be preached so long as the
evil and dominating forces of au-
tocracy and militarism control the
Central Powers.
For this reason the President was
not to be led into any discussion of
the peace conditions detailed by Pope
Benedict, though that field was made
alluring by the Pontiff's adoption
of some of the proposals laid down
by President Wilson himself in ear
1y utterances. On the other hand there
for an expression of view as to the
basis of sound and enduring peace
for the Presidents response in its
concluding paragraphs re-states the
purposes for which America entered
the great war
Crux of the Matter
The radical difference that appears
to exist between the Pope and the
President touches this very matter of
a stable and enduring peace. The
Pontiff looks to the restoration OF
conditions as they existed before the
war, the President turns his back
upon these, convinced that return
to the status quo ante bellum coule
never bring permanent peace. A!
one official commenting, expressed it
the Presidents response rejecting a.
it does the views of the Entente al
lies, sounds the doom of Hohenzol
1ernism and military domination O.
peoples. That this can and should b,
accomplished without the destruction
of the German people is one of tn
striking expressions in the President
note, when he expressly declaims an,
intent to seek punitive damages an
the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of empires or ev
en- the punishment of the Contra
Powers after the war by giganti
economic combinations against then
This shaft is aimed straight owe
the heads of the army controlled &c,
man foreign office at the understand
ing ard appreciation of the Germa
people, already manifesting man
signs Of determination to assel
their right to govern themselves b
parliamentary meCnOdS.
How the Answer Was Formed
Active exchanges have been !
progress between the President, Sc
rotary Lansing and the Entente Pow
ers, mainly through the America
diplomatic representatives abroad, r
gardlng the answer to be made
the Pope's proposals. 1t seemed
common consent that to-America w
confided the heavy responsibility
framing and delivering the first
the replies. The propriety of tt
course was apparent from the consi
Grafton of the fact that every one
the Entente premiers and forei
ministers who had spoken public
on the subject of peace had turned
the language of President Wilson
historic address to Congress, and ]
other public utterances on the subie