Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-08-28
PEACE TERMS To
Be ANNOUNCED BY
PRESIDENT WILSON
Pope Has Probably Opened
the Way for a Drive Which
Will End in Settlement Soon
er or Later

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25.-President
Wilson, as head of the greatest belliger-
ent will name the peace terms.
1t was the presidents ambition to set
tie the war as a mediator Hohenzollern
frightfulness cheated him of that, but
the fates have decreed he shall play the
role anyhow.
Pope Benedict has probably opened
the way for the president to start the
drive which will end in peace-although
1t may be months or years away.
The popes proposal turns out to be a
document similar to the presidents
peace without victory speech"
Denounced at first as pro-German, 1t
will eventually be found fatal to Ber-
Inns aspirations.
Whether the popes plea was conceived
by him or by some other subtle brain in
the vatican or at Vienna-both schools
of the profoundest diplomacy-it is the
most dangerous blow aimed at Prussian-
ism since the war began.
The pope's plea is related to the reich
stag revolt engineered by the South
German Catholic party against the Prus-
sian war aims, which brought on the
recent abortive political crisis at Berlin.
The pope's move is linked with the
peace desires of Kaiser Karl of Austria.
1t widens the split between north and
south Germany.
The popes letter invites President
Wilson to widen this split by a suitable
reply Master of diplomacy and Ian
guage, Wilson, of course, will seize the
opportunity. He will make counter pro-
posals aimed at Prussia, not Germany
If Prussia answers unfavorably the
whole Berlin peace bluff will be exposed
and South Germany and Austria will be
shown they are fighting for Prussian
ACKNOWLEDGMENT alone.
On the other hand, If Prussia agrees
to Wilson's proposals, the kaiser will
have lost the war and German militar-
ism will be on it's death bed.
The allies realize Wilson has the key,
and that they must yield him leadership
and sacrifice territorial or commercial
ambitions.
Lloyd George has said the only issue
is the victory of democracy-thereby
waving the whole question of return of
the German colonies. Mesopotamia or
indemnity.
This is exactly Wilson's position.
America is interested in questions of
territory and indemnity-only as these
things may be means of destroying Ger
man autocracy.
If that can be accomplished without
annexation or indemnity" or by any
other formula, the president is willing
to do it that way.
Consequently 1t is not difficult to fore
cast the presidents reply to- the pope.
1t will be entirely favorable with a big
il planted exactly where the pope ex-
pected it, and prepared a place for It.
In the language of the street, the
presidents reply will pass the buck to
Prussia--the alternative Of peace or
continued war.
If she elects war she will also face
dissension in South Germany and Aus
tria and trouble at home.
The president will emphasize the point
in the pOpes letter above all things re-
pugnant to Prussia-that is the proposal
for disarmament. That the Berlin mil
itary gang will resist to the last
President Wilson will say that IL ss
the most important, and that II Prussia
will give sufficient guaranty or pledge of
good faith peace negotiations can begin
on the understanding that disarmament
is agreed to.
That pledge will be the evacuation of
Belgium.