Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-12-05
Restatement of Aims by
Hosts of Democracy De.
clared to Be Purpose Be.
hind His Words.
London Press Endorses That
Policy Although Thun.
derer Finds No Difference
Between German Govern
ment and People.
BY ED l.. KEEN.

London. Dec. president Wilson's
message to congress gave powerful
impetus today to the American plan
for complete open, frank and joint
restatement Of allied war aims.
The Daily News editorial comment
practically Endorsed that plan. Other
newspapers. joining in the general
chorus of hearty approval Of the whole
tone of the Wilson address. indicated
their belief in the necessity for a re-
pledging OF the hosts of democracy.
AS stated exclusively in these dis
patches short time ago, Colonel
House Is known to have presented to
British officials President Wilson's ur-
gent suggestion for a sorting Of war
aims, a compilation of those to which
every ally could subscribe, discard
ing Of those to which all could not
pledge their force and finally issuance
Of joint pledge by the allies of COM
| posite war aims.
| The matter presumably was taken
up in the Paris inter allied councils
but was temporarily put aside for more
physical war measures. Judging from
the reception of President Wilson's
address today. the plan will be brought
to the fore today.
The Daily News comment today was
practically an Endorsement Of the
American repledging plan.
EFFECT ON RUSSIA If
IF the president could have said
earlier what he said today" the edi-
torial declared, land If in Britain and
France and Italy the responsible lead
ers ,of these nations had made his
language their own, Russia might to-
day be driving the German arrie.
from her borders.
| THE demand for a statement OF war
aims has been repeated and insistent.
In the light of Mr.. Wilson's speech,
statement which will mean wiping Off
the slate of much that ought never TO
have been written on 1t is Imperative.
There can be no kinship between the
spirit of yesterdays speech and the
spirit of knockout blows or OF econom-
ic warfare or of postwar boycotts
The Daily News held up the presi-
dents speech to more praise than II
has greeted any previous utterance OF
an American executive, judging 1t an
other example Of comprehension by
which he clarified fundamental issues
of the war"
TT would be affectation to pretend
that the speech echoes the declarations
of allied statesmen" the editorial con-
tinued His vision comprehends the
world: theirs only half
AS TO GERMAN PEOPLE.
The Times still refused today to
agree with the presidents differentia-
ton between the German government
and the German people.
President Wilson, the Thunderer.
said. has restated the allies purpose
with uncompromising force. With
STRAIGHTFORWARD statement of war aims.
the last hopes Of the pacifists must
founder"
"As a reaffirmation OF previous war
utterances, the speech is of first class
importance, asserted the Chronicle.
Clear, far sighted and statesman
like" was the Express opinion.
Practically every editorial referred
: to the message as the most emphatic
announcement 81 Americas determin-
alton to wage war to the limit. The
presidents recommendation that war
be declared on Austria was regarded
as one further evidence of this infleN-