The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1917-09-06
Presidents Message Seen as
Hardest Blow Ever Dealt
Kaiser and a Strong
Weapon Given
Liberals
WORD OF GERMANY'S RULERS
CANNOT BE TAKEN
Compromise Is Barred-LoophoIe Is
Left for Further Efforts on the
Part Of the Pope-No Economic
War After War.

shington.-President Wilson's
reply TO the Pope serves notice to
the world that the United States will
mot deal with the Hohenzollerns on
any peace basis. The Popes terms
are not rejected or seriously discussed.
The dignity and force OF his APPEAL
are wholeheartedly recognized. but
the President makes 1t clear that he
cannot take the word OF the present
rulers OF Germany as a guarantee OF
anything that is to endure" Peace
with the peoples OF the Central Powers
would be welcome. But peace with
the German Government is impossible.
we must await some new evidence
OF the purposes of the great peoples
or the Central Powers" the President
states in the paragraph which reflects
the basic feature of the reply. This
is the means open to the Central
POWERS to procure an end of the war,
according to the Presidents note, and
1t leads to the conclusion that peace
negotiations must remain out OF con.
sideration until Prussian autocratic
militarism has been broken either by
influences from within or without.
No Ground for Compromise.
II leaves a speedy means for the
German people to attain peace, which
is becoming more and more a matter
or necessity. But 1t does not en-
courage belief that the end of the
conflict will be hastened.
The German Government. according
not defeated, and there is no indica-
tion that the President anticipates
any immediate weakening OF Prussian
militarism or entertains any hope that
its grip on humanity, including the
peoples OF the Central Powers, will be
loosened in the near future. The
President, however leaves no ground
for compromise until this goal has
been reached.
The fact that the President ex-
changed views with the Governments
OF the Entente before framing his
reply gives added Importance to those
principles.
Allies in Accord.
Both the British and French Gov
ernments knew in advance what the
President would say Colville Barclay.
Counsellor OF the British Embassy.
was at the State Department to re-
ceive from Secretary Lansing a copy
Of the completed reply. The feeling
In Entente circles is heartily in sup
port OF the Presidents note and there
1t is naturally felt that his emphasis
on the need of eliminating the Hohen-
zollerns may prove a trump card in
the international situation.
A feature of the Presidents note is
that for the first time since the war
began It gives a definite idea OF how
peace may be procured for the world
It leaves a loophole for further efforts
on the part of the Pope and serves
virtually as an invitation to the peo-
pies OF the Central Powers to bring
peace nearer.
The reply Is the Presidents master
piece OF statesmanship. with the
greatest diplomacy he thanks the Pope
for his appeal and declares that every
heart which has not been hardened by
the terrible war must feel the dignity
and force OF the humane and generous
motives which prompt t.
The Pope's proposal was that there
VIII be a return to the status quo ante
bellum and that there be a general
conformation and concert OF nations
based upon the principle of arbitra-
tlon"
But this, the President states. would
result in a mere deferment OF the f.
sues settlement until future time
when Germany should have recovered
from her losses and was once more In
a position to inaugurate a campaign OF
horror.
Strong encouragement is given 70
the German people 10 revolt and over
throw the Hohenzolisrns, for Il "a
shown that the quickest means 70
peace wHi present Itself only when the
Allies can treat with the German peo.
pie themselves and not with their die.
tators
The reply was signed by Robert Ian.
sing as Secretary OF State. although
written by the President himself after
consultation with the former.