Norwich bulletin., 1917-08-29


 nunciation of the military autocracy a fresh appeal to the war-ridden Ger man people to throw off their military masters and join democracy with a government fit to deal with the re- mainder of the world.
 Although this appeal probably will not be permitted to become known in Germany until the autOCracY has att tempted to mold the temper of the people for it's reception by denuncia- tion through a government-con press of what has been characterized as interference in the internal affairs of Germany, the hope is that it will fall on fertile soil.
 Considering the extraordinary char acter of the presidents communica- ton, it's immense importance definite ly terminating for the present at least all efforts to reach a compromise peace, and the assured fact that it represents the views of all of the en- tente allied powers joined with Amer ica in the war against Germany, the time consumed in the preparation of the reply was remarkably short.
 Reply Courteous But Firm.
 That the presidents response to the popes overtures would be a courteous but firm declination had been gener ally believed, so that in this respect at least lis communication will cause no surprise The feature that Is cEr- tain to fix public attention is the cold determination not even to permit the subject of peace negotiations to be broachel so long as the evil and dom mating forces of autocracy and mili- tarism control the central powers. It is not even necessary to read between the lines of the presidents response to see clearly apparent the inf1exible purpose.
 No Effort to Evade Responsibility.
 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 some of the proposals laid down by Presiden3 Wilson himself m early ut terances. On the other hand, there was no effort to evade responsibility for an expression of view as to the bases of sound and enduring peace for the presidents response in its con cluding paragraphs state the purpose for which America entered the great war.
 The Radical Differences
 The radical difference that appears to exist between the pope and the president touches this very matter of a stable and enduring peace. The pOntif looks to the restoration of con ditions they existed before the war; the president turns his back upon these, convinced that a return to the status quo ante bellum could never bring permanent peace, which can be secured only by agreement between free peoples on both sides As one official commenting, expressed it, the presidents response, rehecting as it does the views of the entente allies, sounds the doom of HOherfZollernism and military domination of peoples. That this can and should be accom- plished without the destruction of the German people is one of the striking expressions in the presidents note, when he expressly disc1aiIns any in diSmem berment of empires or even the punishment of the central powers af- ter the war by gigantic economic com binations against them.
 Aimed to Geach German People.
 This shaft is aimed straight over the heads of the army controlled German foreign office at the understanding and appreciation of the German people, al- ready manifesting many signs of a determination to assert their right to govern themselves by parliamentary methods. It is assumed here that there will follow a fierce outburSt of denunciation against the attempt from the outside to dictate to the German people their form of government. But it is also believed that as the hard ships of war and misgovernment bear with eve. increasing severity upon the German people, they must in the end throw off their military masters and take in their own hands through a representative government the con- duct of negotiations looking to a fair and honorable and permanent peace. Active Exchanges With Entente
 Powers.
 Active exchanges have. been in progress between the president, Sec retary Lansing and the entente pow CTS, mainly through the American representatives abroad, re- garding the answer to be made to the pope's proposals ever since these were delivered to the various foreign offices. It seemed by common consent that to America was confided the heavy re- sponsibi1ity of framing and delivering the first of the replies. The propriett of this course was apparent from the consideration of the fact that every one of the entente premiers and for eign ministers who had spoken pub licly on the subject of peace had turn ed to the language of President Will sons historic address to congress and his other public utterances on the sub ject as disclosing their own concep- tions of the proper bases of peace ne- gotiationS. And even more potent than this consideration was the canae tion that America was best fitted of all nations to deal what 1t was hoped would be the death blow to autocracy| of the Germanio type. -.