The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-25
BEAUTIFUL PLAN
Continued from page Two1

NOOnI tnueO from Page lWO.)
tended for American readers. Re
garded from this standpoint, it shows
how thoroly Americans lack an under
standing of war conditions and the
relations of the combatants when one
set of opponents have the wish to de-
Stroy the other.
president Wilson showed that he
does not understand the full import
of the entente note. Likewise, it is to
be doubted whether the entente and
the large number of their questioned
partisans in the United States will
agree enthusiastically with President
/ Wilson's speech. We know only too
well that their dreams of the end of
| the war and its result are quite differ
| ent from Mr.. Wilson's dreams. The
| presidents not entirely clear remarks
about relations of peoples to their
governments are full of beautiful
words which are Immediately dis
PEELED in fog when an effort is made
| to discover in them way leading to
| Il lasting peace. However, such a way
may differ as greatly from Wilson's
! idealiStic memora ndum as hard reality
differs from his idealistic reverie.'
Tine National zeitung carefully re-
Trains from agreeing or diSagreein, &
with the speech. but after summarize
ing it finds that it will displease the
entente if they accept its practical APP
plication. The National Zeitung fears
that President Wilson may be indulg
ing in a vision of people and a state
Of government according to the Amer
lean standards and in stubbornly ad-
herring to this idea, may fail to realize
that other conceptions exist in Europe.
Antagonistic to Entente.
Stockholm, Jan. 25.--Swedish news
papers of the parties interpret PresI-
dent Wilson's speech as that of 4
Ciermanophile, antagonistic to the en-
tente nations.
Amsterdam, Jan. 25.-''President
Wilson's statements are surely worthy
of discussion said the Cologne Ga
tzette today, according to dispatches
received here, but it is hard to see
how peace is to lie promoted unless
rbe United states endeavors to realize
the presidents theories by practical
policy"
Bonar Law Replies.
London, Jan. 25.-"President Will
sons speech had this aim, to gain
peace now and secure peace for the
future This IS our aim and our only
aim
This was the phrase from Chancel-
Ior of the ExcheQuer Bonar Laws
speech OF last night that was regarded
here today as England's official an
swer- to the American suggestions
Editorial comment regarded it as a
sufficient answer. taken with Bonar
Laws reminder 20 the United States
| that America mas d snare Ol ESSpOlSl-
bility in the past and present.
This whole subject is not an alb
stract question for the future, BonaI
Law declared. 1T is question of life
and death now. In judging whether
that result can be secured by his meth
DDS, it is impossible for us to forget
the past For generations humane
men, men of good will among all ma
| tions, have striven by The Hague con-
vention, by peace conferences and by
all other means, to mitigate the nor
rors of war. When war comes by
, what means can these barriers, built
up against barbarism, be made effect
i've? They cannot be preserved by the
beIligerents, if any of them choose to
ignore them. 1t is only from neutral
states that effective sanction can be
given to them.''
Why Not Stop Belgian Horror?
Continuing, Bonar Law declared the
Germans at the outset of the war
swept aside" such barriers of law
and cited present Belgian deportations
'All this has been DONE" he added
land no neutral power has been able
to stop it. No neutral power, indeed
has made any protest against it We
must then take other means to secure