Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-12-06
SAY Wilson SPOKE
FOR ALLIED nations
Regarded as Only Statement
of Aims Any Nation
Will Now Make
ALSO MAY BE REPLY
TOLORD LANSDOWNE

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-Presldent
Wilson in his address is believed to
have spoken for the entente nations as
well as for the United states when he
sounded democdacys slogan Of victory
first with justice and mercy afterward-
The Presidents address was accepted
on all sides yesterday as a statement
Of war aims and as the only state
ment which the United states and the
Entente governments may be expected
TO make either now or in the near
future While the President is known
to have kept the actual contents Of
his address even from his own Cabi-
net the belief is widespread here that
the President was in communication
with Colonel House on the subject, and
that representatives Of the Allies in
Paris had a pretty fair understanding
Of lust how far the President intended
to 20 in the statement which has
now been accepted generally as a. reply
TO Lord Lansdowne and others who
have been pressing for the clarihcation
Of war aims.
Bnt while approval Of the general
tenor Of the address was eyerywhere
hoard. there developed concering that
yart of it dealing with war aims di-
vergence Of views in some quarters.
There were some in official circles here
who complained that the President bad
been too specific, while on the other
hand complaint was heard from some
Mt the Capitol that the President,
when il came to war aims, had not
been specific enough.
Surprise was still expressed in GER
tain diplomatic quarters that the
President went as far as he did con
sidering the delicacy Of the subject
from a diplomatic viewpoint. Those
who expressed some disappointment
based this largely on the President
failure to particularize especially On
such matters as territorial indemniil-
cation
In the opinion Of this group-and il
includes some Senators whose opn-
ions are generally respected-the mat
Ter OF territorial indemniflcation IS 60
ing 10 he one Of the big issues OF tue
peace negotiations. they would like Il
rec this nation come out now and place
its dlsapproval unequivocally on any
I Territorial decentralization plan ina
twas not clearly shown 10 be IN lur
therance Of the main object namely
iasting and permanent peace.
Il was suggested that with ths ma
lions Of Europe so closely related &c
the territories which might he involved
ina this issue, It might be left to TINS
country as the umpire at the peace
J. nff nrnnnEpf
transfer Of territory was necessary u
the maintenance Of such q peace
But diplomats point out that mi
procedure would have had its disa,Nan
tages as well as its advantages. ]
would. they say, have impressed enem
peoples TO hear that under no circum
tstances would there be any territorial
changes or no territorial indemnity
Buf il undoubtedly would have arouse
hitter controversial feeling in Entent
Countries.
There Is one faction in Great Britail
that wants German colonies taken owe
os one price for the German erin
against civilization. There is anOthe
faction that does not. The Presiden
doubtless agrees with the latter, lon
me secs no necessity for precipitatin
a controversy between the two faction
by definitely stating so. Serious fac
tional duarrels retard war progress an
are therefore to be avoided, it is eA
planned.
Likewise a definite statement con
corning refusal to sanction ltoly's Ten
rtorial aspirations would be certain
arouse bitter controversy in Italy. 1t
b pointed out that Italy now needs aboN
an else unity and maximum strength
and that it would be poor strategy
q precipitaie needless internal dissensiO
p over the effects OF a victory not "
won.
= No one knows definitely just wheI
the President stands on such matter
as returning German colonies, resto
ing Alsace and Lorraine to France, gi'
ms. Trieste TO Italy. sc. Reason can
found to interpret the address bot
ways. II Is simply matter Of no
o. it is interpreted, il is explained. &c
I tain Senators say this is weakness
. Diplomats say il is good strategy al
necessary. as any other course migl
have greatly harmed The very unity
action for which the President Is
strongly contending now.