The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-23

President Wilson had convinced Ger many that another step by her would be uRwise convinced American off oials that unless the United States gave further opening the whole peace movement would come to an end. The address to the Senate was taken as a possible means of avoiding that result.
 LEAK" WAS FEARED
 Fear of a Teak" surrounded the sending of the address abroad with such secrecy as has seldom been equaled in the state department Only President Wilson, Secretary Lansing and the men who transmitted it are known definitely to have been aware of it.
 Both French and British ambassa- dors denied any knowledge of it's ex- istence even after it had been deliv- cred. Naturally, they refused in any way to discuss it.
 While Count Won Bernstorff, the German ambassador, declined tonight to comment for publication upon the address, the German view generally was that the address will strike a re- sponsive chord among the people of Germany.
 INDIGNATION EXPECTED
 President Wilson and Secretary Lansing anticipate the present move will provoke indignation in the for eign press, much as was the case with the Presidents original note of De- cember IS. They feel that in a state- ment of position as full as the Presi- dents both sides may feel they have been unjustly attacked and as a re- suit they look for a bitter outburst in the more violent press
 The greatest confidence is felt here that the belligerent peoples want peace and that the chief obstacle to an early peace is the uncertainty as to whether that peace will be permanent.
 Officials also expect antagonism in this country to any abandonment of the traditional policy of American isola- tion. It has been felt in the highest quarters for sometime that no such fundamental change in American for eign policy could be taken without d decided change in the basic attitude of public opinion and that wide cam paign must be undertaken by the President if his programme were to be carried through. The present op- portunity was seen, therefore, as of fering very decided impetus to that end.
 ENTENTE WILL OPPOSE
 Opposition in the entente coun-
 
 proposition that this should be a
 war without victory. Both the en-
 tente reply to the Presidents note
 and the supplementary statement
 emphasizes the belief that al-
 lied victory over sO-called German miiitarism and lust for conquest
 was essential to any kind of world we1l-being. The allies have indi-
 cated that they believe the great
 moral xgIne which will come
 from the war would be that of a
 victory over force and disregard of
 international treaties.
 The demand for the freedom of
 the seas is expected to cause re-
 sentiment in England, where 1t will
 be pointed out that that has been
 Germany's chief rallying cry since
 England entered the war.
 Throughout England has main
 tained that the seas are indeed
 free.
 The central powers are expected to find an indirect criticism in the contrast of their offer of a conference with their enemies in their reply to the Presidents note with his statement that 'the entente powers have replied much more def- nitely'' to his suggestion. Nevertheless. it is taken to give them a further oppor- tunity for a discussion of peace which officials here have had every reason to believe they would welcome.
 ADDRESS WAS FLEXIBLE
 There is an absolute refusal here, how ever, to enter into any discussion of the details of the address on the ground that the big principle involved should be left as clear as possible without confus- ing it in side issues. It's phrases are understood to have been left rather pur- pesely indefinite in some sections in order to be as flexible to different shades of opinion and desire as was the entente statement of terms in the note to the President.
 "A free, independent and autonomous Poland" for example, is calculated to give pause to both Germany and Russia and to be recognition of the right of nationality, which both nations have up- held, that may cause each embarrass- ment though eventually leading to a so- 1u1tion- The mention of freedom of worship also is an equivocal statment, which might be taken to refer to Jews in Russia as easily as to Armenians and Syrans in Turkey. The natural right of nations to an outlet to the sea applies equally to Poland, Austria, Russia and Servia, and in some cases cuts across nationalistic or territorial rights which could only be squared by the neutraliza- ton of the disputed section, as say, the Dardanelles for Russia, Trieste for Aus tria, East Prussia for Poland, or Monte negro for Servia.
 DOUBLE INTERPRETATION
 The most fiery argument is expected abroad, with all kinds of double inter- pretations on that section dealing with the necessity of government resting on the consent of the governed and the immortality of passing peoples back and forth from one sovereignty to the other Whether this contemplates criticism of certain claims for territory, as that of France for Alsace-Lorraine, or Italy for the Trentino. Rumania for Pennsylvania, or Austria for parts of Servia, Bulgaria for parts of Rumania. etc, is unknown, but it is certain to be widely discussed Mention of disarmament as "the most immediate and intensely practical ques- ton connected with the future fortunes of nations and of mankind" caused sur prise in some quarters, as President Will son was not known to have had such decided views on that subject It has been felt in Germany that such a plan is impracticable, as there is no common denominator by which armament can be reduced approximately all over the world at the same time.
 The world federation contemplated by the President is explained as not being based primarily on force, but as having force very distinctly in the back ground