The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-24
Germany Withholds Official
Recognition; Gives Reasons.
RUSSIA PARTIALLY APPROVES
But Predicts Failure OF Any
Disarmament Policy.
Spanish Editor Calls Wilson
"Genius of InOppOrtunity."


Gerard conferred for forty minutes
with Foreign Secretary zimmerman
last night and later cabled the state
department at Washington confiden-
tial outline of the German foreign Oh
flee impression of the statement
Meantime the presidents sentiments
are fully echoed publicly and ofrlclally
in Germany They are viewed with
interest and favor. Whether Germany
can take official cognlZance OF the
declarations is not yet clear.
1t is pointed out by men IN respoh-
sible, official positions that the Amer
lean presidents declarations are step
toward the peace for which the people
of the world long. Informal dlScus-
sion by foreign office officials, now
ever, developed the belief that Ger
many cannot take official cognizance
of the address. This belief is based
on the following premises:
Allies Insult Burns.
First-Because the allies reply to
President Wilson has never been or
ficially received by Germany
Second-Because it is believed that
Germany cannot make further moves
toward peace after the insulting reply
to her own peace suggestions made by
the allies.
Third-Because officials desire to
await senate debate on the president
address, feeling that statement from
Germany-even one discussing peace
terms-would be an interference in
American affairs.
Fourth-Germany does not consider
the time oppOrtune to state her terms,
tho being willing to discuss the speech
itself.
Men in responsible positions did not
hesitate today to express their salts
faction over the presidents argument
for freedom of the seas From the
first Germany has insisted this was
the biggest question involved. These
same officials pointed out also that
Germany showed she favored an indie
pendent Poland-another point on
which the president laid stress-by her
procIama ton of November.
Except for a small conservative
group among the socialists all of Pres
ident Wilson's ideas found ready sup
port today. 1t was believed Amhassa-
dor Gerar found the foreign Offices
impression likewise favorable.
Warm Approval in Russia.
Petrograd, Jan. 24.-President VIII
sons speech to the senate was received
with the warmest approval and sym
pathy in governmental circles. The
same cordial spirit was shown by the
press and public leaders with few dis
senting voices. Only two points in the
presidents speech found serious criti-
victory and freedom of the seas
Colonel Shumsky. the widely quoted
Russian military critic protests vigor-
ously against the idea of limited arma-
ments. He declares that all previous
efforts to secure this ''Utopian dream
only method of preventing future wars
| is a Strategically strong frontier and
an armed force. The Bourse Gazette
thinks the chief significance of Will
sons declaration is its manifest pur-
! pose of further developing his in
fluence toward peace. The paper
| speculates upon the fresh steps con-
templated by the president and con-
| cludes that it is possible that a note
will follow addressed to all belliger-
ents and neutral governments with a
view to world conference This
however. says the Gazette, will not
call forth response from the allies.
What About Armenia?
The Veczernee Vremja finds an in
! consistency in the remarks about the
freedom of large and small nations
and those about preserving the integ-
rity of existing empires. The paper
says:
and Poland-what about the southern
Slavs under the yoke of Austria-Hun-
gary-what about the Armenian ma
ton murdered by the Turks-what
about Alsace-Lorraine? Is peace
possible if these nations remain under
the yoke of Prussia, Austria and Tur-
key?"
The Vechernee Vremja concludes
that President Wilson remains in the
sphere of theory and that his interven-
ton can have no practical result.
Don't Like peace Without Victory
Professor Milukoff, leader of the
constitutional democrats stated in an
int q hot h.
! pathy with the whole message except
for the phrase peace without victory. -
| This means war without result af-
ter our innumerable sacrifices said
Prof. Milukoff. But applaud Pres
ident Wilson's declaration in general.
1t shows that the American president
has now the same point of view as the
allies and that the principles for which
they are fighting is now shared by the
great neutral republic
Spanish Press Critical.
Lisbon, via Paris. Jan. 24-The
| Seeulo commenting on President Will
sons speech, says he has the genius
of inopportunity."
| He is inexhaustible" says the Sec
ulo. ''as an inventor of untimely paci-
fist systems, inapplicable to present
conditions. One can only praise the
idealistic courage with which he con-
tinues to proclaim the ideas which are
not even original
The paper declares peace is pos
sible only thru the permanent des-
truction of the germ of war incorpo-
rated in the Prussian SYSTEM"
Expects Wilson to GO Further.
Rome Jan. 24-The Giornale d'Ita-
( liza declares that President Wilson'S
speech to the senate is important be-
cause it shows his resolve to continue
his action in favor of peace. The
newspaper foresees a further mani