The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-08-22
LIBERALIZATION OF z
GERMANY sine QUA hdl
Americas Demands Win Go TO Very
Crux Of Prussian Militarism and
Its Deadly Eject.
DEMooRACY's LEAvEN AT WORK
Crushing Defeat OF German Arms
Would. It is Believed, Mean an Up.
set of Hohcnzollern rule.

Washington, Aug. 21.-Semi- official
opinion in washingto has crystallized
apparently on these forecasts Of the
presidents reply to Pope Benedict.
The reply will await q conference
of the allies. but the attitude OF the
United States will in no manner"sbe
CONSTRUCTED by determinations Of fhs
allies as to dispositions of European
territory necessary to peace.
The sine qua non which the United
States will consider the cessation q
hostilities will be the liberalization
and characterization of Germany her
self.
Not Hopclessly Remote.
It Is an end not regarded here a
hopelessly remote. This 10 only semi
official opinion. The men with whom
the president advises directly are
maintaining the most remarka6l6
barrier of silence on all matters re-
lating to peace. But II Is an opinion
so universal among men who are in
which the administration moves that
it Is regarded as important. 49,
The president has continued to de-
vote himself to the problems Of price,
fixing to the exclusion OF all other
matters. While he Is thus engAeed
no one ventures to discuss peace. The
whole matter has been left to the
president alone in a most unprecedent-
ed manner.
The president Is believed to have
induced this attitude on the part or
the cabinet and congress only because
he has been able to assure them that
he has a satisfactory solution OF the
peace problem.
The delay fits nicely into the prssi-
dents plans as outlined. It win per-
NIT OF the conference Of the allies
told OF by Lord Robert Cecil In LIon-
don.
The very simplicity Of the demands
Of the United States will also rive
the other allies may lack. They may
he considered at first glance moro dif-
ficult OF attainment than the compfi-
Gated questions which the rest Of the
entente is endeavortng to solve. But
the characterization OF Germany IN
said to be. in the presidents opinion.
the real solution OF tho many things
the allies may quarrel over.
Belgium Must be Compensated.
The one exception to the rule
against interfering in European poll
tics today attributed to the adminis-'
tration II the restoration OF Belgium.
This exception Ia made not because Of
interest in Belgium herself--that in
terest is sentimental and not political
or dfplomatic-but because the vio-
lation of Belgium was the most strtk=
ing instance of Prussian militar.sr,'s
disregard for all law. ss..
The apparent gains OF the pan Gar,
mans and rabid militartsts In the ex-
pressions OF German sentiment which
reached the state department. today
were not regarded as extremely dis
couraging. The state department has
indfsputable evidence that the leayeu
OF democracy Is already powerfully. tf
quietly. at work in Germany. II VIII
need only a smashing defeat of Ger
man arms to make It's power felt from
one end OF the empire to the other.
This Is another reason why the
president IL in no hurry to answer the
pope's note. The possibility of a sala
~ by the German high fleet was moi
denied in official quarters today. A
decisive. defeat of that feet might he
the thing TO warn German lbera iism
TO real action 49, = - -" ~ = - :,