The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-17
An Almost Forgotten Condition In
President Wilson's List.


President Wilson's List.
The invitation by way of Austria to
the Allies and the United States to
discuss terms Of peace with the I'm
periai Government of Germany, a
Government which now sees the hand
writing on the wall, runs squarely
against one of the conditions laid
down MS Indispensable by President
WILSON less than thirteen months
ago.
In the reply which President Will
son requested Secretary LANSING to
make to his Holiness BENEDICT XIV.
1t was pointed out by the President
that there could be no negotiation
with the representatives Of the Ger
man Government as now constituted.
The Government Of Prussian militar-
ism, the Government of the Hohen-
zollern dynasty, was thus described
by President WILSON'S Secretary Of
State. writing under the Presidents
immediate direction:
"a vast military establishment con-
trolled by an irresponsible Government.
which, having secretly planned to domi-
nate the world, proceeded to carry out
the plan without regard either to the
sacred obligations Of treaty or the long
established practices and long cher
ished principles OF international action
and honor; which chose Its own time
for the war delivered It's blow hercely
and suddenly; stopped at no barrier,
either of law or Of mercy: swept
whole continent within the tide OF blood
NOT the blood of soldiers only. but
the blood of innocent women and chill
dren and Of the helpless poor and now
stands baked but not defeated, the en-
envy of four-hfths of the world. This
Power is not the German people. 1t Is
the ruthless master OF the German
people"
Has this description ever been ex-
celled for force and truth concen-
trated In brevity? Then the Presi-
dent, through Secretary LANSING,
went on to ask:
"Can peace be based upon q restitu-
ton OF its power or upon any word OF
honor 1t could pledge in a treaty of
settlement and accommodation?
And, having asked this question,
President WILSON, through his Secre-
tary of State, proceeded to answer
It with an unmistakable negative:
I'VE cannot take the word of the
, present rulers OF Germany as a guar
antee of anything that is to endure,
unless explicitly supported by such con-
elusive evidence of the will and pur-
pose Of the German people themselves
as the other peoples of the world would
be justified in accepting without such
guarantees treaties of settlement. agree
ments for disarmament, covenants to set
up arbitration in the place OF force
territorial adjustments, reconstitutions
OF small nations II made with the Ger
man Government. no man, no nation
could now depend on"
After this can there be any doubt
of the reception which the camou
flaged overtures the Hohenzollern
Government of Germany is attempt
ing to make through Austria are
bound to meet In our Department OF
State and in the White House?
No talk of terms of peace, no ne
gotlations for a peace Of any kind
least bf all for an enduring peace
until we have evidence that we are
dealing with the German people and
not merely with the present rulers
of Germany, on whose word, or
whose promises, on whose treaty
faith no man and no nation can now
depend.
Such was the Presidents attitude
a year ago towail peace proposals
emanating from the treaty breakers
of Berlin. Nothing has happened
since to indicate that he has changed
his mind. An essential condition o.
negotiation or even OF discussion 1!
the explicit guarantee that the ne
gotiation or discussion Is not to b
with the proved liars and intriguer'
and swlndlers now ruling the German
people. but with the German peopl,
themselves.
We call this an almost forgotten
condition In Mr.. WILSON'S list becaus,
It has been kept less prominently IL
sight than some Of his other declara
lions Of principle contained In mes
sages or documents uttered with hi
own voice or signed with his own pen
But tlis condition is not the less o
the Presidents making on account o