Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-10-19
SATURDAY EVENING. OCTOBER -. 1918.
EVENTS OF A WEEK

EVENTS OF A WEEK
The note of President Wilson to the second note of
the German chancellor set at rest whatever impression
prevailed that Germany would be permitted to secure a
peace by negotiation, with the Consequent loss to the
Allies Of the logical results of their three months VIC
tories. The correspondence, with the intervals which
elapsed between the receipt Of the successive notes and
the answer to them, extended over a period Of nine days.
During that time it is not too much to say that the tate
Of the world hung in the balance. Upon the decision
reached depended the entire result of the war. One de-
cision would have meant the withdrawal of the German
armies to their own territory, the escape of Germany
herself from the immediate experience of war on aer
own soil, and the prestige to Germany Of having for the
better part Of four years withstood a world in arms and
having emerged, bruised and bleeding, but unbeaten, and
with all the facilities in her hands for the beginning Of
another war Of conquest whenever she believed that
the opportune moment had come.
The opposite decision would mean that the Allies
were united in their determination to push the war to
its conclusion, and to make peace on terms which they
themselves would dictate after a militia ~ victory of such
a character that its extent and meaning would never
for a moment be in doubt. It was the making of one
or other of these decisions that lay within the power Of
the statesmen OF the Allied nations. and it is not surS
prising that for a time the world hung .breathless in ex-
pectancy and anxiety.
There was still another possibility, which constituted
a second string to the German bow. This was the pos
sibility that the plausible proposal of Germany might be
favorably received in one or more Of the Allied countries
and not IL. the others, and that it might thus serve as a
wedge to split asunder the close combination which exists
among these powers. It was easy to see that such a
disagreement might lead to pickering and jealousy, in
which case the disturbance would inevitably be reflected
in the military situation and the effectiveness of the AL
lied armies would be materially lessened.
The first German proposal was in the hands of
President Wilson nearly three days before his note of
inquiry was sent. 1t is fair to suppose, as q Toronto
paper puts it, that the wires between Washington and
Paris, where the 1nter-Alhed War Council was in session,
were fairly active during that period. 1t is reasonable
to suppose that when the president Of the United States
asked Of Prince Max in substance, "Just what do you
mean, and whom do you represent? % that the War Coun-
Gil not only knew but approved Of the tenor and form
OF the communication. Any other superstition leads at
once into a mass OF is..probabiities.
Whatever the method employed in the preparation
Of the note and that which was sent in response to
Germanys second appeal. there had in the meantime
been such an outpouring Of sentiment in the principal
countries arrayed against Germany as to present an i'm
presstve demonstration Of the determination of all ele-
ments In all OF those nations to make no terms and have
no dealings with the German government as at present
constituted. and to make no terms Of any kind with
Germany except such as they should dictate after. Ger
Inany's confession Of utter defeat by unconditional sur
render. That was the character Of the answer volun-
teered BY the people Of America, Of France, Of Britain
and Of Italy. wherever they found the means Of express
sion. and it remained merely for the president to for
malate that sentiment, which he did in his note Of last
M Tuesday In q manner which has been rAcAfvAd o,,ta}A
Of the German combination only with praise.
9s @MW@ -
The announcement that the further German com
nunicauon. which has been expected. and which IL pop-
uSaTly described as a reply to the president.sslates mote,
would IN all probability be received on Saturday after
noon, hence It may have been received before these lines
are in print The presidents note dos not cali for : re-
bly,. nor was one invited. The terms Of the note ars
+ final, ana IT. meaning i un1pistakable. Germany may
staks ~ or leave IT. but the subject Is not one for debate.
Ths Desperate Hraits In which Germany finds her
sgeel3 al Indicated IN various ways. Every detail Of the
Eailitaty canhpaisn has been going against her. and the
atsSnsth Of the combination u cTunblins. For the
Ndouble purpose. nnAoubtedIy. Of plaeatsns the psopIs
ASme and tnpreustnE the outsads world with an ap-
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