The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-01-09
PRESIDENTS SPEECH
rs DISCUSSED
fHnntinnad from mage Ii

terms. The president used must In
some cases, should in others.
An army general who has views
quite counter to President Wilson'S,
suggested that the speech was tenn
perate particularly with respect to
Belgium. That he had left an open
ing for negotiations there, too, was
this mans thought He held that as
the president had not suggested the
means whereby the restoration
should be accomplished, that perhaps
he was favorable to trade, which
would give Germany the fund where
by to meet the indemnity.
Congress was inclined to be bit
critical of the Alsace-Lorraine utter
ance, feeling that it was not sufti-
GENTLY specific.
And there was a distinct republl-
can fear that the presidents state
ment for a removal of economic bar
riers on world trade was declaration
Of world free trade.
However, this was answered else
where with the statement that 1T was
assurance to Germany that there was
no present thought of q trade war
after the war-if Germany accepted
the peace.
President Wilson, according to
some authorities, held out concilia.
tory policy to Germany when he de-
clared for freedom of the seas. Tnls
would limit blockade to the inter-
national law definition thereof, some
thought.
AS for Austria, it was held that
the presidents appeal there was
especially strong, because he sug-
gested terms that may prove accept
able to her from territorial stand
point.
Within congress and within army
quarters there was belief that Pres
ident Wilson's sudden move to adj
dress congress. was based on some
inside information" about internal
Lloyd Georges speech, there has
been talk in army circles like this:
1T looks as If those higher up must
have something on which to operate
which we don't know about"
The presidents utterances with
respect to the political aspect of Ger
many were considered far more tenn
perate than any made previously.
This was held to be an appeal to
the liberals to get reform which
would make the reichstag responsive
to the peoples will. Lloyd-George,
too, avoided harshness and the talk
of harshness- was reduced to diplo-
matte terms. Others said this
amounted to talking direct to Ger
many in language of diplomacy.
Some said the terms would strip
Germany and that she would now
continue the war with the feeling
that she could gain nothing other
wise. But to Offset this spirit many
argued that problems such as read
justment of Alsace and Italia-Irre-
denta had been left open to discus
sion, while liberal spirit had been
shown toward the Turkish question.
The Polish problem may serve as a
stumbling block, many feel, though
there is a general agreement that
she is entitled to independence AS
now framed, the proposal would take
a slice off east Prussia, apparently.
The speech lets Germany know
what she faces-tells her in a con-
ciliatory way-and behind it is this
thought and purpose:
Here are the terms Conform to
them and take them If you will; if
you will not, then you will find the
allies and America ready for further
sacrifices in order that the world
may rest assured that the Prussian
militarism and horror is thing Of
the past"