The Washington times., 1918-01-09

Of ENTENTE
AGAIN TAKEN
BY AMERICA
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
CONTINUED from First Page }

come the programme OF all the allies.
1t is an, open secret that while on
general principles the allies are in
perfect accord, certain chauvinistic
and tory utterances abroad have not
helped toward that spiri tof recon
ciliation which must precede an equi-
table peace. And the German I'm
perialists have not failed to make
use of these in combating the Social
lists Mr.. Wilson's address of yes
terday. moreover, IL designed to
strengthen the hand OF the Socialists
in the hope that the present political
ferment may grow into a real social
revolution and bring to the front
spokesmen who ca nbe trusted by
the United States and the other al
lies.
As vet, there is considerable specu-
lation as to whether negotiations will
be begun with the present German
government. Certainly, TIE antipathy
to the Hohenzollerns has not been di-
minished, but a change in the form
of Germany's administration that will
give confidence to her Rdversaries will
he regarded with as much favor as
any radical change in personnel On
this point, however. it il clear that
Great Britain and the United States
have not thought it worth while to
make an explicit declaration.
Still His Plea.
Give us spokesmen that we can
trust" is still Mr.. Wilson's plea, and
whether these spokesmen shall be the
Eeichstag committee or a new chan
cellor responsible to the Reichstag is
something which will only become
important when the Germans have
manifested a sincere desire 10 accept
Dir. Wilson's address as a basis for
peace. Then il will be vital to know
who is going to guarantee the peace.
In. Congress and out of il. the uni
versSl sentiment is in favor of Mr..
Wilson's pronouncements, and il is
worthy OF note that the Presidents
power and prestige is such that a
simple speech without previous con-
sultation with the leaders OF either
House is taken as the expression OF
the nation itself.
There was to be sure some short
sighted comment in ConLre about
free trade which Away interests
Congressman who afe moro interested
in safeguarding their political future
Than the peace OF the word, but the
removal of economic barriers in the
international sense has never meant
absolute free trade but tire introduc-
tion OF the principle of reciprocity
and fair dealing in trade relations as
opposed to the selfish determinations
that breed bitterness and war. The
principle of self-preservation which is
fundamental in a protective tariff is
not to be confused, however. with the
selhshness and special privilege that
have heaped up profits for individuals
at the expense OF the consumer. a pro-
cess that has brought commercial in
fiuence to bear on foreign offices in
the setting up Of such trade barriers
as have led to blOodshed.
General Satisfaction.
The situation today in Washington
is one of general satisfaction over the
Presidents speech and intense anxiety
10 know what reception IT will get in
the centrel powers. Count Won Hert-
InG's peace terms as printed in the
Paris Mstin are far from definite, as re
produced here, and show rather a
tendency TO support the militarists.
but since they could not have been
made with a knowledge OF Mr.. VIII
sons latest utterances, they are not
70 be dismissed as Germany's answ er
There are still two points Of view
here-those that believe Germany has
not been chastened and is still dream
ing OF world domination. and those
who think internal politics in Ger
many have reached the most critical
stage since the war began-a crisis
that must mean the beginning Of the
end OF autocracy, even though the
war may conceivably drag through
another year with the physical help
Of the United States looming up as a
menace to the military and economic