New-York tribune., 1918-02-14

very moderate damandsG His answer
was that Great Britain was to give UP
her coaling stations throughout the
world. l confess l think that WAS the
last demand Germany ought deccntly
to have put forward,
"These coaling stations had been as
aoeessihle to German, as to British
ships. IN the past, the German feet
always has received most hospitable
treatment at all these stations. During
1913. some sixty-fve visits were paid to
them by German men of-war, and they
received exactly the same facilities AS
British men -of-war. The same thing
applied to German merchantmen. There
were German coaling firms there, con
ducting trade under exactly the same
conditions as British firms
ITO make such demand for the first
time in the fourth year of the wax is
the best possible proof that the Ger
man Empire, or those at present con
trolling IT. is not in a mood to discuss
reasonable terms of peace. regret it
profoundly, hut there is nc use in cry
ing peace when there is no peace.
Words Are Meaningless
''fhe action of Germany with refer
ence to Russia proves that all her dec
iarations about no annexations, in
IDENTITIES or contributions have no
real meaning No answer has been
given with regard to Belgium which
any one can regard as satisfac-
tory. No answer has been given
with regard to Poland or the
legitimate French claim for the restor-
Is said about the men of the Italian
race and tongue now under the Aus
TRAN yoke. When you come to Turkey,
SO far from Won Hertling or Czernin
indicating they were prepared to rec
ognize the rights Of the Arabs in
Mesopotamia and Arabia, it was pure
denial of those rights, and an indica-
tlon that they were determined to
maintain what they called the integri-
ty of Turkey.
81 should like any member of this
speeches which he could possibly re-
gard as proof that the Central Powers
are prepared to make peace in terms
he would regard as just and reason
able. | fail to find anything of the
kind, and it is with the most profound
regret that | say so.
But the governments do not recede
IN the least from the statement Of war
aims they already have made. They
ideals for which we are fighting, and
there is every indication that the ma
ton as whole is prepared to accept
them as fair, just and moderate state
ment, and until there is some better
Froot than is supplied by the speeches
of the statesmen Of the Central Powers
that they are prepared to consider
them 1t will be our regrettable duty to
continue making all preparations neccs-
sary in order to establish international
rights"
n ntycc II
that at Versailles, the Premier ampha-
sized the fact that at Versailles the
CIVILIAN and military members were sit
ting together-the prime ministers, the
commanders in chief and the chiefs of
stats OF three countries. The discus
sion was absolutely free and there was
complete unanimity reached There was
10 division of opinion upon any resolu-
non arrived at.
Must Speak Cautiously
~ must speak cautiously" the Pre-
mier continued, "because military de-
cisions are involved All! l wish there
had been some one in Germany or Aus
trla whose ears were glued to the key
tole OF the war councils of Germany
and Austria and who published their
decisions a. on, in the newspapers. A man
who had done that could give us in
formation which would be worth twenty
army corps. | must talk with caution,
because it might give information to
the enemy. | woulo Gather that the re-
sponslblllty was on other shoulders
than mine.
no give away such information (con-
cernlhg the enlargement of the duties
CT the Versailles counci) is treason be-
yond description, and decline to do it.
There is no army whose security more
depends upon these decisions being car
rled out than the British army. which
Is holding the most important part of