The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-10-25
DIPLOMATIC CRISIS
FACING ALLIES IN
ARMISTICEP PLANS
CONTINUED From First PageJ


must ensue. Again, the latest note may
be described as bringing the diplomacy
Of the war TO the real crisis, for II the
presidents democratic aims are no;
shared by the allies, II IL possible that
the prestige Of our co-beliigerents viii
not be as great as IT. has been before,
and the interests OF the American peo-
pie for aims now revealed In selfish
terms may he considerably altered.
1t Is a time for plain speaking. While
the men at the head OF the govern
ment at Washington want to see the
kaiser and kaiserism eNterminated, they
are anxious also that there be a peace
based upon justice, Mr.. Wilson aid In
his New York speech that every ma
ton, whether IT be friend or foe, must
come to the peace table ready 10 pay
the price, That price is the subordina-
ton Of such purely selfish desires as
represent tho viewpoint merely Of spe-
cial interests and privileged classes and
for which the whole world ought not
to be asked to prOlong the var one
moment longer than an accommodation
Of the rightful interests Of all the ma
lions involved can be obtained.
The British labor party and the
French socialists have subscribed to the
president war aims. To an unprece-
dented degree does Mr.. Wilson, a for
eigner, have the confidence Of large
sections Of French and British public
opinion.
The president says that America has
gone into this war unselfishly, has shed
her blood for the cause Of democracy,
and anything that Is at variance with
democracy or the permanent interests
Of an international brotherhood, should
he dropped from the allied peace pro-
gram.
There must forever he application
Of even acceptable principles, but it
would he embarrassing, according to the
views Of the men with whom ! have
talked, If the allied governments yield
cd at this time to the various elements,
socialists or conservatives, and pro-
nounCed themselves in detail to peace
terms. There will be plenty of opportu-
nifty later for explicit depression from
any Interpretation Of the articles which
may affect adversely the national Inter
ests Of any allied power.
For The present Mr.. Wilson is dealing
win gauged principles Germany
would like to see dlssensiOn, on details,
tbs allies %cOnflne themselves at this
time to an acceptance Of Mr.. Wilson's
IA principles, reserEing to themselves
the right at the proper time n ocCH-
sion to speak their Interpretation Of
those principles, the allied unity viii
have been conceived and preserved, and
the assumed effort of Germany to dl-
vide the allies will have been complete
ly frustrated.
Separates Issues.
In a nutshell, the president, by his
last note has differentiated between the
political and military. phases Of peace
negotiation. In America there was eS-
hibited an Impotence with peace talk
lest 1t be IA trick of the enemy to I'M
prove his own military situation at the
expense of the allies. There was a de-
mand, moreover, for no parleying with
In IEnrigpt npth nf thAan MIR WilEnu
e~ndeavored to meet In his last note, lie
win talk peace with the German people
when they are rid of kaiserism. II they
retain the miIltarists the only terms are
surrender.
The president has no patience with
those who argue that there should be
no talking at all, but only fighting
Those critics do not know the tremend-
Gus expense IN human life Of such =
policy, az II means at least two years
more of incessant fighting and possibly
more to conquer the whole nation. This
president believes the end of the allies
can as well be accomplished by political
revolution inside Germany, who shall
punish the Culprits who started TINS
war and bring reparation and shall also
set up the democratic government IN
Germany which can be admitted into a
league of nations,
The dangers Of the policies of the
extremists is that they would lead
either to Bolshevikism throughout Eu.
rope with a reign % terror inside Ger
many that would give no PREPARATION and
teach no lesson. or would lead to a
fight to the finish by Il people who
| believe they might as well die fighting
rather than submit to an enemy who
| intends destroying them anyway,
] As the situation Is viewed IN govern
| ment cireles, not only would the Amer
lean people disapplVN u sucll 4 course
did they truly understand that II mere
ly meant IA war Of determination with
heavy sacrifices that would get no
more in the end than the present course
Is expected to get, but the allied peoples
who have been IN the war four wears
would not sustain a bitter end struggle
unless absolutely necessary to get the
right kind of peace.