New-York tribune., 1918-02-27
Refusal to Right
Belgiun7's Wrongs,
Is Seen BY Enjoys
TStaF Correspondence

by the State Department on Chancellor
Won Hcrtling's reply to President Will
sons address to Congress of February
IL was lacking to-day, in the absence
of the complete text Of the speech. The
manner Of high officials, however. gave
the impression that by its latest move
the German government has discour-
aged, rather than encouraged, Presi-
dent Wilson from continuing n discus
sion of peace.
One Cabinet member admitted that
an unambiguous commitment by Ger
many in regard to the evacuation and
restoration of Belgium might be con-
sidered to be the test Of Germany's
seriousness in addressing the Allies and
America on the subject of peace terms.
With this broad intimation, the opin-
ion was formed that President Wilson
views the declaration of Won Hertling
IN reference to Belgium as fresh pro-
tcssion by Germany of her determina-
tion to approach the question of peace
as conqueror, and therefore erecting
an impossible barrier in the way Of
further discussions.
Hertling said. concerning Belgium:
I'VE must be safeguarded from the
danger of q country becoming
the object or jumping-oif ground Of
enemy Vaccinations.
Belgian Situation
That statement was everywhere taken
to mean that Germany, in accordance
with hints dropped by Admiral Won Tir-
pitt, chief of the anneXatjonist party,
would INSIST upon special rights in
Belgium, empowering her to use Bel
glan waters for naval as we'll as com
mcrcial purposes. Germany, therefore
it is believed, is still unwilling to right
Belglum'S wrongs.
The Chancellor's speech was taken
also to indicate that Germany would
attempt to effect and perpetuate the
separation of the Flemish from the
Walloon section Of the country, the
former Of which. under the German
plan, would become a German pro-
tectorate.
In Entente diplomatic circles the
view was expressed that the Allies val
uation of Austro-G German professions,
stated both in the Paris declaration
following the Versailles conference and
IN Premier Lloyd Georges speech, had
been vindicated by Won Hertling's
words. One Allied diplomat said:
served by President Wilson'S address
of February IL. 1t was believed it
would draw out the Central Powers
more than they had ever before been
induced to commit themselves and re-
veal whether they sincerely sought
peace or still held to their programmes
OF conquest. 1t is'now seen that Presi-
dent Wilson's address did serve this
purpose. Won Hertling's speech has
cffectually closed the door to further
peace talk. Belgium is a question of
honor. 1t cannot be discussed. SO long
as the enemy refuse to do justice to
Belgium they cannot be expected to
perform justice in any other instance"
Defect in Diplomacy Is Seen
The Chancellor's accusation against
Great Britain, "England's war aims are
still thoroughly imperalstc. and she
wants to impose on the world peace
according to England's good pleasure"
linked with statement chat there is
no trace on the part Of the leading
powers of the Entente of declarations
similar to those made by President
Wilson, was held to be most defective
diplomacy on the part of Won Hcrtling.
President Wilson, diplomats asserted,
would be to draw reputation from
the President of Germany's attempt to
estrange England and America.
Allied diplomats believed there could
be only one course for the United
states, following the flippant treatment
of President Wilson'S proffered oppor-
tunity for peace by Germany, and that
is a grim resolution to carry on the
war to the only conclusion possible to
realize the war aims Of America Peace
never seemed more remote, these au-
thorties believed, than at the present
moment. The enemy powers are unwil-
ling to concede more Than words; thev
talk as conQuerors, and as if to give
the lie TO every profession heretofore
favorably considered by the Allies and
the United States are prosecuting, CON
trary 70 the Rcichstag resolutions of
July 10 last, vast policy of conquest
in Russia
believed the German advance in Rus
sla had not operated to change the
situation as rcrards peace. Germany, ii
was said, might at any moment during
the last two months have accomplished
what she is now doing.
The same view was not held. how
ever among diplomats. They asserted
that Germany had only renewed her of
fenslvc against Russia when it was
psycholo logically possible to do so with |
cut arousing the Russian masses
against her, and this danger was not /
removed until the Bolshevik had de
stroyed the peoples confidence in |
themselves and had completed the de- |
moralizatlon of the Russian army