New-York tribune., 1918-02-13
Britain Skeptical
OF Wilson'S Stand
On Austrian Aims
Press Feels Count Czernin
Must Rid Himself of
Prussian Influence
Motives Are Praised
Papers Generally Compare
Message With "Bombast"
Of Kaiser

LONDON. FEB. 12.-Great Promi-
nence is given in this evenings news
papers to the speech made yesterday in
Congress by President Wilson, and in
their lengthy comment they compare it
with Emperor Williams reply to the
Burgomaster of Hamburg, in which the
Emperor declared that tho victory OF
German arms must be recognized.
"'rhe Westminster Gazette" after re-
viewing the Presidents arguments,
says:
"The Kaiser with the glorifcation Of
his army has had his reply. For the
moment, at all events, he and his Chan
cellor seem to have forgotten the
Reichstag resolutions of six months
ago 1t remains to be seen whether
those who passed the resolutions are
willing to revert to the spirit of Prus-
sianism implied in Chancellor Won
Hcrtling's speech and openly avowcd
in the kaiser's message of yesterday
Up to Count Czernin
Commenting on President Wilson's
reference to Count Czernin, the Austro-
Hungarian Foreign Minister, in which
the President "found a very different
note" The Westminster GaZette' says
it remains to be seen whether Count
Czernin "will be able to maintain his
attitude OF whether we Will have to
deal with enemies whose standpoint
still is accurately represented by q
Kaiser resolved to make the world sub
nit to the victorious German array"
"The Pail Mall Gazette" says the fun
damental issue between Germany and
the Entente Allies was never more
clearly defined than in the Presidents
address, and the newspaper whole
heartedly indorses the Presidents dec
laration against "peace of patches"
"The Pail Mall Gazette disagrces
with Mr.. Wilson that the voice of the
German Chancellor is the voice of but
one party in Germany. but adds:
"Happily, the President is unambisu-
I Gus in his declaration that America
will hold to her purpose until the mon
strous claim that the Germans stand
On a pedestal of armed strength above
the rest of the worlds brought to
naught."
No Hope for Accord
"The Globe" considers the Presi-
dents speech shows there is as yet no
hope of accord in the views of the
Entente nations and the Central Pow
ers, "and despite the concilatory tone
of his address," the newspaper adds
that fact is obviously as clear to the
President as to ourselves"
\ "The STAR" which has been severe
critic of the report of the Versailles
conference, cannot reconcile the report
with the Presidents address. Tho
newspaper says:
"Mr. Wilson speaks in the Language
of democracy. The Versailles report j.
written in the jargon of old. secrc
diplomacy. Secret treaties must be re
pudiated. Our government must come
America. If this government ha
neither the moral courage nor the viii
power to break away from the fou
past, then let us have clean govern
ment that Will do SO British
/ democracy is at one with American de
mocracy in determination not to liv
in world governed by intrigue an
l force"
In the address "The Times" sees a
important refutation of "the Bolshevi
alluson that Prussian militarism ca
b. exercised by rhetoric,' and com
mends the serene confidence wit
e which President Wilson adheres to tn
belief that the war win not end with
out establishing the reign of right an
e justice.
y The Daily News" believes that
: was not an accident that the Pres
e dents reply to Won Hertiing and Cour
Czernin was delivered on the eve c
a new session of the British Parlia
ment and thinks that its significanc
will not be lost on the House Of Con
mons, in view of conditions whic
! "arse generally from the gravity O
national affairs, and specifically fror
the vague and dsquieting situatio
created by the last Versailles confer
encc. with its menacing suggestion O
another reaction in the direction Of
knockout blow"
"The Standard' says that the tim
woul d seem to have arrived in Britain
IN view Of the probability of election
5 this year, for real national party, an
that its motto might we'll be Presiden
: Wilson'S declaration, "We can neve
? turn back