Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-11
SEESAUS'TR0
CH|EF'STALk
FAVORABLE
President Draws Parallel
Showing Difference in
Two Statements.

Washington, Feb. II. - Presiden
wilson, addressing congress in joint
session at 1890 o'clock today replied
TO the recent speeches by German
Chancellor Won Hertling and the Aus
trian foreign minister, Count Czernlh.
Chancellor Won Hertling's statement,
the president said, was very vague and
confusing and leads to practically no
conclusion. 1t was very different IN
tone from Count Czernin. which, the
president said, had very friendly
tone
The president reiterated that the
United States had no desire to inter
iere in European affairs and ''woulc
/ disdain to take advantage OF any In
ternal weakness or disorder to impose
her own will upon the world. Court
Czernin's reply. which is directed
chiefly at my own address, on the
eighth of January, is uttered in vesy
friendly tone.
Did Not Get Speech in Advance.
HE finds in my statement sufll-
GENTLY encouraging approach to the
views of his own government to JUS
Il tfy him in believing that it furnishes
basis for a more detailed discussion
Of purposes by the two governments.
He is represented to. have lntimated
that the view he was expressing. ha'i
been communicated to me before hand
and that | was aware of them at the
time he was uttering them; but iii
this | am sure he was misunderstood
had received no intimation of what
he intended TO say. There was, o.
course, no reason why he should com
municate privately with me. l an
quite content to be one OF his public
audience.
Won Hertling Very Vague.
Count Won Hertling's reply is,
must say, very vague and very con
fusing. 1t is full of eQuivocal phrase
and leads, it is not clear, where. Blu
is certainly in very different tom
from that of Count CZernin and appar
emily of an opposite purpose. II con
firms, | am sorry to say, rather thal
removes, the unfortunate impression
made by what we had learned OF Tn
conferences at Brest-LItovsk. His dis
cussion and acceptance OF our gen
eral principles lead him to no prac
teal conclusions. He refuses TO app
them to the substantive items whlc
must constitute the body of any hna
settlement. He is jealous OF inter
national action and of internationa
counsel He accepts another people.
Czernin Regarded Fa,orably.
All the way through the presldei
drew parallel between the pre-
nouncements of Chancellor Hertlln
and Foreign Minister Czernin and h
hearers drew the conclusion that tn
PRESIDENT decidedly considered Gee
INNS utteranees as being more lavo
able than Hertlng's.
Czernin seems to see the lund;
mental elements of peace with cles
+ eyes and does not seek TO obscui
hem,' said the president.
Count Czernin," said the presiden
probably would have gone much Ia
'aer had it not been for the emba
iassment OF Austria's alliances
lef dependence on Germany
Again the president reiterated tn
me United States was in the war
Vim and would put forth its who
strength. in the war of emancip
ton"
Text Of Speech.
PRESIDENT Wilson spoke as follow
Gentlemen Of the congress:
On the eighth of January. nj
ae honor OF addressing you on Z
eoNcts OF the war as our people co
ss~e them. The prime minister
sieat Britain had spoken in simii
slms on the fifth of January.
lese addresses the German chance
- replied on the oath. and Cou
nefnin for Austria on the same df
Ah gratifying TO have our desire
soMplly realized that ali eXchane
new on this great matter shol
made in the hearing or all
sWepts, he said, the principle or pu
y diplomacy but he appears to
=. mat 1t be confined at any ri
nis case. to generalities and II
several particular questions OF I
,~uy and sovereignty, the seve
nssnons upon whose settlement mi
*nd the acceptance OF peace
states now engaged in the W
A De discussed and settled, not
,eaefai council but severally by
seons most Immediately concern
interest or neighborhood.
ees that the seas should be II
looks askance at any limitat
Wat freedom by international
~ the interest of the common
Z. he would, without reserve,
@ see economic barriers
between nation and nation,
NJ could in no way impede the