The Washington herald., 1918-01-06
Interpretation of Address
to English Labor Reflects
Solid Satisfaction.
WARNING TO RUSSIA
LINKED WITH THREAT
Separate Treaty Would Pre-
clude Entente from Pro-
tecting Slav Interests.

Upon the shoulders OF halseT
Wilhelm rests full responsibility for
a further continuation Of the war.
This is Washington's unofficial
tonight of Lloyd
Georges portentous speech before
organized labor of England.
By unofficial Interpretation" is
meant informal, hrst-hand views In
official quarters.
The official Interpretation. if any
is 10 come. must come from Presi-
dent Wilson. There is a suggestion
in administration quarters that he
might see fit to follow up the Brit
ish premier with an Endorsement.
Lansing Is Silent.
The State Department, always Ioath
to give an opinion or an Interpretation
in connection with matters of such
without the approval of the
President. withholds all comment
As to selecting the occasion he did
for his speech, it is stated. Lloyd
George acted without consulting the
United States. But because there is
such a striking similarity between
the terms laid down blythe British
premier and the terms laid down by
President Wilson in his recent annual
to Congress, allied diplomats
in Washington believe that there is a
thorough understanding.
The impression grows in usually
well-informed quarters that at the
recent interallied conferences at Paris
and London. attended by Col. House.
an agreement in broad outline. If not
as to details, was reached concerning
war aims; and an agreement was also
reached that the allied governments,
and the United Staes, singIy or in
groups, should meet each German
peace drive with a clear and unmis-
taxable definition of why Germanys
enemies are fighting her.
Cause of Den0eracy.
From the very date of Amerf-
cas- entry into the war and Presi-
dent Wilson's first enunciation of
aims in the contest there
has been felt a growing need for
a constant reiteration of allied war
aims in order that the German peo-
pie may never lose sight of the fact
that the peoples in arms against
them are fighting the cause of
This is the purpose of Lloyd
Georges speech, as seen here. 1t
is a diplomatic drive. a counter at
tack against the efforts of the
German statesmen to undermine the
morale of their enemies. But it is
no evidence of weakening on the
part of the allies. Lloyd George,
as the unofficial opinion here is eX-
pressed, is not suing for peace; he
is giving but another notice of the
fact that Germany's enemies are
prepared to fiCht to the last bit of
endurance in order that the aims
he outlines may be won.
Once more notice is given the
German people. as Washington sees
ii, that the German governments S
war aims must be defeated-wheth-
er the defeat is administered in the
field or through an undermining of
the German morale, are matters
which the future will determine.
Code OF Principles.
The Lloyd George speech. from
the Washington viewoint, set forth
a code of principles and marks out
the course by which these principles
may be applied.
The latest Prussian terms, for
which Czernin. the Austrian pre-
mier, served as mouthiece, were
grandiose and full of generous
but in the firm appIica-
ton of them, in the negotiations
with Russia, the treachery tehind
them was portrayed.
As clearly as possible Lloyd
George. for the entente. has re-
from the first renounced for
any purpose TO crush Ger
many or to crafty any aims of ma
teriaI conquest. The Czernin terms
were hardly spoken at Brest-
before the mask was torn
from the Prussian purpose to wrest
from Russia the levies of conquest.
Thus officials and allied diplomats
in Washington draw the deadly
parallel between the assurances OF
the allies and the performances Of
Prussia.
sounds Warming Note.
With respect to Russia, Lloyd
George goes farther than the United
States has gone in sounding a note of
1T is difficult to speak of Russia. "
says the British premier, without
of judgment. Russia can
only be saved by her own people
As seen here, this simple statement
reveals to the people of Russia the
on the wall. If she wills
it to drink deep at the feast of Ger
man promises, and allows herself to
fall victim to the wiles of Berlin, she
must take the consequences Of her
folly. If by negotiating a separate
peace she elects to paddle her own
canoe, the warning is read here, the
allies at the peace conference cannot
to safeguard the destinies
of Russia. To the extent that Lloyd
George says. that Russifs salvation
is in the hands of her people, he ad-
heres to the American belief that
Russia is entitled to work out her
future course. The threat originates
with him.