The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-10-18
ONLY To
GERMAN PEOPLE
IN PEACE PLEA
Asquith Emphasizes Impossible
ity of Dealing With the
Hun War Lords.
PRAISE FOR WILSON'S NOTES
Former Premier Declares No Man
Better Qualified to Be Spokesman
Of the Free Nations Than Pres
ldent of United States.

London, Oct. 18.-Herbert 81. AS
tional Liberal club that there was
no man In the world better qualified
to be spokesman for free nations than
President Wilson and said the allies
must be sure that peace plans really
come from the German people. Mr..
Asquith spoke in part as follows:
Back Of the enemy's proposals are
purposes which we have confronted
and endured during the most trying
ordeal In our history. We might have
held aloof In August, 1914 when the
great decision was faced by the Brit
ish government, but nobody in Eng
land can wish that the country had
then acted otherwise. In saving her
soul Great Britain has saved the
world.
IF we had stood aside Germany
would have established herself as a
standing and commanding menace, po--
litfcal and commercial, to the rest OF
Europe and the world. But the mate
rial penalty would have been COM
paratively light in view Of the fatal
blow which would have been inflicted
upon the higher interests Of man
kind.
1--WE yield full measure of acknowl-
edgment and gratitude to our allies,
particularly to Belgium, which bore
the first brunt Of the German invasion.
The Belgian army, under the personal
leadership Of Belgium's indomitable
king, is taking its share in the strug-
giles and successes Of the allies.
''In no spirit Of egotism or vain
glory we express our pride In
the achievements Of our own army
and navy. We must not forget that
while Field Marshal Haig and his gal
lsnt troops are clearing Belgium and
northern France of the invader, It has
been the British navy and mercantile
marine whose vigilance and persever-
ance actively have drained away the
cnemy's enormous reservoir Of power,
both for aggression and defense. Never
has there been in history a more
signal tribute than this war has to
the power which comes from the
command Of the seas.
eff in addressing her overtures, not
to the European allies, but to our
American associates, Germany calcu-
lated to SOW the seeds Of possible dis
seEsfon and jealousy, 1t was another
Illustration of the chronic clumsiness
Of German diplomacy.
"There is no one better qualified to
be the spokesman of our common cause
than President Wilson. His two re-
plies to the German notes were both
In spirit and substance, exactly what
the occasion required. They were
terse, dignif1ed and outspoken, and
went to the heart Of the matter, leav-
ing no loopholes for dialecttcal or rhe-
torical escape.
II wish to emphasize the impor-
tance and justice of these conditions
laid down and point out the impossi-
bility of negotiating with the enemy
who sunk the Leinster, has wantonly
destroyed towns and villages In France
and Flanders, and practiced incredu-
lous barbarities on prisoners.
'We must be sure that the govern
ment which has invited us to deal with
It is not the old Prussian militarism
dressed up in a democratic disguise.
That is the great question. The re-
ply to 1t can come only from the Ger
man people themselves"