The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1918-11-08
THE PATH TO PEACE.

The latest communication OF PRESIDENT wilson 10 Jnt
German government, sent through the Swiss legation
win not give much pleasure in Berlin as it furnishes
fresh proof Of the unity Of views which prevails tn,
side of the allies.
The fourteen points indicated possible basis fol
peace by the president stated in speech addressed
to congress In the nature of things speech to public
assembly is always couched in general terms thar
an exact protocol drawn up by dplomatists. The OBJ
ject of such speech is merely to make clear to the
sembly the general lines on which settlement may be
come to- It is not and does not pretend to be final
document which may be subscribed to without discussion
by the interested parties Taleyrand declared that
Language was given to to conceal thoughts
Though the statement too cynical to meet with general
subectng all proposals submitted them to the closest
scrutiny in order to make that official protocol
once it is drawn up in definite form for signature shall
contain nothing ambiguous capable of double inter
probation.
The very aIacrity with which, contrary to its custom
the German government fastened to accept the pres
dents conditions made necessary 70 rthe allied govern
ments to reead them with close attention in order to
see if there any ambiguity by which the Germans
could find loophole to escape their strict fulfment
Even the fact that the allied governments have only
drawn the attention of the president two of them does
not that the others are accepted zen bloc in ad
1t simply that the face of them they
do not to lend themselves to any double nterpre
taton IT, however, during the peace negotiations the
German delegates should attempt to read into them any
thing which the American government and the govern
ments of the allies have not foreseen and did not intend
may be that the allies point Of view will be Wig
orousy defended and that no Interpretation "a la boche
will be permitted.
For the time being therefore, all the points as enun
cated by President Wilson stand with the exception Of
twoone concerning the question of the freedom of the
and the other the restoration of the evacuated ter
rores The term freedom of the seas opens up such
national and international interests that it not
only natural but inevitable that the various powers
posing the entente should make complete reservation
of their right of discussion Freedom of the seas'
by the Hun, that any nation at
has the right to amuck in the ocean, sinking every
vessel it may encounter regardless of whether neutral
or beligerent vessel of simple ship of
The drawing up of international regulations such will
safeguard the sovereign rights of warning nations and
at the time protect the rights of neutras is too
complicated problem for President Wilson to have at
tempted to solve in a single phrase He simply laid down
general principle the safeguarding and application Of
which will be left to the friendly discussion of the allies
German views being given the consideration they deserve
and nothing
The question of the restoration of evacuated territory
was also stated in somewhat vague terms, and Ger
manys acceptance of the armstce will depend greatly
what she is called upon perform in this regard it
we'll that the matter should not be left in doubt The
supplementary definition furnished by the president dis
spates all ambiguity and gives the Berlin government
clearly to understand what is expected of it. 1t further
furnishes it with proof that complete unity of view
lists between Washington and Versailles and that Ger
many need not hope that any diversity of opinion, by
which she would profit exists is likely to arise
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