Evening star., 1918-01-15
Swiss SHOCKEDBY 4
GERMAN COMMENT
Peace 0ptimists Surprised @
Abrupt Rejection Of Presi- !
dents Terms.
SOME PAPERS FRIENDEY
BY OSWALD r. scHUETTB.

BY OSWALD r. sCHUETTB. -
CnbIesram to The Evening Star ana
Chicago Daily News. Copyright, 1913.
ZURICH, Switzerland. January a.
Swiss peace optimists, who saw in
President Wilson's address the first
step toward peace. were shocked at
it's abrupt and unanimous rejection by
the German newspapers. The comment
of the North German Gazette. which
was the first telegraphed from Ger.
many by the official Wolf Bureau. Wa0
evidently written at q time when only
a skeletonized version OF the fourteen
peace articles were available and when
the rest of the address was not to b
had in Berlin.
In the past semi-official comments
like these have been written in the
Office of the chancellor himself, but Il
is doubted here whether this insulting
reply had the approval of Count Won
Hertling- There seems. however, to
be no question but that there are
Minister Won Kuehlmann's peace
efforts and the view of other high
German functionaries. The latter ap-
parently have closer access to the
DR.. kuehlmann. who IL at Brest-
Litovsk. It is. however. Interesting 70
compare this Berlin comment with the
editorials in the Zuricher Pose and the
which usually reflect pro-0srman
opinion. In this case both papers &C
corded the most friendly reception to
Mr.. Wilson's address.
"Is Powerful Proclamation
President Wilson'S new message.
SAYS the Nachrichten. 'is doubtless a
powerful proclamation It towers
steeple high above those of the other
statesmen Of the allied powers. Mr..
Lloyd Georges views are absolutely
unacceptable to the central powers and
cannot be discussed. Mr.. Wilson's mes
sage must be accorded serious and
thorough consideration. Surley it can
not be denied that the message will
make deep impression on the entire
world, including neutral nations"
President Wilson's message" says
the Zuricher Post, ''is the most impor-
peoples Of the earth from the White
House since the beginning Of the war.
Above all other procIamations fnclud-
ing that OF David Lloyd George, Il has
the advantage of clearness. It permits
for the first time free discussion Of the
ring peoples and therefore 10 Of ines.
timable service in the cause OF amity
even though views on various points
will diverge.
began at Brest-Litovsk and Progressed
with the speech of the English premier
Now the American President takes the
floor authoritatively to a valuable puf-
pose, in fact general peace negotiations
are under way. It Is important to keep
the possibilities for an understanding
before the storm breaks anew in some
corner Of the war.
Wilson's Program Serves Purpose.
This purpose President Wilson's
peace program serves, and his demands
must be carefully considered by the
Berlin and Vienna governments. These
now have the word"
The latest news from Berlin indicates
that the chancellery and the foreign
Office are carefully considering the VIII.
the German reply will contain far
greater promises Of peace than the
abrupt rejection forecasted by the
North German Gazette. Many newspa-
pers in Germany still continue hostile
in their comments. but 1t is significant
that the Frankfurter Zeitung. just re-
ceived here, contains a much friendlier
editorial This seems to have been
suppressed by the Woln Telegraphie
Agency. which carefully transmitted all
the pan-German views.
The Frankfurter Zeitung reviews the
entire program and points out its mod
Grafton on many points. 1t seems to
be of the opinion that Mr.. Wilson's
reference to Alsace-Lorraine does not
mean the return Of these provinces to
France. 1t declares that many of the
demands are directly in line with those
urged by the Germans, especially free
dom of the seas and economic freedom.
gium, the decrease Of armaments and
the formation of a league of natione
are especially acceptable to Germany.