El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-11-07
HERE IS AN ODDITY OF THE WAR:
TERMS PRECEDE ARMISTICEI

THIS is probably the first time in history that the dis
cusson Of peace has preceded those Of arms
tce That IS of the curious features of the
tween the allies and Germany approaching the eli
In reading of the negotiations Of these days it is i'm
pOrant that people should not be confused The allied
representatives, meeting Versailles announced they
willing abide by president Wilson's peace terms with
notifications They announced that terms for an
msce could be secured BY Germany upon application to
field marshal Ferdinand Foch commandernchef Of all the
allied forces.
There has sentiment in this country that presi-
dent Wilson's "A terms with the additions made thereto
in subsequent speeches. indefinite and moder-
ate to serve as basis for stopping the fighting They
VIII not do
There must be confusion between the armstice terms
and the peace terms President Wilson's principles have
been accepted first by Germany and now by the allies
basis for making the final peace. The armistioe terms
have not yet been announced. They of military
ure and doubtless are most drastic-e7en more drastic
than those imposed Bulgaria Turkey Austra-Eun-
gary. They in marshal Fochs possession viii
communicated to Germany the latters application.
Il viii be found when the armstice terms are revealed
that they involve total surrender on Germany's part
Pressure by the peoples of the allied countries has been so
strong for compelling Germanys surrender that if there
any tendency TO waveT the dpomatists and others
who drafted the felt compelled satisfy the unver
sal demand This is hypothetical Nothing has come out
TO justify belief that any of the allied representatives,
favored sentmentalist policy toward ruthless and de-
based enemy.
Like Col Roosevelt the representatives. of the allied
governments evidently considered that president Wilson'S
peace terms required calculation. Witness the note:
They (the aes) must point out however that clause
two relating what is usually described freedom of the
open to various interpretations of which they
could E0t accept They must therefore, reserve them
selves complete freedom this subject when they enter
the peace conference
further, IN the conditions Of peace laid down IN his
address to congress Of January g. 1915 the president de-
cared that invaded territories must be restored well
evacuated and freed The allied governments feel that
doubt ought to be allowed to exist to what this prov
sion implies By it they understand that compensation viii
be made by Germany for all damage done to the civilian
population Of the allies and their property by the sggres
sion Of Germany by land By and from the air"
The president has agreed with this Interpretation and
with It the allied peoples viii agree unanimously without
doubt for It IS Of the very most important condera
tons that Germany make IepaIation far rep
srson IS at all possible for her crimes Of destruction Of
life and property.
It IS supremacy fitting that armistice terms should come
the hand Of marshal Fooh The allies representa-
tives done exactly night in deciding that arrange
must be left in the hands Of the generalssmo on
The field Of battles IN the hands Of the who IS taking
Germany by the throat.
Germany VIII apply for the armisce terms Of course
much that nation would doubtless prefer 10 deal with
dpomasts Then, after the terms have been considered
BY the enemy shall know whether il is to be surrender
or war.
In Germany yields to the armistice terms-and
of the hopeful observers abroad believe Ger
many VIII accept almost any terms matter how hui