New-York tribune., 1918-02-12
Sees Basis for Farley in Re-
ply Of Austrian Foreign
Secretary
Gives Four Principles
AS Basis for Peace
Tells Congress That All
America Is Pledged
to Victory
By c. w. Gilbert

WASHINGTON, Feb. II. President
Wilson went up to the Capitol TODAY
and in an address to Congress made
his reply to the speeches of Won
Hertling and Czernin, the German
Chancellor and the Austrian Foreign
Minister, which were, in their turn, re-
plies to the war aims speeches of Mr..
Lloyd George and the President.
To-day's speech went step further
forward toward peace. 1t welcomed
Count Czernin's suggestion that the
OASIS existed for more detailed dis
cussion of purposes between this coun
try and Austria, and invited such
discussion, if Austria is willing to
accept certain principles upon which
peace must be founded.
"The test" said Mr.. Wilson. "of
whether it is possible for either goy-
eminent to go any further in this com
parison of views is simple and obvious.
The principles to be applied are these:
FiTsf-That each part of the final
settlement must be based upon the
essential justice of that particular
case and upon such adjustments as
are most likely to bring a peace that
will be permanent
SecOnd-That peoples and prov
lnces are not to be bartered about
from sovereignty to sovereignty, as
II they were mere ehattels and
pawns in game, even the great
game. now forever discredited, of
the balance of power.
"Third-Every territorial settle
ment involved in this war must be
made in the interest and for the
beneflt of the population concerned,
and not as part of any mere ad-
Justment or compromise of claims
amongst rival states
"F0urfh-That all we'll defined
national aspirations shall be ac-
corded the utmost satisfaction that
can be accorded them without intro
duclng new Or perpetuating old elc-
ments of discord and antagonism
that would be likely in time to break
the peace of Europe and consequent-
ly Of the world"
President Invites
Discussion of Peace
"A general peace erected upon such
foundations may be discussed" said the
President. In word. Mr.. Wilson in-
vites Austria to accept these principles
OF justice and respect for national
aspirations and to enter into a discus
sion of peace with all the Entente
Allies.
The Presidents previous statemcn:
of war aims had proved embarra ssing
to Austria 20 discuss. Count Czernin
accepted for the most part the condi-
tlons which concerned Austria herself
directly, and, said the President to-
day, "lf he is silent about questions
which touch the interest and purpose
OF his allies more nearly than they DO
these of Austria alone, it must, of
course, be because he feels constrained.
! suppose, to defer to Germany and
turkey IN the circumstances"
ihe President goes back to general
principles, and invites Austria to agree
with TINS country on principles IN ac-
cordance with which details can &e
worked out. That is the big point Of
dlference between this speech and all
previous speeches of the President
upon war aims. 1t specifically invites
q discussion of peace with one of the
belligerents. 1t is a peace speech.
Seeks to Isolate
German Militarists
In all other respects it is a renat;.
ton of the diplomacy of the Presi-
oents previous utterances It seeks TO
isolate the German military party and
to place upon that party the whole
responsibility for continuing the war.
IN this way. the President hopes to
oetach Germany's allies from Ger
many. and, indeed. to detach the Ger
man people themselves from their 1ul-
ing class. The President crystallized
this conception of German militarist
responsibility in these sharp words:
$50 far as we can judge, these prin-
ciples that we regard as fundamental
are already everywhere accepted as i'm
perat,ve, except among the spokesmen
OF the military and annexationist partv
in Germany.
If they have anywhere else been re-
Jected. the objectors have not been suffi-
GENTLY numerous or influential to make
their voices audible. The tragical cir
cumstance is that thus one party in
Germany is apparently willing and
able to send millions of men to their
death to prevent what all the world
now sees to be just"
When he spoke the last sentence Colo
mel House, who seems to have had a
good deal to do with this present peace
offensive Of the Presidant ard ~. -. !.