The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-02-28

WOIQS OF OOuntS on 1leTtllOS con-
ceding Germany's pacific intentions
in his partial acceptance of Presi-
dent Wilson's basis for lasting world
peace fell upon almost deaf ears. A
few weeks, even a few days, ago the
reception would have been different
but German speech is judged here
by German acts. All details OF the
new war against helpless Russia rob
German statesmen of their stock in
trade-the plea that German is wag-
ing war OF self-defense.
The British press is virtually
unanimous in the belief that the
whole eastern situation has been
cleverly arranged and plotted with
a view to bringing eastern ar
tral Europe under German
tion and for the vital, imm... tc
purpose of getting food from the
Ukraine.
The most important newspapers
which lean toward peace by ncgota-
tion, notably the Westminster Ga
zette and the Manchester Guardian,
seem to have undergone a change Of
outlook as to the result of the past
week, while the Daily News, today,
although condemning the entente
for aiding Won Hertling's argument
that the entente and not Germany
is the real obstacle to peace, because
the allies have not jointly formed
war aims, says, in effect, that no
hope can be drawn from the chan
cellor's speech.
The Daily News says:
Words Have No Meaning.
when we turn from his words to
the acts in Russia, we see his pro-
fessions have no meaning. German
craftsmanship, which plumbers an
invaded country with which it has
just made peace at the same mo-
ment utters sham phrases about in
dependence and safe government"
The paper sees no rope for a
change of heart in the military des-
pots of Prussia, but finds more hope
in change of spirit in Austria and
sees ground for sense in the appeal
of President Wilson and the allied
democracies to the German people
The allied democracies, it says, will
not leave Russia to German domi-
nation, but will defeat and over
throw Prussian militarism by appli-
cation of the principles which the
president has laid down for the es-
tablishment and governance of the
future"
Gigantic Annexation Scheme.
Inconsistency between words and
deeds surely seldom has been car
ried further than in the contrast be-
tween Won Hertling's professions
and the actions of his government in
Russia. He blandly agrees to Presi-
dent Wilson's propositions and all
the time is carrying out by brute
force the most gigantic scheme OF
annexations modern Europe ever
has known"
I'VE are quite unable to believe
the chancellor is speaking the
truth" says the Morning Post
What Germany does, is alone worth
consideration. What Germany says
is interesting only as a nessay In
making the worst appear the better
reason. Until the German people de
pose their rulers, or until the Ger
man armies are defeated it Is not
possible to conceive how an honor
able peace can be obtained"
The Daily Telegraph thinks the
speech reveals an attitude as essen.
TALLY antagonistic to a peace which
the entente can accept as any of hi,
previous statements. 1t adds: 1T
is quite enough to test the chancel-
lor's so-called acceptance of Presi-
dent Wilson's principles by the re.
cent exhibition of German method,
on the Russian frontier.
Specious Speech.
"The speciousness of the speech
only makes its hypocrisy more con-
scious and detestable," says the
Daily Mail, which remarks incident
ally that the chancellor's declaration
that Germany never thought of as
sailing Swiss neutrality is gravely
ominous. 1t adds:
When Germany announces gra-
tuitously that it is not going to dc
a certain thing it is time for those
concerned to look for trouble"
The Star says that at first blush
Won Hertling's speech seems to sug-
gest that a pharoah's heart is not
quite so hard as when last spoke. II
adds that Won Hertling is trying tc
drive wedge between the British
and American people and says the
proper counter to this attack j,
E\U;leo1;zaU C-oo4 D.:Lzs.