Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920, 1918-02-15

All the way through the President
drew a parallel between the pro-
nouncemepts of Chancellor Won Hert-
ling and Foreign Minister Czernin and
his hearers drew the conclusion that
the President decidedly considered
Czernin's utterances as being more
favorable than Hertling's.
'Czernin seems to see the funda-
mental elements of peace with clear
eyes and does not seek to obscure
them" said the President.
Count Czernin,' said the Presi-
dent, probably would have gone
much farther had it not been for the
embarrassment of Austria's alliances
and of her dependence on Germany"
Again the President reiterated that
the United States was in the war and
would put forth it's whole strength
Sin this war of emancipation"
The test of whether it is possible
for the belligerents to go on compar-
ing views, the President said, was
simple and obvious and the princi-
pies to be applied he said, were as
follows:
T.. Each part of the final set
Element must be based on essen
,tial justice to bring a permanent
peace.
2. Peoples and provinces are
not to be bartcred about like
chatteIs to establish a balance of
power.
g.. Territorial settlements must
be for the benefit of people con-
cerned and not merely adjustment
of rival states claims.
A.. Well defined national as
piration must be accorded all
possible satisfaction.
"A general peace on such founda-
tions can be discussed said the
President Until such a peace can be
obtained we have no choice but to
go on"
These general principles, the Presl.
dent said, have been accepted By
every. one except the military auto
Gratis in Germany.
President Wilson spoke as follows
Gentlemen of the congress: OF
the Sth of January 1 had the homo
of addressing you on the subjects o
the war as our people conceive them
The prime minister of Great Britai'
had spoken in similar terms on TIL
9Th of January. To these addresse
the German chancellor replied on thu
oath and Count Czernin for Austri;
on the same day. 1t is gratifying t.
have our desire so promptly realize'
that all exchanges of view on thi
great matter should be made in tn
hearing of all the world.
Count Czernin's reply, which
directed chiefly to my own address, o
the Sth of January, is uttered in
very friendly tone.
HE finds in my statement suH
GENTLY encouraging approach to tn
views of his own government to just
fly him in believing it furnishes ba
sis for a more detailed discussion c
purposes by the two governments. II
is represented to have intimated thu
the views he was expressing had bee
communicated to me beforehand an
that 1 was aware of them at the tim
he was uttering them; but in this
AM sure he was misunderstood.
had received no intimation of VIII;
he intended to say. There was,
course, no reason why he shoul
communicate privately with me-
am quite content to be one of h
public audience.
Count Won Hertling's reply is,
must say, very vague and very col
fusinx. 1t is full of equivocal phras'
and leads it is not clear where. BIZ
It certainly in a very different tor
from that of Count Czernin and al
parently of an opposite purpose.
! confirms, 1 am sorry to say, rath'
than removes, the unfortunate in
preston made by what We had lear
ed of the conferences at Brest-Litovs
His discussion and acceptance of Of
general principles lead him to !
practical conclusions. He refuses
apply them to the substantive iten
which must constitute the body of al
final settlement. He is jealous of
ternational action and of information
council. He accepts, he says. the pri
ciple of public diplomacy, but he a
pears to insist that itbe confined
any rate in this case, to generaliti
and that the several particular qu'
lions of territory and sovereignty, t
several questions on whose settleme
must depend the acceptance of pea
by the 20 states now engaged in t
war, must be discussed and SETTLE
not in general council but severa
by the nations most Immediately &C
cerned by interest or neighborhoC
He agrees that the seas should be fl
but looks askance at any limitation
that freedom by international acti
IN the interest of the common ord
He would without reserve be glad
see economic barriers removed
tween nation and nation, sfor Il
could in no way impede the ambitiC
of the military party with whom
seems constre ined to keep on teri
Neither does ne raise objection to
limitation of ornaments. That mat
will be settled of itself, he thinks,
The economic conditions which m
follow the war. But the Germ
colonies, he demands, must be retu
kl without debate. He will disc
nth no one but the representa-
Russia what disposition shall
A,de of the peoples and the lands
b Baltic provinces; with no enc
government of France the con
rs under which French territ
An be evacuated: and only with A