The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-10-12
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DENIED MILITARY EVENTS ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR AC-,
AttemHt to Make. !, it Appear Ger
many Has Always Wanted just
Peace.
Amsterdam, Oct 7.-An elucidatIon
.of the peace offer Of the Central pow
efs is published by the Vienna news
papers. The article, which is ex-
planned as emanating from wei. IN
formed circles reads as follows:
sssssIt is first to be emphasized tnae
this step by Austria-Hungary' Iur-
Kew and Germany is not to be regard
ed as q decision taken suddenly un-
der stress of military events. 1t con-
afSfutes rather in the history OF our
peace policy the last link in the cnaln
of logical and continual evolution
sTssEeard being paid at the same time 10
tie latest internal political develop
ments In Germany.
AS is known the point OF depar-
tura of our peace policy was Baron
Hrrian's note of December, 1916. The
step then taken was of a very vague
character. The conditions were not
described, but only indicated in broad
tines. In the course Of the develop
snent the conditions have become
s;sryaanzed. During February, Marcn
ana April, expressions regarding q
Eeneral and just peace without an
nsxatfon Or compensation came lhto
currency.
subsequently the idea Of estab-
Ishirdg an international court OF ar
IL Wafion and a reduction OF arma-
ment was discussed and, furtner'
5he principle of freedom of the seas
was proclaimed, and finally the prln-
EiuIe was set forth that economic
Wars and economic oppression a1ter
fhe war must be prevented. Out OF
these guiding principles arose the
pfeaent peace program.
...Aa these points, it will be recall
e1. were accepted by Count Czernln.
tormer Austrian foreign minister, IN
speeehes and interviews as suitable
haais for peace negotiations and final
il the. approval also OF the German
reichstag, so that uniformity IN tue
conception of the Allies (Teutonlc)
thereby found expression.
Then followed the peace note o1
Hope Benedict whose proposals ana
fseedom ideas were accepted by US as
forming an acceptable basis. Only
PRESIDENT Wilson in his note OF Janu-
safYs8, 1918, in his fourteen points
made proposals and proclaimed prin-
cipaes. which subtly accorded with the
program Of the Central powers
Count Czernin and Count Won
Herfling described President Wilson's
proposals, apart from a reserve re-
Earding. certain points, as suitable
{ basts for peace. The Austro-Hungar-
fkm delegations and the German reich
SEag have described their attitude to-
WStd these proposals in a similar
ufanuer. It should be noted also that
fiswas always President Wilson who
cccupied himself with a concrete
aeace program, while the entente ad-
hered 20 its intention Of conquest
Then came Baron Burian's last pros
pect for preliminary discussion by
the belligerent powers
The proposal was rejected by Pres
adenf Wilson. not, however, with the
Intention Of cutting Off peace discus
sion, because in his speech of Sep
fenebar %, he again reverted to it
ana IN an objective manner set forth
the necessity Of a just peace-a peace
that would not be one-sided. but just
10 both sides, and thus fulfill the prin-
c5pIe OF high justice to all.
the moment Of the proclama-
principle of equal justice to
ls4f IS it became clear that it was
fhs fhiS Rnner to come near to at
timing 4 Ae, because the principle
"a the elinina laeny ,one-sided
Preference provides for be soluti2p]
::0Ssa group of difficult questions.
sasssIn the consideration OF e. fur
tier circumstances that OWING the
international political change inSGer-
many certain difficulties were cleared
ont OF the way, it became clear that
uniform decision &C the Central
powers regarding peace could be eff
fscted. On this day the new Ger
MAN governments are in a position to
undertake a step which reaches as far
back as the beginning Of 1917.
This step was not born OF the
events OF the moment, but continual
~ had won its way through in the
course of a natural development.
In the circumstances we expect
cur step viii lead to rapproaehment
and discussion. At the same time in
expressing this hope we do not know
how the entente and President Will
son will view this step. 1t is, how
ever, politically justified on the
ground that President Wilson repre-
septs sole power not politically bound
10 the entente.
IN. a formal manner it is also
pointed out that our step it not to be
interpreted as a request for media
ficn This is out Of the question, as
:. oA,,Ja oo% rooaiofn,-