Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-01-11
wv ASHLNGTON, Jan. S.-The
w presidents peace message
10 congress follows:

w presidents peace message
10 congress follows:
Gentlemen Of the congress: Once
more as repeatedly as before the
Spokesman of the central empires
have indicated their desire TO dis
cuss the objects OF the war and
the possible basis OF a general peace.
Parleys have been in progress at
Brest-Litovsk between Russian
representatives and representa-
tives Of the central powers to
which the attention or all the bel
ligerents have been invited for the
purpose OF ascertaining whether it
may be possible to extend the par
leys into a general conference with
regard to terms OF peace and set
Element. The Russian representa-
tives presented not only a perfectly
definite statement of the principles
upon which they would be willing
to conclude peace, but also as equal
" definite program of the concrete
application of those principles. The
representatives of the central pow
ers, on their part. presented an
outline of settlement, which, ii
much less definite, seemed suscepti-
bic of liberal Interpretation until
their specific program OF practical
terms was added. That program pro-
posed no concessions at all TO the
sovereignty of Russia or to the
reference of the populations with
whose fortunes il dealt. but meant,
in a word, that the central empires
were to keep every fooI of territory
their armed forces had occupied
every province, every city, every
point of vantage-aS a permanent
addition TO their territories and
their power II is a reasonable con-
lecture that the general principles
of settlement which they at first
suggested originated with the more
liberal statesmen of Germany and
Austria, the men who have begun
to feel the force of their own peo-
pies thoughts and purpose, while
the concrete terms of actual settle
ment came from the military lead
ers who have no thought but to keep
what they have got. The negotia-
tons have been broken of. The Rus
sian representatives were sincere
and in earnest. They. cannot enter
tain such proposals of conquest and
domination.
Speaking for whom7
The whole incident is full OF sig
nificance. 1t is also fun of per-
plexity. With whom are the Rus
sian representatives dealing? For
whom are the representatives of
the central empires speaking? Are
they speaking for the majorities of
their respective parliaments Or for
the minority parties, that military
and imperialistic minority party
which has so far designated their
whole policy and controlled the az
fairs of Turkey and of the Balkan
states which have felt Obliged to
become their associates in this
war? The Russian representatives
have insisted, very justly, very
wisely and in the true spirit of
modern democracy, that the confer
ence they have been holding with
the Teutonic and Turkish states.
men should be held with open, not
closed. door, and with the Who'll.
world as an audience was desired
To whom have we been listening.
those who speak the spirit and in
lention OF the resolution of the
German reichstag of the 9th IF
July last. the spirit and intention
of the Liberal leaders and parties
of Germany, or to those who resist
and DEFY that spirit and intention
and insist upon conquest and sub
iuRation? or are we listening, IN
fact to both. unrecOnciled and in
omen and hopeless contradictions
These are very serious and preg-
nant questions. Upon the answer
to them depends the peace of the
world
Laid Thoughts Before world
But whatever the results of the
parleys AT Brest-Litovsk, whatever
the confusion OF counsel and of pur-
nose in the utterances of the spokes-
men of the central empires, they
have again attempted to acquaint
the world with their objects in the
war and have again challenged their
adversaries to say what their OBJ
iects are and what sort of settle
ufent they would deem just and sat
isfactory. There is no good reason
why that challenge should not be re-
sponded to, and responded to with
the utmost candor. We did not wait
for il. Not once but again and again,
we have laid our whole thought and
purpose before the world, not in
general terms only. but each time
with sufficient definition to make IL
clear what sort of definitive terms
of settlement must necessarily
spring out of them. Within the last
week Mr. Lloyd George has spoken
with admirable candor and in admir-
able spirit for the people and gov
eminent of Great Britain. There is