Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-10-20
LiUe Issues of the DAY
situation Getting Clearer.
Kansas City journal.

Kansas City journal.
The presidents reply to the Ger
man answer to his original queries
addressed to the German imperial
chancellor is considerably more spe-
cQic and more interpretatlve OF the
desires OF the American people and
OF the allies than the queries them
selves--as was 10 have been expect
ed. II tho president was ever In
doubt as to the wishes OF the people
OF the United States. he can remain
In debut no longer, for he has the
definite and reiterated insurance
that they will accept nothing but an
unconditional surrender of Ger
many and the elimination OF the au-
tocratic, militaristic government
which has plunged the world in war,
The chief executive has undoubt-
edly regained most. II not all OF the
ground some commentators believed
he lost when he entered upon pc
riod OF correspondence rather than
making the demands whose accep.
tanoe are conditions precedent to an
agreement for On armistiCe. There
will in all probability still be those
who will complain that the last COM
munication OF the president re-
duires Interpretation rather than be-
ing unequivocal The reception ac-
corded the document by the allies !s
unQucstionahly heartier than the re-
ply to the German suggestion for a
peace conference.
II might still he regretted that II
IL necessary to read into the answer
OF October II what is not explicitly
declared on the surface--that IL to
say, In tho lines themselves and not
between them. But the allied lead
ers and the most prominant men In
the nation appear to be agreed that
what the president meant or can be
logically construed to have meant,
even IL he did not say so in indls-
putable words. is In line with the
universal demand for an undcondi-
tional surrender, for the demobillZa-
tion OF the German military forces,
for tho evacuation OF all occupied
territories and above all for the oc-
cupation OF German fortresses by al
lied torces--the only absolutely safe
guarantees which will render Ger
many impotent to renew the struggle
II the peace negotiations reach a
deadlock. =
There has not been n word said in
the first German suggestion of an
armistice and peace conference re-
garding reparation for the havoc
wrought by Germany, but there IL
not the remotest doubt that this will
he insisted upon by the allies, II not
by America Mere pledges by Ger
many will not he accepted, for they
would be mere scraps OF paper IL not
supported by military impotency on
the part OF Germany and by mill
tary supremacy on the part OF the
allies The latter will not, under
any circumstances whatever, consent
to any arrangement which will per-
NIT Germany TO withdraw herStm-
periled armies in safety beyond the
Rhine, there to recuperate and be In
n position to wage a defensive war
II the peace terms dictated by the
allies are not accepted by the Huns
II these facts were asserted be-
vond the peradventure OF miscor-
s'ruCtion. the situation would he
still clearer than It is at this time,
The allies declare that this is tho
meaning Of the Dresideut, hut Il Is
not the presidents definite assertion,
II seems 10 he still necessary for the
government TO assure the people
that the war Will be waSed lust as
though no overturPs whatever had
been considered and therein lies the
which should bc sup
planted by certainty at the earliest
possible moment.
Unconditional surrender has not
been demanded in SO many words, II
has not been offered by Germany In
the suggestions that the presidents
January s points" he taken as "a
basis for negotiations" II would be
prepostcrous to expect the German
to do otherwise than ad-
NIT that II is the representative or
the German empire, whatever the
facts might be and inquiries to
which the answer il ohvious and in
ovitablc are incnncluslve to say the
least.
y The German government should
for once be taken at its word and in