Meade County news., 1918-02-21

sion OF ConQreSS-DecIareS AuStTId
Would End Conflict II Ally Sane.
toned Move.
Washington, Feb. 13.-President
Wilson, in another address to congress
on the question of possible peace by
negotiation, vigorously attacked Ger
many's attitude toward peace as voiced
by Chancellor Won Hertling, character
lied Austria's attitude as voiced by
Count Czernin as uttered In a friendly
tone" and concluded by saying that
this nation would never lay down Its
arms until peace could be established
with justice to all nations, large and
small alike.
The president particularly fayed
Count Won Hertling's proposal that
questions Of territory and the future
Of nationalities were matters for dis
,cusslon between those nations only d.
rectly affected instead of by a world
congress. In reply he said no perma-
nent peace could come In this way.
ieNL OF WUSOnb AooTeBS.
The presidents address follows:
Gentlemen of the congress:
"On January had the honor of
addressing you on the objects of the
war as our people conceive them. The
prime minister Of Great Britain had
spoken in similar terms on January 5.
To these addresses the German chan
cellor replied on the 24th and Count
Czernin for Australia on the same day.
1t is gratifying to have our desire so
promptly realized that all exchanges Of
view on this great matter should be
made in the hearing Of all the world.
Count CZernln's reply, which Is d.
rected chiefly to my own address on
January 8, is uttered in a very friend
ly tone.
Sees Basis for Discussion.
"He finds In my statement a suf-
6ciently encouraging approach to the
views of his own government to Justify
him In believing that 1t furnishes
basis for more detailed discussion Of
purposes by the two governments. He
10 represented to have intimated that
the views he was expressing had been
communicated to me beforehand and
that / was aware Of them at the time
he was uttering them, but In this am
sure he was misunderstood.
"Count Won Hertling's reply Is, /
must say, very vague and very con-
fuslng. 1t is full of equlvocal phrases
and leads, 1t Is not clear, where. But it
is certain in very different tone from
that Of Count Czernin and apparently
of an opposite purpose. 1t confirms,
am sorry to say, rather than removes,
the unfortunate impression made by
what we had learned Of the conference
at Brest-Litovsk. His discussion and
acceptance of our general principles
lead him to no practical conclusion.
Accepts Principle Of Diplomacy.
HE refuses to apply them to the
substantive items which must consti-
tute the body Of any final settlement.
He is jealous of international action
and Of international counsel. He ac-
cepts, he says, the principle of public
diplomacy, but he appears to insist
that it be confined, at any rate In this
case, to generallties, and that the sew
eral particular questions of territory
and sovereignty, the several questions
upon whose settlement must depend
the acceptance of peace by the twenty
three states now engaged in the war,
must be discussed and settled, not in
general council, but severally by the
nations most Immediately concerned
by interest or neighborhood.
"He agreed that the seas should be
free, but looks askance at any limita-
ton to that freedom by international
action In the interest of the common
order. He would without reserve be
glad to see economic barriers removed
between nation and nation, for that
could in no way impede the ambitions
Of the military party with whom he
seems constrained to keep on terms.
Neither does he raise objection to
limitation of armaments. That mat
ter will be settled Of itself, he thinks,
by the economic conditions which must
follow the war. But the German colo
MES, he demands, must be returned
without debate. He will discuss with
no one but the representatives of Rus
sia what dispositions shall be made of
the people and the lands of the Baltic
provinces; with no one but the gov
ernment of France the conditions"
under which French territory shall be
evacuated; and only with Austria
what shall be done with Poland.
I'm the determination of all ques-