New-York tribune., 1918-10-09

rejection of the offer nor bluntly de-
nland an unconditional surrender now
because the American government did
not purpose to fall into the trap Of
supplying the German militarists with
means of bolsterng up their argu-
ment that the Germans are fighting a
defensive" war and that the an
nounced objects of the Allies are only
to destroy" them.
That is precisely what President Will
son has avoided. He has met what the
Allied diplomats regard as a trick with
move which will expose it, if trick
it be. He has called upon the German
government for an evidence of its good
| faith, and should it not be Forthcoming.
he has left with the German leaders
the problem of explaining to their own
people, already clamoring for peace,
why they are not willing to accept it.
Another Point to Develop
From that point the President passes
TO another which will develop, as the
exchange proceeds. whether the United
States and the Allies will dea! except
on the battlefield with the German
government as at present constituted.
The President tells the Chancellor that
he feels he is "justitied in asking
whether the imperial Chancellor is
speaking merely for the constituted
authorities of the empire, who have
SO far conducted the war"
This will develop whether Macmillan
speaks for the German militarists
whom the President has denounced
as unworthy of any trust aud who re-
garded treaties as "scrap Of paper"
of the people OF nation. This is
regarded as probably the most impor-
tant part of the Presidents communi-
cation. fraught with potent pcssibili-
ties Of the most far reaching effect in
Germany, where an active allied prop
aganda has been making rapid head
way in awakening The German people
to the necessity Of assuming the re-
sponsibilities of their own government
and making their own peace.
TO appreciate its meaning, this part
OF the Presidents answer must be con-
sidered in connection with a portion of
his speech of September q in New
York in which he declared:
eve are all agreed that there can be
no peace obtained by any kind of bar
gain or compromise with the govern
ments of the Central Empires, because
we have dealt with them already and
have seen them deal with other gov
ernments that were parties to this
struggle, at Brest-Litovsk and Buch-
ares. They have convinced us that
they are without honor and do not in
tend justice. They observe no covcn-
ants, accept no principle but force and
their own interest. We cannot come
to terms with them. They have made
it impossible. The German people must
by this time be fully aware that we
cannot accept the word of those who
nave forced this war upon us. We do
not thin the same thoughts OF speak
the same language of agreement"
What Answer Will Be
1t can be authoritatively stated that
this pronouncement will be the answer
to Prince Maximilian if he replies
that he speaks for the Kaiser.
1t is regarded as possible, il not
indeed likely, that the German mill
tarist leaders hoped for curt and de-
fiant answer with which they could
rally their people to give their last
drops of blood "for the protection of
the Fatherland," and with other
rolling phrases in which the German
official pronouncements abound. The
unanimous opinion among diplomats is
that the President, by a carefully
studied. most skilful reply, has robbie d
them Of that opportunity, if they de-
sired 1t, and has sent to the German
people themselves a new message that
the United States and the Allies de-
sire nothing more than "reign of
law, based upon the consent Of the
governed and sustained by the organ
lzed opinion Of mankind"