The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1918-02-15
ANSWER TO Won HERTLING
Says Until Germany Meets Require
ments America Will Continue
Fight Which She Has Just
Begun

| AlSht one JUST
Begun
Washington, Feb. 11.-President
Wilson addressed Congress today to
clear the atmosphere of any confus-
ion resulting from the recent speech
es on peace terms by the German
chancellor and the Austro- -Hungar-
ian foreign minister, and to reiter-
ate that until the military masters of
Germany are ready to consider
peace on principles of justice the
United States will continue the fight
it is just beginning for the safety
of itself and mankind.
In the speech of Count Won Hert-
ling the German chancellor, the
President found no approach to the
path fof peace, but rather a propos-
al to end the war on German terms
and to set up a league of nations
to maintain the balance of power so
established. Count Czernin, the
Austrian spokesman, the President
said, employed a very friendly tone,
seemed to see the fundamental ele-
ments Of peace with clear eyes, and
probably would have gone much far
ther if it had not been for Austria's
alliances and her. dependence upon
Germany.
No Compromising.
Members of Congress accepted
the address not as a peace message,
but as a notice to the Central Pow
ersthat the United States cannot be
turned aside from the object for
which it is fighting and a warning
ito Congress and the American peo-
3ple that the task of sending the
nations fighting men to the front
must not be interferred with by
equiyocal and misleading utterances
of Teutonic statesmen. The Presi-
dent was warmly received and cheer
ed as he concluded, and leaders
without respect to party, expressed
hearty approval of his words.
The address had been prepared
after conferences dufing the past
Few days with Col. E. M House,
who headed the American mission
TO the great inter-Allied conference.
As usual, the President announced
his purpose only long enough in ad-
Eance to permit of arrangement for
joint session in the House cham
Der.
Back to Fundamentals.
While in official and diplomatic
uarters today there was a DISPOSE
ion to let the Presidents address
peak for itself without interpreta-
ion, there apparently was no divis-
pn of opinion on the point that his
rime object was to bring the ex-
ra-oficial negotiations as some OBJ
arvers have termed the speech
baking of the chief statesmen of
be nations at war, back,to the fun
amental issues, the settlement of
ach question on principles of JUS
Zee, the cessation of the barter of
rovinces and peoples; the settle
ent of territorial questions for the
eneft of the populations concerned,
nd finally the recognition of nation
aspirations as basis of perma-
ent peace.
Reminder to Reichstag.
Another purpose served, it was
binted out, is to remind the Ger
an Reichstag of the great distance
lat Count Won Hertling has, travel
from it's resolutions of last July
garding self determination of the
ghts of small nations and peoples,
annexations, contributions, or
,nitive ! damages. Responsible
hoes among the German Socialists
id Liberals may in the end bring
lminative pressure to bear upon
war lords at present controlling
e fate of Germany. Still another
ject of the address, it is suggested
hs to serve notice in advance that
y peace treaties resulting from
Praet itousl conforanco upo,,lA