The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-10-22
A CLUMSY REPLY

XXT HETER OR NOT the German reply suffers in ansa w ton it is from every standpoint from form and substance a clumsy document may perhaps to inferior translation; the defective substance must come from German failure, unwingness to appreciate the force of the American note
 Tn its larger aspect the reply is concaory represents further effort assumed effort to meet Allied demands but fails to do in at least two material respects.
 Paragraph of the reply employs this language
 accepting the proposal for the evacuation of
 cuped territories the German government started from
 the assumption that the procedure for this evacuation
 conditions of the armistice should be left the
 judgment of the military advisers and that the actual
 standard of power which both sides in the field have.
 should form the basis of arrangements safeguarding
 and guaranteeing this standard.
 The reCedes from its position that the evacuation should be arranged by fixed commission and accepts the proposition of President Wilson, that such would have to be arranged by the respective ary ad visers
 The further assumption that the Allies contemplate an armsce by which the military status will exist during the period of rest precisely stood at the beginning of the armsce, is entirely unwarranted.
 There certainly nothing in the American note which rants belief that Mr. Wilson intended intends, that the actual standard of power which both sides in the field have should form the basis of safeguarding and anteeing this standard"
 This characeristcaly loose construction in which the general phrase Standard of power" is employed instead of such phrase Standard of forces actually under arms, other language that would have definite and precise meaning.
 If the language actual standard of power which both sides have in the field would approach clear definition the power of both sides n the ed would be measured by the forces under arms, and actually employed.
 The "power which both sides in the field have" could readily be construed the total amount of power of all kinds economic industrial military and naval the of all species of power controlled by either side So obscure condition would surely open the way to indefinite discussion.
 But the American policy of unconditional surrender its equivalent does not take account of by which there will be guaranteed to Germany standard of powe either military economic which to exist unmpaed during peace discussion just it stands at the opening of discussion
 The Allies with their not likely to remain stabilized gaining nowhere adding nohere while enemy recuperate forces to which nothing added adu troops from Russia if time granted in which them
 Neither is the proposal to instruct submarines to sink passenger ships meeting of the conditions of the American note which peremporiy suggested the entire withdrawal submarines from every sphere of operations against Allied ships.
 The German denial cruelties unimport- ant except is equal agreement not to do the things again.
 ernnent exist w in the minds of the president responsible government with which tic Allies deal only the president know Assuming that the Tor speaks truly considerable changes the ys tenn have been made
 The note describes what may be typical parliamentary sort of European government formaon used is obscure and affords view tual situation.
 The ordinary process of developing responsible parlia mentary would be the election of representatives by equal secret and direct franchise From this representa- tive body would proceed the great officers government including the prime minister, premier, chancellor The government could exist only while enjoyed the confidence the parliament.
 "A government has been formed in accordance witt the wishes of the representatives of the people, based upor equal, universal secret and direct suffrage"
 parliamentary government of popular origin begins wE the election of representatives by the suffrages of the people It does not begin with he wishes of the representatives the people is thing the representatives chosen by the people, by free ballot It quiet another thing to form government, based on wishes of representatives
 The chancellor apparently continues to receive his author y from the monarch and his responsibility to the govern ment is merely contemplated needssomehing than pending bill to make the Kaiser chief minister responsible the people of Germany.
 The German reply seems unlikely to make favorable i'm preson on the mind of the president candor has beer net with clumsy, equivocal, and false response.
 MIR NERRTTTS RFCORD