Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-09
Questions That Answer.

Secretary Lansing explains that
President Wilson is not answering the
German peace note, but making a
counter-inquiry.
This announcement of Yankee policy
Yankees no longer being confined to
New England but including all Ameri-
cans-follows very naturally the ira
ditional Yankee habit of answering one
question by asking another.
President Wilson replies to the Ger
man government with two questions
and one affirmation, and the questions
give answer as distinctly as the affirma-
ton which makes direct reply.
The German note accepts the Presi-
dents peace terms Gas the basis Of ne
gotiations" Does Germany accept the
Presidents peace terms broadly "as
the terms of peace"i Or does Ger
many merely accept the Presidents
peace terms as text for discussion or
as the extreme preliminary contention
Of the allies at the conference table,
to be haggled over and reduced by bar
gaining and compromise into the final
mutually satisfactory terms of ne
gotiated peace?
The Presidents first question is in
effect a fiat refusal of the German
offer to negotiate a peace at confer
ence table, even with his own suggest
ed terms of peace as the text of dis
cussion. The allies reject in every
shape and every disguise a negotiated
peace of bargaining and compromise,
in which Germany confessedly holds
and uses Belgium as "pawn" in the
game; also in like capacity the Rus
sian possessions secured by treachery
and theft under the Brest-Litovsk
treaty; and also the occupied and dew
astated sections of France.
The Presidents second question asks
in effect whom the German govern
ment in its note represents, whether
the people of Germany or the military
despotism, which through lust of
world-conquest has now brought Ger
many to ruin, having drenehed the
world in blood. This question, in eff
feet, fatty rejects for the allies nego-
tiations with those leaders without
honor whose only principle is force and
selfish interest, who lured Russia into
peace negotiations by fair words con-
corning an agreement without annexa
lions or compensations and then, add
ing force to treachery, mutilated and
despoiled their victim. Are those who
now without guarantees invite the al
lies to a peace conference the same
smooth-tongued militarists who in
vited Russia to her destruction at
Brest-Litovskf Could any direct reply
to the German note be more trenchant
than this query?
The Presidents affirmation denies
the possibility of any consideration of
an armistice as long as Germany oc
CuPlco 6licu teIiitOIS. IL oocS HUI
promise an armistice in the event or
in consideration of voluntary with
drawal from such territory. Foch is
now driving the Germans by force from
this occupied territory. Except in the
event of a surrender like that of Bull
garia Foch will doubtless be permitted
to give the word when the fighting
may with advantage to the cause of
werld-liberty cease.
The whole world cries out for peace
but for . righteous and enduring
peace. President Wilson's words, eva
sive In form, are clear in meaning aud
WILL The Star believes, be potent in
effect. By rejecting will-o-the-wisp
peace, ~ = delusion and = snare, his
words bring nearer the righteous and
enduring peace for which the world in
Its agony yearns.