Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-12
PEACE PATH
is BLOCKED
BY GERMANY
Wilson Sees in Austria's At.
titude Willingness to Dis
cuss Means of Ending War
With Rights of Peoples In
sured.
U. S. MUST FIGHT
ON AGAINST HUN

Washington, D. c., Feb. 11.-Presi-
dent Wilson, addressing congress in
joint session at 1890 o'clock today,
replied to the recent speeches by Ger
man Chancellor Won Hertling and tho
Austrian foreign minister, Count
Czernin.
Chancellor Won, Hertling's statement
the president said, was very vague
and confusing and leads to practically
no conclusion. It was very different
in tone from that Of Count Czernin,
which, the president said, had q very
friendly tone.
AUSTRIAN GETS HEARING
The president reiterated that the
United States has no desire to inter
fere in European affairs and would
disdain to take advantage Of any in
ternal weakness or disorder to impose
her own will upon another people,
All the way through his speech the
president drew a parallel between the
announcements Of Chancellor Hert-
ling and Foreign Minister Czernin and
his hearers drew the conclusion that
the president decidedly considered
CZernin's utterances as being more
favorable than Hertings.
czERNIk CALLED FRANK
"Czernin seems to see the funds-
mental elements of peace with clear
eyes and does not seek to obscure
them" said the president. Count
Czernin," said the president, prob
ably would have gone much farther
had it not been for the embarrassment
of Austria's alliances and Of her ,le-
pendence on Germany"
Again the president reiterated that
The United States is in tue waratsy VIM
and will put forth its whole strength
'in the war Of emancipation" The
test Of whether it is possible for the
belligerents to go on comparing views.
the president said, is simple and OBJ
vious and the principles to be applied.
he said, are as follows:
BASES OF PEACE
''1-Each part of the final
settlement must be based upon
essential justice to bring q perma-
nent peace
"2-Peoples and provinces are
not to be bartered about like chat
tells to establish balance Of pow
or.
"3-Territorial settlements must
be for the benefit of people con-
cerned and not merely adjust
ment Of rival states claims.
"a. Well-defned national as
pirations must be accorded all
possible satisfaction.
ONLY GERMANY STANDS OUT
"a general peace upon such founda.
tons can be discussed" said the
president. Until such a peace can
b. secured we have no choice but to
go on"
These general principles, the presi
dent said. have been accepted by ev-
eryone except the military autocrats
in Germany.
AMERICA HAS ONLY BEGUN
President Wilson reminded the
statesmen Of the central, empires that
peace can be discussed only on the
basis of permanency and essential
Justice and broadly warned the peo-
pie Of the central empires that the
participation Of the United States in
the war for the emancipation OF hui
manity only has begun.
Plainly the president warned the
German military autocracy that thers
is to be no pausing in the mobiliz2
ton of Americas vast military re
sources now steadily on their way to
the battle fronts. anG that II peace Is
to be discussed. it must be on a basis
Of sincerity.
NO PATcHEDUP PEACE,
Otherwise the president made It
;s 10 hn turning hApI
until military autocracy shall &c
crushed by force Of arms.
The president was interrupted by
applause at every reference to the
United States standing steadfastly
against a patched-up peace. Probably
the greatest applause broke out whec
the president declared that the mill
tarists OF Germany are the only ele
ment now preventing world peace
When he concluded. after speaking
rose and cheered.
MAY SPLIT CENTRAL POWERS
Approval of President Wilson's ad.
dress was expressed by many mem.
bers of both houses. who thought 1t op
FORTUNE and the essence OF perma
nent peace.
Senator Reed. democrat. thought II
a "shrewd move to dissolve Germany
and Austria"
FOLLOWS LONG CONFERENCE
The presidents decision to address
congress on the subject followed sew.
eral days Of conferences with Colonel
House. his personal representative to
the allied conferences abroad.
As has lately become the presi-
dents custom. he gave very short no
tice of his plans-in fact, only enough
time for congress leaders to arrange