New-York tribune., 1918-02-12
President Is Talking
Peace, and Openly

President Is Talking
Peace, and Openly
In all this, it is impossible not to see
that peace negotiations Of new sort
are going on and have reached what
may be an important stage. We are
used to think of peace as something
coming suddenly out Of q closet. The
President has said that, this time, il
VIII not come out of closet. The first
condition. of peace that he named in his
speech of January was that peace
should be made openly in public
meeting Of the gathering called to con-
clude it.
There is now taking place an un-
frecedented series of open steps tow
ara arc. peace. The open conference at
Brest-Litovsk takes place between Ger
many and the Bolshevik government of
Russia. This moves Mr.. Lloyd George
publicly to state the war aims of Eng
land at gathering of English labor.
President Wilson follows, three davs
later, with a public statement of the
war aims of this country, made at a
Joint session of Congress. A fortnight
later Count Won Hertling, for Germany
ana Count CzernIn, for Austria, reply
publicly to Mr.. Lloyd Georges and Mr..
Wilson's speeches.
For the most part, these declarations
OF diplomatic policy take place before
the representatives of the people, the
parllaments, which are free to manifest
their approval or disapproval THUS
for the first time, are the people con-
suited in advance upon peace terms.
Plainly something tremendous is TAX
ing place before the eyes of the world.
1t may be long process, of which
Yn-dG L q
cant part. There are men here in
Washington who exclaim that peace
IS near, because of the obvious invita-
tion to Austria made by the President,
Just as there were those who said that
the last speech put peace far away.
But to-day's utterance is just as un-
compromising in language toward Ger
many as any previous utterances.
Count Won Hertling's whole theory of
Germany's right to make peace separ-
ately with each of her foes is indie-
ten to nothing but a general peace.
Peace of World
Is Now at Stake"
What is at stake now" he SAYS, "is
the peace of the world. What we are
striving for is new international or
der based upon broad and universal
principles of right and justice-no
mere peace of shreds and patches.
"Without that new order the world
vii! be without peace and human life
viii lack toerable conditions of ex-
Istencc and Development Having set
our hand to the task of achieving it.
we shall not turn back.
Ierrltorial settlements must be for
the benefit of people concerned and not
merely adjustment of rival states
claims"
The question of what will come Of
the Presidents diplomacy depends, as
~ 5aiways has upon the strength of the
milltary party in Germany, on whose
ultimate downfall it is predicated. If
Austria cannot afford to break with
Hermany and if Germany is unwilling
to have her approach us nothing i'm
mediate may he expected to come from
the Presidents suggestion that he is
ready to discuss peace with Austria.
Hut, whatever the issue, the Presidents
speech serves again to call the atten
l,on OF Germany's allies and of the
herman people to the great obstacle to
peace, the junker spirit that still ami
mates the German government
me PRESIDENTS address was less
warmly received by Congress than was
ms last speech on war aims. Congress
which gives little thought to diplomacy
hardly understood the purpose Mr.. vii,
son had In addressing it. What he
SAID lacked concreteness. There was
nothing like the recent declaration re-
Sarding alsace- Lorraine to stir the
members. When it was over there wa G
little realization that Mr.. Wilson had
put 1t squareiy up to Count Czernin to
disclosc what he meant when he said
there was basis for further discussion
OF purposes between this government
and his own.
Approval Expressed
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11.-Approval of
President Wilson'S address was ex-
pressed by many members of both
houses, who thought 1t nnnortnna and