Evening star., 1918-02-27
Unofficial Comment Here Calls
Reply to President by Count
Evasive and Vague.
TEXT OF ADDRESS SHOWS
CENTRAL POWERS DEFIANT
Opinion in Congress Centers on
Force as Only Means Of Bringing
World Struggle to Close.

Whatever gllmmer OF hope the op-
timistic may have entertained that the
full text Of Count Won Hertling's address
to the reichstag contained foundations
of a peace discussion faded today with
the complete report Of the speech.
The unofficial comment Of yesterday
that the broad principles laid down
by President Wilson were accepted
only in vague terms and the apparent
acceptance was discounted by impos-
sible stipulations was further borne
out by the reading Of the full text.
Perhaps the portion OF the chancel-
lor's speech read with greatest interest
was that containing sophistical ex-
plantations about the Prussian invasion
of Russia, in violation of her pledges
made in the alleged negotiations with
the bolsheviki.
This explanation was cited today as
another evidence Of German word
juggling and insincerity; and it was
pointed out that in her treatment Of
Russia Germany has violated all OF
the four principles enunciated by Pres
ident Wilson which Count Won Hert-
ling makes a pretense of accepting.
Central Powers Defiant.
Another portion of the address con-
sfdered significant was that referring
to the court of the entire world,
which, the chancellor says. he must, as
things stand today. in the name OF the
German empire and her aiiies. oechne
"as prejudiced" This was regarded as
tantamount to an admission that the
central powers today stand in defiance
of the public opinion of the civilized
world.
signed for the purpose Of seeking to
drive a wedge between the United
States and her allies is regarded as
largely for the consumption OF the Ger
man people. Charges against the al
legged ambitions OF Great Britain for
coiontal ANNEXATION. are merely repeti-
tfons OF the propaganda long circuiated
in Germany with = view OF making the
labor and socialist elements believe that
England, not Germany. 10 the aggreesor
in the present war.
President Wilson is known to be
studying the press reports OF the ad-
dress. He is giving attention also to
the Russian situation. and in this con-
sideration is bearing In mind not only
the relation Of the United States. but
of this country's allies. to the problems
involved in Germany's treacherous
march toward Petrograd.
May Address Congress.
Though there has been no official in
timation of such action, reports persist
that the President may soon address
Congress or issue a statement in regard
to the peculiar problems presented by
the German army's activities in Russia.
It was stated at the Navy Department
that no American vessels have been
ordered TO Russian ports,
The chancellor makes the most of the
pronouncement of the recent confer
ence at Versailles, which declared for a
vigorous prosecution of the war, and
adds that Lloyd Georges utterances In
dicate a like determination. The United
States was not represented at that con-
ference by an envoy authorized to speak
with authority for the United States,
free to open the door toward an ulti-
mate settlement. and avoided giving
the German imperialist faction further
weapon to hold over the war-weary
people, by contending that Germany
faces the alternatives of victory or
complete annihilation.
The fact that President Wilson has
avoided expressions which might be so
construed in Germany, and thus bolster
up the spirit of the German populace, is
considered one of the triumphs of Presi-
dent Wilson's diplomacy.
Eorce Only means.
In Congress opinion exists. which may be
said to be a practically fixed conviction,
that hopes of reaching peace in Europe
through negotiation are futile and that
the ending of war can be attained only
by force. Victory, absolute and unques-
toned. alone can settle the question.
Along with this belief is realization that
the situation at this hour is more critical
for the allies than since the checking OF
the first German drive into Belgium. The
collapse of Russia makes this fact
Germany's seizure of Russian territory
and military supplies and her impending
taking over of the resources o. Rumshia
will reinforce her military strength and
civil subsistence to a degree of Importance
that .s next to appalling in significance
to the allies, it Is FELT in Congress
The one thing which menaced Ger
many's maintenance of strength, short
age of food. exists no longer. Great
agricultural areas in Russia contiguous
to Poland and Prussia now fall under
German ti11age. Peace with the Ukraine
means utilization of food supplies in
that fertile section of the former Rus
sian empire.
Germans to Get Harvests.