The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-02-23
President Wilson More Hopeful of
Austrian Peace Than Is
Lloyd George.
AGAIN SETS FORTH DEMANDS
BolsheVikI PerpIex the Germans by
Abandoning the War Without Sign
Ing Treaty-Ukraine Makes Sepa-
rate Peace-AlI Ready for West
Front Offensive.
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARD.


President Wilson believes Count
Czernin meant what he seemed to say
In his recent speech on peace, and
still hopes Austria-Hungary may be
separated from Germany and that the
war may be brought to an end with
out great deal more of fighting.
Premier Lloyd-George believes that
in Its real substance the Czernin adj
dress was as uncompromising as that
of Chancellor Won Hertling and that
the allied war council at Versailles
was right when 1t declared peace must
be won by force of arms
In his address to congress on Mon
day Mr.. Wilson enunciated the four
cardinal principles to which he said
the enemy must agree before general
peace pourparlers can be begun. Brief
ly, these are.
Each part Of the final settlement
must be based on essential justice to
insure permanent peace.
No peoples shall be bartered for the
gain Of any sovereignty or to retain
the now discredited balance of pow
err"
Territorial settlements must be for
the benefit of the people and not Of
neighboring states.
All well defined national aspirations
must be satisfied.
TTokS hoond %h0cn min
ciples Is secured, the president assert
ed, America has no choice but to go
on, and will continue Its mobilization
of its resources until the. whole
strength of the nation has been put in
to this war Of emancipation. He de-
nounced the stand of the imperial
chancellor, but seemed to invite Count
Czernin to lead Austria away from Its
autocratic ally.
-n-
Though hailed as sign Of weaken
ing by most Of the Teutonlc press, the
presidents speech is not so regarded
by his fellow countrymen. Many of
them may believe he Is overoptimistic
concerning Austria, as does Lloyd
George, but they accept at its face
value his statement Of the nations de-
termination not to stop fighting until
the results he demands have been
achieved. They feel no harm can re
suit from leaving open the door to pos,
sible negotiations with any one Of the
central powers, provided there is nc
letup In our war preparations because
Of the bare chance that they may moi
be needed.
Premier LIoyd-George's stand in sup
porting the Versailles council and
maintaining secrecy concerning the
plans decided on by 1t was Endorsed
by parliament, which gave him vote
of confidence by an overwhelming ma
| jortty.
| The German press warns Mr.. Wilson
again that his efforts to separate Ger
many and Hungary will be flu
tile and calls his references to Ameri
can mobilization mere bluff.
The kaiser, 1t may be noted, also de
livered a speech, In which he said any
peace must be preceded by an admis
sion of German victory.
IA
The outside world is not permitted
to know much Of what is going on ir
Austria, but such information as does
escape the censor really indicates thai
President Wilson may not be fal
astray in his hopes. 1t is said Austris
shows increasing reluctance to sending
her troops to fight against the British
and Americans In France. The Der
liner Tageblatt admits that the inter
NAL situation in Austria liz serious ant
that government"is no longer possible
since the Czechs, Jugo-Slavs and Poles
form an important majority, against