The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-02-12
Favors Czernin's Speech
but Bitterly Assails
Proposals Coming
From Won Hertling.

Washington, Feb. 11.-President
Wilson addressed congress today to
clear the atmosphere Of any confusion
1esulting from the recent speeches on
peace terms by the German chancellor
and the Austro- Hungarian foreign
minister and to reiterate that until the
military masters of Germany are ready
to consider peace on principles OF JUS
tce the United States will continue the
fight it is just beginning for the safety
OF itself and mankind.
In the speech Of Count Won Hertling.
the German chancellor the president
found no approach to the path Of
peace. but rather proposal to end the
war on German terms and to set up a
league Of nations to maintain the bal
ancc of power so established Count
Czernin. the Austrian spokesman. the
president said. employed "a very
friendly tone. seemed to see the fun
damental elements of peace with clear
eyes and probably would have gone
much further if it had not been for
Austrias alliances and her dependence
upon Germany.
America Determined.
Members of congress accepted the
address not as peace message. but as
n notice to the central powers that the
United States cannot be turned aside
from the object for which it is fight
Ing and warning to congress and the
American people that the task OF send
Ing the nations fighting men to the
front must not be interfered with by
eduivocal and misleading utterances of
Teutonic statesmen. The president was
warmly received and cheered as he
concluded, and leaders without respect
10 party afterward expressed hearty
approval of his words.
The address had been prepared after
conferences during the past few days
with Colonel r. NJ. House. who headed
the American mission to the great
inter- allied conference. AS usual, the
president announced his coming only
long enough in advance to permit of
arrangements for a joint session in the
house chamber.
Clears Peace MIDDLE.
While in official and diplomatic
quarters today there was a disposition
to let the presidents address speak for
itself without interpretation, there ap-
rarently was no division of opinion on
the point that his prime object was to
bring the extra official negotiations"
as some observers have termed the
speech making of the chief statesmen
of the nations at war, back to the fun
damental issues. the settlement of
each question on principles of Justice:
the cessation of the barter of provinces
"a fhx xxr
torial questions for the benefit Of the
populations concerned and finally. the
recognition of national aspirations as
Il basis of permanent peace.
Another purpose served. It was
pointed out. Is to remind the German
reichstag of the great distance that
Count Won Hertling has Travelled from
its resolutions OF last July regarding
self determination Of the rights of
small nations and peoples. no annexa-
tions, contributions. or punitive dam
ages. Responsive echoes among the
German Socialists and Liberals may
In the end bring cumulative pressure
to bear upon the war lords at present
controlling the fate Of Germany.
Not Recognize Agreements.
Still another object of the address, il
was said. was to serve notice in ad-
vance that any peace treaties result
ing from the Brest -Litoysk confer
ences, would not of necessity be re-
earded as binding upon America or
the entente allies.
I'VE cannot have general peace for
the asking. Or by the mere arrange
nent of n peace conference Mr.. Will
son said. 1T cannot be pieced to-
sether out of individual understand
ings between powerful states, All
the parties to this war must join in
the settlement of every issue any-
where involved in it because what We
are asking is a peace that we can
all unite to guarantee and maintain
and every item Of it must be submitted
to the common judgment whether il
bc right and fair; an act of justice
rather than bargain between sover-.
eigns.''
Allies Not Consulted.
The statement was made in high
officials quarters that the entente al
lies were not consulted by President
Wilson in the preparation of his ad
dress nor was it even made known to
them that 1t was 70 be delivered. How
ever. II was pointed out that this was
rot to be taken as indicating any lack
OF unity of purpose and aims between
the c0-belligerents as nowhere in his
address did the president depart from
any of the principles he has laid down
In common with the british, French
and Italian premiers in their preceding
public utterances regarding war aims.
Diplomats Of the older school are
watching with keen interest extra Of
ficial negotiations" which depart SO
lContinued on PaSs Three.l