New-York tribune., 1918-11-04
The Fourteen Points


The fourteen points are on trial in the
court of-Allied opinion
They represent Mr. Wilson'S idea Of
peace with Germany.
They have been formally accepted by
the German government.
They have not been accepted by the
Allies, nor have they received the YER
Dict of American sentiment.
- a dangerous fiction of acceptance
grew up about them in all countries In
this country they were Professionally
peace. At the time peace itself seemed
sery remote and people were preoccupied
With war. Besides, the war emotion had
aot yet fully crystallized, and many who
we're dubious about the fourteen points
withheld criticism lest political discus
sion of peace terms should distract popu-
lar attention from business more i'm
perative.
I, In Great Britain and France the four
teen points were received with profound
disappointment, but it was confined to
private expression. There, as here, the
choice was dictated by considerations of
moral and political expediency. 1t was
thought. better to support" the Presi-
dent rhetorically than to fall into
krangle over peace terms in the hearing
Of an unbeaten enemy
Then suddenly Germany accepted the
fourteen points as the basis of peace
negotiations and asked for an armistice.
After much correspondence, In which the
American government confirmed the
siew that peace discussions were possible
IN that basis, the enemy's request for an
srmistice was submitted to the Allies in
such manner as to challenge them on the
fourteen points.
The American governments note to
Germany said: "The President has,
therefore, transmitted his correspond
ence with the present German authori-
ties to the governments with which the
ciated, with the suggestion that, if these
governments are disposed to effect peace
apon the terms and principles indicated,
their military advisers and the military
advisers of the United States be asked to
submit to the governments associated
against Germany the necessary terms of
such an armistice."
Note the phrase: "If these govern
nents are disposed to effect peace upon
the terms and principles indicated"-
Wilson's terms and principles.
That was notice to the world that the
Allies had not yet accepted the American
terms and principles.
It was notice that they were confront
ed with the dilemma of either accepting
or rejecting them in conjunction with an
armistice.
If they accepted them they were bound
by them. If they rejected them Germany
scored diplomatic triumph by showing
the political disunity Of the Allies.
This was the perilous situation that
arose from the use interchangeably at
the same time of both the diplomatic and
the military weapon. 1t was lust this
possibility that caused people to protest
against peace discussions at all until we
had received from the enemy the only
thing we could safely accept from him.
namely, unconditional surrender.
All who dissented from the fourteen
points were caught in the same perplex-
ity. In this country they could not sneak
without seeming to provoke political
strife on the eve of election, which no.
oody wished to do. In England and
France they could not speak without
seeming to set up quarrel with the
great American associate" Everybody
was in some degree stultified by having
previously for. so long, in the interest of
an appearanclpt unity, sustained the tic-