The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-02-26
| DANCE! DANCE!
SuMNlTvlLLE
| Wednesday Evening
NEW PEACE
DRIVE STARTED
CONTINUED from page l.

based upon President Wilson's four
Fundamental points of the self-determ-
ination of nationalities, Count Won
tHertling has now turned to the west
ern powers and expressed qualified
approval of President Wilson's atti-
tude.
No trust can be placed in the Ger
man chancellor's generalities, be
cause they are contradicted by the
imperialistic policy of the Germans at
Brest-Ltovsk, constituting the first
peace conference of the war. Count
Won Hertling may be willing to sub
scribe to limited self determination
in the west, but there is nothing to
indicate that he will accept the
principle in the east.
The United States is now fighting
for the preservation of democracy IN
Russia as well as for the establish.
ment of democracy by the central
mental to the future relations be-
tween the eastern and western dem
ocracies If actual events were t.,
show the slightest confirmation Of
Leon Trotsky's recent declaration to
the United Press that the western
powers are prepared to sacrifice Rus
STA to Germany in order to secure
concessions for themselves.
Count Won Hertling may we'll be
trying to foster this suspicion in Rus
sian minds by his latest peace adj
dress to the world.
His protestation, of fundamental
agreement with President Wilson'S
four points, il logically applied.
would mean a formal Reputation by
the German chancellor Of the Won
Hindenburg militaristic clique that
controlled the Brest-Litovsk negotia-
tons and directed the subsequent I'M
perialistic operations. No such an.
tagonism as this between Won Hert-
ling and Won Hindenburg has been in
any way confirmed. It is therefore,
impossible to take the chancellor's
peace words at their full meaning.
Small step Forward.
AMSTERDAM, Feb. 26-Chancel-
lor Hertling in his address before the
German reichstag yesterday declared
President Wilson's message Of Feb
ruary ii contained some principles
which might constitute the basis for
a general peace discussion, if all the
belligerents agreed to mutual ex-
change Of views, according to dis
patches received here today.
II readily admit that President Will
sons message of February IL consti-
tutes perhaps small step toward
cellor.
Il can fundamentally agree with
the four principles which in Presi-
Gent Wilson's view must be applied
in a mutual exchange of views and
ht1c mi
that a general peace can be discussed
on such basis.
"On1y one reserve need be made In
connection with these principles.
'They must not only be proposed by
President Wilson, but actually De rec
ognized by all states and peoples.
This goal has not yet been reach
ed. There is yet no court of arbitra-
ton.
when President Wilson says the
German chancellor is speaking to a
world tribunal I must decline this
tribunal as preiudiced, Joyfully as
would greet it if an imperial court of
arbitration existed and gladly as
would cooperate to realize such
ideals.
There is no trace of similar feel
ing on the part of the enemy. Eng
lands war aims are imperialistic. She
does not think of applying self-deter-
mination to Ireland and India.
'Inasmuch as peace has been made
with Russia, the world asks isn't the
gate opened toward general peace?'
But Britain, Italy and France are not
ready to listen to reas on. They are
fighting for conquest.
There is no AlsaceLorraine ques-
ton in an international sense as I
have said before.
THE world now stands before a fin
al decision. Either our enemies will
decide to conclude peace-they know
on what terms they are ready to be-
gin discussion-or they will continue
their insanity In a criminal war OF
conquest.
Our people will hold out further,
but the blood of the fallen, the agonies
of the mutilated and the suffering of
the people will fall upon the heads of
those who insistentfy refuse to listen
to the voices Of reason and humanity"
II can agree with Mr.. Runciman
(former head Of the British board of
agriculture) if he meant he would be
nearer Neace if the proper respon-
sible representatives Of belligerents
would meet in conclave for discus
sions. This would be the way Of re-
moving all Intentional Or uninten-
tional misunderstanding on many in
dividual questions.
I'm thinking especially Of Belgium
in this connection. 1t has been said
repeatedly that we do not intend to
retain Belgium. But we must be safe.
guarded against Vaccinations and
against utilization of Belgium as the
jumping off place of the enemy
IF, therefore, the proposal came
from the opposing side, for example
from the Havre government Gel
GUM government We should not take
up an antagonistic attitude even
though discussion might at first be
unbinding."
More Poultry and Eggs.
JJRBANA ILL., Feb 26-Frank T.