The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-17
The Presidents Concrete Proposal
That Vienna Ignored.

The Presidents Concrete Proposal
That Vienna Ignored.
The note Of the Austro- Hungarian
Government to the belligerent and
neutral Powers contains some Of the
dull generality that the Continental
diplomat seems to find necessary as a
for the main idea which
he seeks to express. 1t Is not free
from some little hypocrisy, obviously
intended for home consumption but
capable Of arousing, or rather con-
dlstrust among the enemies
of the Teutonic nations. There Is,
however, a temptation TO smile rather
than to frown over such a para
graph as this:
"The Central Powers leave II IN no
doubt that they are only waging a war
Of defence for the integrity and the Sc
curity OF their territories"
What America Is concerned with
more than platitudes which deceive
no one Is an examination Of the note
for the purpose Of discovering what
Vienna has in the back of Its head
when it speaks Of peace terms-as.
Stunning, of course, that the intent of
the invitation is an honest discussion
of prerequisites. The paragraph on
this subject is Of particular interest
to America for the reason that it con-
Germs itself with the utterances OF
the President Of the United States:
Far more outspoken than in the do
main Of concrete war aims has the
rapprochement Of conceptions proceeded
regarding those guiding lines upon the
basis OF which peace shall be concluded
and the future order OF Europe and the
world built up. In this direction Presi-
dent WILSON in his speeches Of February
lated principles which have not en-.
countered contradiction on the part OF
his allies. and the far reaching applica.
ton OF which is likely to meet with no
objection on the part Of the Powers OF
the Quadruple Alliance also. presuppos.
ing that this application is general and
reconcilable with the vital interests OF
the States concerned"
The opening sentence Of the para.
graph quoted Is. unfortunately for the
general reputation Of the document
not true. Nothing could be more out
spoken than the programme Of the
worlds peace" laid before the Con
gress by President WILSON on Jan
uary s, 1918, "the only possible pro
gramme, as we see It," This formula
ton was specific to the last degree. II
covered fourteen points:
The methods of establishing cove
nants Of peace.
The freedom OF navigation.
The removal of economic barriers.
The reduction Of armament.
The adjustment Of colonial claims.
The future of Russia.
The evacuation, restoration and fu
ture safety Of Belgium.
The restoration Of invaded French
territory and the righting OF tn,
wrong done to France in the matter
Of Alsace-Lorraine.
4 readjustment Of the frontiers Of
Italy along clearly recognizable line.
Of nationality"
Free opportunity Of autonomous de
velopment for the peoples Of Austria
Hungary.
The evacuation of Rumanla, Serb,
and Montenegro and other Balkan re
forms.
Assurances of security to non Turk
fish natlonalities under Turkish rule.
An Independent Polish State.
A general association of nations
to guarantee political independence
and territorial integrity to great ant
small States alike"
This address of the President, tn,
foregoing summary Of which is in
tended To recall the concreteness o
his ideas Of a pence programme
rather than to condense his own tiers,
English, is ignored in the Austrian
invitation. 1t was indeed documen
likely TO cause an Old World diploma
to shudder at its frankness. Far bet
ter suited to the diplomatlst's mint
and purpose were the Presidents ad
dress to the Congress on Februar.
II and his Mount Vernon speech o
July 4; not that the President had re
treated from his specific programm,
announced in the speech of Januar,
8, but that in these later speeches h
treated the matter Of settlement
without being specific. 1t must no
he thought, however, that Mr.
WILSON was vague. In the address
Of February IL he put before Con
gress the foundations upon which
discussion Of peace might rest:
1.-THE principles to be applied ar
these:
First. That each part OF the fina
settlement must be based upon the es
sential justice OF that particular cas-
and upon such adjustments as are mos
likely to bring peace that will b
permanent;
Second. That peoples and province
are not to be bartered about from SOW
ereignty to sovereignty as II they wer