Evening star., 1918-02-11
No Peace on German Terms.


President Wilson. in his address to
Congress today. exposes in its true char
ncter tho Official German reply TO the
war aims of the allies rs enunciatctj by
him and by the foreign minister Of
Great Britain Noting the friendly tone
of the Austrian reply, he passes to that
Of Coant Won Hertling, the German
chancellor. which lie calls vague and
confusing, full of equivocal phrases and
1eadiR, to no practical conclusion. The
Presidents analysis of the German re-
ply is the most clear and iiluminative
that has yet appeared. 1t shows it to
be utterly impossible of acceptance
A marked distinction appears between
the two Teutonic replies. Count Ger
min, says the President. seems to sec
the fundamental elements of peace with
clear eyes and does not seek to obscure
them. "If lie is silent about questions
which touch the interest and purpose OF
. his allies more nearly than they touch
those Of Austria only, Il must, Of course.
: be, because he feels constrained, 1 sup
pose, to defer TO Germany and Turkey
inf the circumstances" Thus the Pres
ident Significantly notes Austria's lack
ofsharmony with tie German purposes
and program.
The vital principles are restated by
the President Each part OF the final
settlement must be based upon the essen
tial justice of that particular case; peo-
Piles and provinces are not to be hartered
like chattels- and pawns in a game; ter
ritorial settlements must be made in the
interest and for the benefit of popula
tions concerned; well defined national
aspirations shall be accorded tie utmost
satisfaction possible without introdue-
ing new or perpetuating old elements
of discord and antagonism.
4 general peace erected upon such
foundations can be discussed, says the
President. "Untn such peace can be
secured we have no choice but TO go on
Once more Mr.. Wilson lays upon the
military party Of Germany the re
sponsibility of continuing this awful
conflict. He says 'sthe tragieal circum
stance is that this one party in Germany
! s. apparently willing and able TO send
millions of men to their death to pre-
vent what all the world now sees to be
just"
There is no tone Of uncertainty re
speeting our part We can never turn
back from a course chosen upon prin-
ciple. Tie President promises and pro-
claims a continuing and Increasing
preparation for the fight until our whole
strength IS put into 4this war of emanei-
patton" This. he says, is not a threat.
It is an expression of the true spirit
I Of America.
Fhus goes forth another message to
the enemy, message not of defiance
but sof exposition of our unfinching
purpose and our rejection of the insin
cere and inconclusive terms of peace
vaguely and haltingly put forth by the
German spokesman.
The Presidents words thus drive in
The wedge of cleavage between Prussia
! and Austria, between Prussian militar-
ism and the Teutonic peoples. In vivid
fashion he shows how Won Hertling, pro-
claiming devotion to the principles of a
democratic peace in the abstract, in con-
crete terms of peace-making grossly
violates every one of these principles.
He fastens upon the military party in
Germany the responsibility for sending
millions more of men TO death. He re-
/ states the vital principles upon which
permanent world peace mast rest, and
Americas determination to fight with
its full and ever-increasing strength un-
III such peace is attained.