New-York tribune., 1918-02-27

cratic government and mass of people
without rights.
"And yet President Wilson knows
as, at any rate. the German edition OF
ms book on the state proves~-~Gcrman
political literature and he knows thexc-
'ore that with us, princes and govern
ments are the highest members of the
nation as Il WHOLE organized in the
form of state.s tho highest members
with whom the final decision lies.
Princes Belong to People"
But, seeing that they also, as the
supreme organs, belong to the whole
tho decision is Of such nature that
only the welfare of the whole is the
guiding line for decision to be taken.
IT may be useful expressly to Ioint
this out to President Wilson'S coun-
trymen.
Then, finally. at the close of the
second clause, the game of the balance
OF power is declared to be forever dis
crcdited. We, too, can only gladly ap-
plaud AS is we'll known, it was Eng
land who invented the principle of the
maintenance of the balance of power.
IN order especially to~applv it when one
OF the states on the European conti-
ncnt threatened to become too power
tul for her. 1t was only another cX-
preston for England's domination.
Third Clause Approved
"The third clause, according to which
every territorial settlement involved
IN this war must be made in the inter-
est and for the benefit Of the popula-
tons concerned, and not as part of
any mere adjustment or compromise
OF claims among rival states. is the
only application Of the foregoing in q
definite direction, or deduction from
1T, and is, therefore, included in the
assent given to that clause
Now, in the fourth clause he de
mands that all we'll defined national
aspirations shall be accorded the ut
most satisfaction that can be accorded
them without introducing new or per-
petuating old elements of dscord and
antagonism that would be likely in
time to break the peace of Europe and
consequently of the world. Here. also,
can give assent in principle, and |
declare, therefore, with President Will
son. that a general peace on such
basis is discussable.
Wary Of the Fourtl,
"On.y one reservation is to be made.
These principles must not be proposed
by the President of the United States
alone, but they must also be recognized
definitely by all states and nations
President Wilson. who reproaches the
German Chancellor with certain
amount of backwardness, seems to me
in his flight of ideas to have hurried
far in advance of existing realities
"Certainly, league Of nations, erect
ed upon justice and mutual urselfsh
appreciation a condition of humanity
in which war, together with all that re-
mains of the earliest barbarism, should
have completely disappeared and in
which there should be no bloody sacri-
fees. no selfmutilatlon of peoples, no
destruction of laboriously acquired
cultural values-that would be an aim
devoutly to be desired
Declines Worlds Judgment
"But that aim has not vet been
reached There does not vet exist a
court of arbitration set up by all ma
tons for the safeguarding of peace in
the name of justice. When President
Wilson incidentally says that the Ger
man Chancellor is speaking to the court
of the entire world, must, as things
stand to-day, in the rame of the Ger
man Empire and her allies, decline this
court as prejudiced, joyfully as 1 would
greet 1T II an impartial court of arbi-
tration existed and gladly as | would
cooperate to realize such ideals.
Unfortunately, however, there is no
trace of a similar state of mind on the
part OF the leading powers in the En-
tente. England's war aims, as recently
expressed in Lloyd Georges speeches.
are still thoroughly imperialstic and
want to impose on the world a peacc zee
according to England's good pleasure.
When England talks about peoples
right of determination she does
not think of applying the principle to
ireland, Egypt or India"
Explains Russian Invasion
Declaring that the new German oper-
atons against Russia were taken at
the request Of the populations to re-
store order and that they did not aim
at conquests, the Chancellor continued:
Our war aims from the beginning
were the defence Of the fathcrland. the
maintenance OF our territorial integrity
and the freedom of our economic devel. 1
Our warfare, even where it
must be aggressive in action. is defen-
slve IN ann. lay especial stress upon
that just now in order that no misun-
derstandings shall arise about the oper-
ations in the East.
After the breaking off Of peace ne
gotiations by the Russian delegation
on February 10 we had free hand as
against Russia. The sole aim of the
advance of our troops, which was be-
gun seven days after the rupture, was
to safeguard the fruits of our pcace
with the Ukraine. Aims of CONQUEST
We're IN no way determining factor.
We were strengthened in this by the
ukrainians appeal for support in
about order in their Young
state against the disturbances carried
out by the Bolsheviki.
'"lf further military operations in
other regions have taken place the same
applies to them. They in no wav aim
at conquest. They arc solely taking
place at the urgent appeals and repre-
sentations Of the populations for pro-
tectIOn again ST II trncitios and la..a.4a !