Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1918-01-09
L00PHOLtSLEF BY
Continued from Page One.)

stance, as the Alsace- Lorraine matter.
The United Press inquired today at
the state department on this point
When Lloyd George says the wrong
done France in 1871 must be reconsid-
cred, and when President Wilson says
the wrong done in Alsace-Lorraine
must be RIGHTED. do they mean AL
SAGE Lorraine must be returned to
France?" was asked.
Not MUST-SHOULD, the presi-
dent said" was the significant reply.
But l don't want to place an inter-
probation on the meaning Of the
! speech"
The Alsace- Lorraine question has
generally been regarded the crux of
the problem. 1t aroused congress to
cheers.
But careful inspection Of the pres
ident's and Lloyd Georges utterances
left the thought in many minds that
he and the premier had purposely left
the question open for some adjust
ment which Germany would meet.
So 1t was held as to several other
terms. The president used MUST in
some cases. SHOULD in others.
An army general who has views
quite counter to President Wilson's,
suggested that the speech, was tenn
perate. particularly with respect to
Belgium. That he had left an OPEN
Ing for negotiation there too, was this
mans thoughts. He held that as the
president had not suggested the means
whereby the restoration should be
accomplished that perhaps he was ia
vorable to a trade which would give
Germany the funds whereby to meet
the indemnity.
NOT SPECIFIC ENOUGH.
Congress was inclined to be a bit
critical of the Alsace- Lorraine utter
ance, feeling that it was not sufficient
ly specific.
And there was distinct Republican
fear that the presidents statement for
removal Of economic barriers on
world trade was a declaration of
world free trade" However, this was
answered elsewhere with the statement
that it was an assurance to Germany
that there was no present thought OF
trade war after the war-if Ger
many accepted the peace.
President Wilson, some authorities
felt, held out conciliatory proposal to
Germany when he declared for a free
dom of the seas.
This would limit blockade to the in
ternational law definition thereof.
some thought.
AS for Austria, It was held that the
presidents appeal there was especially
strong because he suggested terms
that may prove acceptable to her from
a territorial standpoint
INSIDE INFORMATION
WITHIN CONGRESS AND WITH
IN ARMY QUARTERS, THERE WAS
A BELIEF THAT PRESIDENT WILL
SONS SUDDEN MOVE TO ADJ
DRESS CONGRESS WAS BASED ON
SOME INSIDE INFORMATION"
ABOUT INTERNAL CONDITIONS IN
GERMANY. Ever since Lloyd Georges
speech, there has been talk in army
circles like this: TT looks as IL those
higher up must have something on
which to operate which we don't know
about"
The presidents utterances with re-
spect to the political aspect of Ger
many were considered far more tenn
perate than any made previously. This
was held to be an appeal to the lib
erals to get a reform which would
make the reichstag responsive to the
peoples will. LLOYD GEORGE, TOO,
AVOIDED HARSHNESS AND THE
TALK OF A KNOCKOUT WAS RE-
DUCED TO DIPLOMATIC TERMS.
Observers said this amounted to
talking direct to Germany in the Ian
guage of diplomacy.
Some said the terms would strip
Germany and that she would now con-
tinue the war with the feeling that
she could gain nothing otherwise. But,
to offset this spirit many argued that
problems such as readjustment of AL
SAGE and Italia Irredenta had been left
open to discussion while a liberal spir-
1t had been shown toward the Turkish
question.
The Polish problem may serve as