New-York tribune., 1918-01-26

torted representation of German policy
which is contained in Mr. Wilson's mes
sage. but will deal in detail with the
points which Mr.. Wilson lays down
there-not less than fourteen points. in
which he formulates his peace pro
gramme-and pray YOUR indulgence in
deating with these as briefly as pos
siblc.
Reply to Wilson
"rhe first point is the demand that
there shall be no more secret interna-
tional agreements History shows it is
we above all others who would be able
to agree TO the publicity Of diplomatic
documents. l recall that our defensive
alliance with Austria Hungary was
known to the whole world from 1888
while the offensive agreement of the
enemy states first saw the light of pub
licity during the war, through the rcve-
lations Of the secret Russian archives.
The negotiations at Brest-Litovsk are
being conducted with full publicity
This proves that we are quite ready to
accept this proposal and declare pub
licity Of negotiations to be general
political principle.
I'm his second point Mr. Wilson de-
mands freedom of shipping Oh the seas
IN war and peace. This also is demand
ed by Germany rs the first and one Of
the most important requirements for
the future. Therefore, there is here no
aitference Of opinion. The limitation
introduced by Mr.. Wilson at the end.
winch need not quote teXtually, is not
lnte!hglble, appears superhuous and
would therefore best be left out. (The
limiting clause reads: " except
as the seas may be closed in whole or
IN part by international action for the
enforcement Of international Gov
cnants.0
ut would. however, be highly impor-
tant for the freedom of Shipping in
future if strongly fortified naval bases
on important international routes, such
as England has at Gibraltar. Malta,
Aden. Hong Kong, the Falkland Islands
and many other places, were removed.
Condemns ECONOMIC War
Point 3. We. too, are in thorough
accord with the removal Of economic
barriers which interfere with trade in
superfuous manner. We, too, condemn
economic war, which would inevitably
bear within it causes of future warlike
complications
point 4. Limitation Of armaments.
AS already declared by US, the idea of
limitation of armaments s entirely dis
cussable. The financial position Of all
European states after the war might
most effectively promote a satisfactory
solution. (Cries of Hear! Hearty
1T is therefore clear that an under
standing might be reached without diff
Guilty on the first four points of Mr..
wilson's programme.
Il now come to the fifth point, set
tlement of all colonial claims and dis
putes. Practica! realization of Mr.
Wilson'S principles in the realm of
reality will encounter some difficulties
in any case. believe that for the
present it may be left for England,
which has the greatest colonial empire,
to make what sh. will of this proposal
OF her ally. This point of the pro-
gramme also Will have to be discussed
in due time. on the reconstruction Of
the worlds colonial possessions, which
we also demand absolutely.
Point 6, evacuation of Russian ter
rltory: Now that the Entente has re-
fused. within the period agred upon by
Russia and the Quadruple Alliance, to
JOIN in the negotiations, must in the
name of the latter decline to allow any
subsequent interference. We are deal
ing here with questions which concern
only Russia and the four Allied powers.
| adhere to the hope that, with recogni-
ton of self determination for the peo
pies on the Western frontier Of the
former Russian empire, good relations
wlll be established, both with these
peoples and with the rest Of Russia, for
whom we wish most earnestly a return
OF order, peace and conditions guaran- |
tecInS the welfare e the country
Belgian Question
Point T. Belgium: My predecessors
~ al loo I
time did the annexation of Belgium to
Germany form point in the pro
Srammc OF German policy. The Rcl- !
g'an question belongs to those qucs
tons tho details Of which arc to be
settled by negotiation at the peace
conference. SO long as our opponents
have not unreservedly taken the stand
point that the integrity of the Allies
territory can offer the only possible
basis Of peace discussion. must ad-
here to the standpoint hitherto always
adopted and refuse the removal in adj
vance of the Belgian affair from the
entire discussion.
"Point s.: The occupied parts Of
france arc a valuable part in our hands.
Here, too, forciblc annexation forms no
part Of the official German policy.
The conditions aud methods of pro-
cedure Of the evacuation, which must
take account Of Germany's vital inter
csts, arc TO be agreed upon between
Germany and France. can only again
expressly acccntuatc the fact that
there can never be d question of dis
mcmbnrmcnt Of imperial territory. I'm
der no fine phrases Of any kind shall
VIC permit tho enemy again to take
from US territry of tho empire which
with cvcr-incrcasing intimacy has
linked itself TO Germansm, which has
IN highly gratifying manner ever and
increasingly developed in an economic
respect, and of whose people more than
81 per cent, speak the German mother
tongue.
Austro-Hungarian Interests
"Tho questions dealt with by Mr..
Wilson under Points 9. 10 and II touch
both the Italian frontier question and
questions of the future development Of
the Austro- Hungarian monarchy and
the future Of the Balkan States; ques-
tions in which, for the greater part,
the interests of our ally Austro- Hun
gary, prcpondelate. Where German
interests arc concerned we shall de-
fend them most energctically, but |
may leave the answer to Mr.. Wilson's
proposals on these points in the first
place to the Austro- Hungarian Foreign
Minister.
"Closc contact with the allied Dual
Monarchy forms the kernel of our pres
ent Oolicv and y,,uct bo +bo <r,,;I,r. l;,,o