The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-02-16
WILSON'S SPEECH
WARNING AGAINST
AUTOCRATIC HUNS
Was Intended for the Liberal Elements Among the Teu
tonic Peoples Conveying the Message That Peace
Engineered By Mlitaristic Leaders Would Be Futile
London Pleased With Address

Washington, Feb 1s-President VIII
sons address to Congress Monday
was intended for the liberals of Ger
many and Austria-Hungary. 1t was
not peace message, as some Sena-
tors and Representatives were inclin-
ed to interpret it. On the contrary,
it was meant to be notice to the peo-
PIE of the Teutonic empires that they
to an ending of the war until the
Prussian autocracy at Berlin had been
deprived OF it's ruling power or SUBJ
scribed to the general principles of
settlement and the government of fu-
ture relations of nations laid down
by statesmen of the allied nations, in
Guiding President Wilson and Prime
Minister Lloyd George.
Monday, it was not clear what the
Presidents purpose was in making an
appearance before Congress, dramatic
speeches delivered in Berlin and
Vienna by the German Imperial
Chancellor and the Austro- Hungar
ian Minister for Foreign Affairs, re-
spectively on Jan. "a. The main
reason for the utterance of the Presi-
dent was was ito keep alive in the
minds of both Germans and Austro-
Hungarians that their aspirations for
peace were being frustrated by a
small body of men at Berlin, who
were wholly out Of sympathy with
any adjustment of war that did not
work to the territorial aggrandize-
ment of the Teutonic Empires
There, was no certainty, however
that this was the correct explanation
of the Presidents address.
Today additional evidence was OBJ
tanned that this was the real explana'
ton No doubt appears to exist thai
the Presidents declarations were ad-
| dressed to the liberals of Germany
| and Austro-Hungary, who resent the
Pan German policy of war of con
quest and seek peace by understand
ing.
War Determination Firm.
There has been no receding b!
President Wilson from his determin
alton previously expressed that thu
war must go on until Prussian mill
tarism gives way to what he believes
to be the desires of the generality o
the people of both Germany and Aus
tria-Hungary. That he intended hi
address of yesterday to be so under
| stood is known in the best Informed
circles here.
It is realized by some Of the Presi
| dents friends that his indication O
his willingness not to have the four
teen principles of a peace agreemen
laid down in his address to Congress
on Jan regarded as hard and fas
enemies of the Allies might be mis-
construed as a sign Of a desire TO
peace at this time.
1t is realized also that many peop1
in this country might interpret tn
address as indicating that peace wa
near. But it is now established tina
the President was not addressing tn
American people, but the people o
the Teutonic empires in the hope o
being able to keep before them tn
manner in which the Prussian militia
|
their wishes and to make them real
ize that the war could not end Will
that group remained in complete con
troll
Anticipating German Drive.
Germany is now preparing for
great drive against the Allied arm
les on the western front. Shout
that drive fail, and the Allies are con
fldent that it will end disastrousl
for the attacking forces, there is Ger
tain to be a revival in both German
and Austria of the doubts that re
Gently came to the surface of the in
fallabiIity of German generalship.
In 1914 the German people wer
promised that their armies would
in Paris in a few weeks. A yea
ago they were told that unrestricte
submarine warfare would bring tn
Allies to their knees in a few months
Both these prophecies were false.
The German rulers are now layin
great stress on the success Of tn
western drive. The failure of tn
much-advertised offensive would Civ
the Presidents address of yesterda
fruitful soil in which to grow an
spread-German ~and Austrian sol
The President has been beforehan
in sowing the seed.
1t is the hope of those acquainte
with his desire and intentions the
will bring results when the Germa
and Austrian people are forced to re
, alize that the allied line in Franc
and Belgium is invinclble.
News comes from London that tn
British government will not recog
nize the peace made between Gel
= many and Ukraine. No authorize
, tive statement has been made her
as to the attitude of the Unite
= States government on the Ukrainia
g settlement, but the declarations {
n the President in his address preclud
p any likelihood that he will give h
n recognition to it.
Tie President made clear that tn
: government would not make an
e peace that was not in accord with til
a views of all the allied nations, and h
t distinctly deprecated efforts to brin
: about a peace that was not commo
: to all the countries engaged in til
:. war against Prussian autocracy.
e london Papers PieaSed