Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-02-14
NOTE IN
CzERN|N'S SPEECH
President Wilson Refers to II
Approvingly in Address
to Congress.
SAYS HERTLING IS VAGUE.
Atmosphere Cleared Of Any Confusisn
Arising from Foreign Peace Speeches
American Ideals Re.stated.

American Ideals Re.stated.
Washington, Feb. 11.-President Wilson
addressed Congress to-day to clear the
atmosphere of any confusion resulting
from the recent speeches on peace terms
by the German chancellor and the
| Austro- Hungarian foreign minister. and
to reiterate that until the military mas.
ters Of Germany are ready to consider
| peace on principles Of Justice the Unitel
States will continue the tight It IL Just
beginning for the safety Of itself and
| mankind.
In the speech Of Count Won Hsrtling,
| the German chancellor. the President
found no approach to the path of peace,
but rather q proposal to end the war on
German terms and to set up q league Of
nations to maintain the balance Of power
30 established. Count Cxsrnin, the Aus
trian spokesman, the President said, EN-
ployed a very friendly tone, seemed to see
| the fundamental elements Of peace with
clear eyes and probably would have gone
much farther II 1t had not been for Aus
| trials alliance and her dependence upon
Germany.
Members Of Congress accepted the ad-
dress not as peace message, but as
notice to the central powers that the Uni
| ted States cannot be turned aside from
the object for which 1t is lighting, and
warning to Congress and the Ameri-
can people that the task of sending the
nations fighting men to the front must
not be interfered with by equivocal and
misleading utterances Of Teutonic states
men. The President was warmly re-
! ceived and cheered az he concluded, ana
leaders without respect to party after
ward expressed hearty approval Of his
words.
The address had been prepared after
conferences during the past few days
with Col. e. NJ. House. who headed the
American mission to the great inter-
allied conference. As usual the President
announced his coming only long enough
IN advance to permit Of arrangements for
Joint session in the House chamber.
While In official and diplomatic quarters
to-day there was disposition to let the
Presidents address speak for itself with.
out Interpretation. there apparently was
no division of opinion on the point that
his prime object was to bring the extra
| official negotiations as some observers
have termed the speechmaking Of the chief
statesmen OF the nations at war, back to
| the fundamental issues, the settlement Of
each question on principles Of Justice: the
cessation Of the barter Of provinces and
peoples; the settlement Of territorial cues.
tions for the benefit Of the population con-
cerned. and finally the recognition Of ma.
tional aspirations as q basis Of permanent
peace.
Another purpose served. It was pointed
out 10 to remind the German Rsichstae
OF the great distance that Count Won
Hertiing has Travelled from it, resolutions
OF last July regarding ssif-dstsrmiuation
OF the rights of small nations and pso-
pies. no annexations. contributions or
punitive damages. Responsive echoes
among the German socialists and liberals.
may In the end bring cumulative pressure
to bear upon the war lords ut present
controlling the fate Of Germany.
Still another object Of the address, Il u
suggested. was to serve notice In advance
that any peace treaties arising from the
Brest-Litovsk conferences would not Of
necessity be regarded as binding upon
America or the entente allies.
I'VE cannot have general peace for the
asking. or by the mere arrangements Of q
peace conference" Mr.. Wilson said. 1T
cannot be pieced together out off individ-
ual understandings between powerful
states. All the parties to this war must
join in the settlement OF every issuee any,
| where involved in 1t because what we are
asking Is peace that we can all unite
to guarantee and maintain and every item
Of 1t must be submitted to the common
Judgment whether 1t be right and fair:
an act Of Justice rather than q bargain
between sovereigns."
The statement was made in high on
cial quarters that the entente allies were
not consulted by President Wilson in the
preparation Of his address. nor was It even
made known to them that 1t was to be de-
livered. However. II was pointed out that
was not to be taken as indicating any lack
OF unity of purpose and aims between the
| co-belligereents. as nowhere In his ad-
dress did the President depart from any
Of the principles he has laid down In COM
mon with the British. French and italian
prcmiers In their preceding public utter
ances regarding war aims.
Diplomats Of the older school are watch
Ing with keen interest the extra ON
cial negotiations" which depart 90 radi-
cally from all Of the ancient and accepted
practices Of diplomacy. They point out
that peacs negotiations On o great scale
actually are going on. only instead Of
being conducted In the secrecy Of the
round table conference. which was tho
aim Of the central powers in the early
stages of the war. the great war issues
are now being expoundcd ana critically
analysed in the light Of publicity ard the
worlds forum.
President Wilson himself to-day seemed
to recognize and call attention to that
fact when no inquired: ITS Count Won
; Hertling not aware that he 10 speaking
. In the court OF mankind. that all the
awakened nations Of the world now sit IN
judgment on what every public man OF
whatever nation may say on the issues Of
the conflict which has spread to every
region Of tho world?'
AS has been done In the past. he Prasl-
dents speech to-day was promptly cablsd
to all the principal capitals Of the world
for Geographic distribution.
(Thc full text Of President Wllsoa's
address will be found on Page 81
CREAMERY WITHOUT MILK