The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1918-09-18
THE WORLDS ANSWER.

PO AVN secret conference IN when 70 dispose OF the
rights of mankind.
With the exception of one or two voices uttering
pacsm and treason the public and the press Of the
United States England France and Italy have rejected
with adherence the insulting invitation from the cor
rupt and servie government Of AusriaHungary There
posa perdous in intent and effect insulting alike to
the honor and the intelligence Of the allied governments
and conceived in hatred, malice and enmity.
The public of all allied countries perceves that Aus
trias proposal is not, in fact peace proposal but
war maneuver 1t is made by the nation that even
this moment sucking the blood of murdered Serbia There
suggestion by the murderer that he will withdraw
from Serbia evidence of good faith and changed
heart fit for peace If the murderer makes the proposal
because of weakness and imminent collapse if he
is earnestly DESTROYS of peace, why does he not show
that he is repentant?
The allies insuted when such criminal offers to
negotiate peace with them on any other terms than UNI
conditional surrender But their intelligence is insuted
also when he suggests secret starchamber conference
in which to trade away the rights of peoples and nations
One of the fundamental reforms which this war is
eecuatng is the abolition Of secret diplomatic DISPOSE
ton of the rights of humanity without the knowledge
consent Of the peoples involved President Wilson
made this reform stand out clearly as one of the war
aims of the United States. Yet the Austro Hungarian
government with its medieval and corrupt SOUL makes
this insulting statement:
The discussion from public tribune to
other as has hitherto taken place between states
men of the various countries, was really only
series Of monologues It lacked above every
thing directness. Speech and counter speech did
not fit into each other The speakers spoke above
another's heads On the other hand, it the
PUBLICITY and the ground of these discussions
which robbed them of the possibility Of fruitful
progress In all public statements of this nature
form Of eloquence is used which reckons with the
effect at great distances and on the masses Con-
sciousy unconsciously, however, one thereby
increases the distance of the opponents concep-
ton, produces misunderstanding which take root
and are not removed, and makes the free exchange
of ideas difficult. Every pronouncement of
leading statesmen is, directly after its delivery
and before the authoritative quarters of the OPP
posite side reply to it, made the subject of
passionate or exaggerated discussion Of irrespon-
sible elements
Thus unconsciousy, the spokesman Of the two enemy
empires reveals Of the basic differences between the
two great systems fighting to finish. Could Ian
guage clearly outline the state Of mind Of Austria
Hungary toward the people and their rights? 1t is pub
icity that is feared 1t is the masses" that must be
fooled All statesmen utter thing and another
Discussion of human rights by the people is rrespon
sibe." Only the Heading statesmen have right to
dispose of the people
What allied nation could bring itself for moment
to enter into secret conference with the representatives
Of the murderer empires that started this and are
standing, knife in hand, Staying and slowly with
drawing from the territory they have ravaged? If the
enemy hopes that he create a spirit of dssension
among the allies he is mistaken The allied have gone
far beyond the point where words from the enemy will
swerve them from their united purpose to defeat and
dsarm him.
No ingenuity of invention turptitude of heart, no
strategem of force diplomacy can avert from Ger
many and a-Hungary the avenging wrath of the
civilized world Humanity will not stay its hand until
the enemy is laid low. The United States government
in dismissng the Austro Hungarian proposal again ex-
presses the fixed purpose of this nation and its allies to
carry the to the end Washington Post