The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-03-02
GERMANY FOR
WILSON PEACE
Four of Presidents Principles Ac-
cepted If Allies Back
Them.
BRITAIN IS IMPERIALIsTIc
Won HertIing Tells Reichstag Amerl-
cas- Proffer Offers Basis for
Discussion on Broad and
Liberal Scale.


Washington, Feb. 27.-All talk of 9
possible peace by negotiation" has
ended in Washington today. Count
Won Hertling, the imperial German
chancellor, in qualifying his accept
ance" Of the four principles of peace
enunciated by President Wilson, has
convinced oficialdom here that Ger
many wants to fight on.
Amsterdam, Feb. 27.-Speaking be-
fore the reichstag the imperial German
chancellor, Count Won Hertling, made
this declaration:
Il can fundamentally agree with the
four principles which In President
Wilson's view must be applied In a mu-
tual exchange Of views, and thus de
clare with President Wilson that gen.
eral peace can be discussed on such a
basis.
"Only One Reserve"
"Only one reserve need be made In
this connection: These principles must
not only be proposed by the president
of the United States, but also must ac-
tually be recognized by all states and
peoples.
"But this goal has not yet been
reached. There is still no court of ar
bitration established by all nations for
the preservation Of peace In the name
of justice.
"When President Wilson incidentally
says that the German chancellor is
Speaking to the tribunal Of the entire
s49Fg d ia lie n "
prejudiced, joyfully as ! would greet
1t IL an impartial court Of arbitration
existed, and gladly as would cooper.
ate to realize such ideals.
"EngIand lmperialistlc."
UNFORTUNATELY, however. there is no
trace Of similar statements on the part
of the leading powers of the entente.
England's war aims are still thorough.
ly imperialistic, and she wants to i'm.
pose on the world peace according to
England's good pleasure.
when England talks about the peo-
pies right of self-determination she
does not think Of applying the princi-
pie to Ireland, Egypt and India.
Wilson Message "a STEP"
ut has been repeatedly said that we
DO not contemplate retaining Belgium,
but that we must be safeguarded from
the danger of country, with which
we desire after the war to live In
peace and friendship, becoming the OBJ
ject or jumping-off ground of enemy
Vaccinations.
"If therefore, proposal came from
the opposing side-for example, from
the government in Havre-we should
not adopt an antagonistic attitude,
even though the discussion at first
might only be unbinding.
Meanwhile readily admit that
President Wilson's message of Febru.
airy II constitutes perhaps small step
toward mutual rapprochement."
Wants Discussion.
With reference to a statement re-
Gently made by Walter Runciman, the
former president Of the board Of agri-
culture In the British cabinet, the
chancellor said:
II can only agree with Mr.. Runci-
man If he meant that we should be
much nearer peace If proper respon-
sible Representatives Of the belligerent
powers would meet In conclave for dis
cussion.
THAT would be way to remove all
and unintentional misun-
derstandings and bring about an agree
ment on many individual questions. /
am thinking especially in this connec-
ton Of Belgium"