The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-01-09
Came at Right Moment to
Counteract Any Evil Effects
Latest German Propaganda.
ATMOSPHERE IS CLEARED
London Papers Play Up Stated
Conditions.
Address Served Manifold Pur-
pose-Bolsheviki Request An
swered-Russians Heartened.

President Wilson's address to con-
aress, setting forth Americas pro-
Dram for war and peace, was heard
on every side in Washington today
and the opinion seemed universal that
the president had chosen the psyche
IooioaI moment to counteract any evil
effects Of Germanys latest peace
propaganda.
Although some professed to believe
the Germans might find the terms
laid down acceptable as basis OF ne
ootiations, most officials saw in tSo
proposals only clearing Of the at
mosphere for the allies, heartening OF
the Russians and the furnishing OF
LIGHT for the German people it they
chose to see it.
1t was authoritatively stated that
the president decided to address con-
sgress at this time in an effort to pre-
vent resumption of negotiations be-
tween the Russians and Germans at
Brest- Litovsk and counteract the du-
lplicity of the Germans shown Ia. .their
ident in making his speech assumed
that the Russo German peace nego-
,tiations definitely had been broken OF.
Another reason for the presidents
message was found in the necessity
of making some reply to the request
of the Bolsheviki that the United
States and the entente join in the
peace negotiations. Germany made 1t
a condition of the negotiations that
Russia should bring in the al
lies. Since the United States and
the allies have not recognized the
Bolsheviki government it was deemed
necessary that the United States set
forth it's aims in a public announce
ment which might be given circula-
ton in Russia, following the example
of Premier Lloyd George.
Is Model of Open Diplomacy.
The Pail Mall Gazette says Presi-
dent Wilson's message constitutes an
effective model of frank and open dl-
plomacy. 1t remarks that the strong
est German microscopes will be taxed
to find evidence of discord between ms
words and those of Premier Lloyd
George.
After summarizing the speech the
Pail Mall Gazette continues:
'Jf the German press does not like
Mr.. Lloyd Georges program 1t VIII
scarcely find President Wilson's more
congenial. President Wilson
includes in his ultimate aspirations
some conditions which may seem inn
practicable to our present vision ana
which in any case can only mature
as the fruit of long searching delip,
erations. But the allies have proved
their possession of a common ana I'M
selfish purpose in the permanent re-
xph
life of free peoples has been poisoned
and jeopardized.
Land Powers in Advantage.
The Westminster Gazette is the only
naper to comment on President Will
sons inclusion in his program OF ab-
solute freedom of navigation upon the
seas outside of territorial waters.
The newspaper says that IN such
world as that to which the president
looks forward, with an association OF
nations affording a guarantee OF the
political independence of all states,
with open covenants, disarmament by
mutual consent and freedom, as FAR
as possible, from economic barriers,
this aspiration could have no terrors
for the British. But in the hghting
world of today 1t would mean ois-
arming' the sea power without any
corresponding diminution of military
power on land, which, it argues. would
work to the great advantage OF MILL
tarist land power and to the great
disadvantage of all others, America
included.
The independence Beige, which HAS
been published in London since the
evacuation of Brussels, says:
Russian View Praised.
THE credit which Mr.. Wilson gives
to the Russian revolution, notwith-
standing the danger which its devel-
opment might present from the allied
viewpoint, proves how superior Mr.
Wilson is to the average statesman
and leader of peoples in respect of
both his human qualities and his in
tellectual attainments. Never has a
statesman given proof of larger men,
tality or higher conception of his du-
ties as arbiter of the nation than has
Mr.. Wilson in this pronouncement on
behalf of Russia"
Lord NorthcIiffe's Evening News,
while of the opinion that Mr.. Wilson's
declarations regarding the removal of
economic barriers and the freedom of
the seas need further elucidation, in
dorses enthusiastically his attitude to-
ward Russia. Summing up, the news
paper says:
president Wilson is for a free
world on lines indorsed by all the
entente allies. but it means the sur
render by Germany of all her ambi- !
tons, and she will need be in a very
chastened mood before she accepts"
Greatest Since Lincoln.
The Evening Star again lauds Mr.. |
Wilson as the greatest American pres