Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-01-06
0utspoken Declaration of Al
lied Aims at Present Time
Believed Necessary.
POWERS EXPECTED TO
SANCTION STATEMENT
All Subjects Treated by Lloyd
George Were Considered at War
Council in Paris.

Premier Lloyd Georges address to
the British trade unions yesterday on
Great Britain's war aims created a pro-
found impression in official circles in
Washington
That the address was not unexpected
was plain. The growing anxiety ex-
hibitcd by the entente chaneelleries
since the beginning of the Brest
Litovsk peace conference, and the
openly expressed belief that some steps
must be taken to counte,act the in
sIdIous attempts of the German dele
gates to misrepresent the aims of their
enemies, had convinced Washington
officials that there soon must come from
some authoritative source a clear. out
spoken declaration of the real position
OF the powers fighting Germany
Would Have Had Mr.. Wilson Speak.
Some exchanges that have taken place
between the United States and her CO.
oeliigerents recently had pointed to a de-
sire on the part of some of the govern
ments that President Wilson again should
speak In defense of the position he had
already taken in regard to war aims The
State Department felt, however, that as
the President twice had outlined in the
most formal and public manner his be-
ilefs, Americas position had been suf1l-
ciently disclosed, for the present, at least
While 1t was intimated that the Wash
inston government had not been advised
in advance of what the British premier
was to say. it seems assured that the
aims he outlined will not lead to any diff
ferences between the powers. This is
borne out, not only by the preceding ex-
changes between the entente powers and
Washington. but also in the harmonious
proceedings of the interallied war council
In Paris, at which all Of the subjects
treated by Premier Lloyd George yester-
Clarifies Declarations.
Some officials pointed out that the
British premier had taken the repeat
ed declaration OF the italian, French
and British premiers and not only had
clarified them. but had stated them
more frankly and directly than they
had been presented before. 1T was noted
that even President Wilson's ideas were
developed more sharply than he him.
self had expressed them.
Although 1t has all the force of an
official declaration. II was pointed out
here that Lloyd Georges speech after
all could not be seized upon by the
central powers as definitely binding the
entente allies or even Great Britain to
literal acceptance of his war aims
as the basis OF peace. They might. how
ever. properly be regarded as a tenta-
tive outline of British and probably
entente allied aims which would be
broached at any peace conference at
which these powers may take part as
the groundwork upon which peace ne
gotiations might be founded.
Double Purpose Possible.
1t is believed here that Mr.. Lloyd
George had a double purpose in mind
in making his address. Only last week
the British trade unions registered
their strong insistence upon a declara-
tion of entente war aims, and the
premiers address was taken as an an
swer to that demand.
A second object which the premier
is believed to have had in mind was to
impress upon the Russian peace dele
gates the fact that the war aims of the
entente allies are more nearly in con-
sonance with their own altruistic aspi-
rations than anything which the CEN
trai powers can offer them.
Hopes to Balk Germans.
One inference drawn from the pre.
mier's address was that he still hopes
that the German negotiators at Brest-
Litoysk can be balked in their efforts
to force humiiiating peace upon Rus
sia. and in that connection it was re-
called that hints had been given in
semi official organs Of Willingness
Of the entente powers to recognize
the bolshevik government IL it acted
fairly toward the nations fighting Ger
many. 1t also was regarded as possi-
BILE that the address might suffice to
! meet the demand Of Leon Trotzky for
a statement of the entente war aims
within a ten-day period just about to
elapse, without actually committing the
powers too definitely.
One Interesting Feature.
A feature of the address which par
ticularly interested officials here was
the reference to constitutional govern
ment in Germany. While this was re-
garded as nearly in line with similar
sentiments expressed by President Will
son, 1t was suggested that an underly-
i ing purpose was to direct attention to
| the hollowness and insincerity of the
efforts being made by Chancellor Won
Hertling to convey the impression that
/ Germany already had been "democra-
tized," shown by his invitation to the
reichstag committee to submit "sug-
gestions" as to the peace negotiations
| at Brest-Litovsk. However, 1t has been
| right of that body to approve or dis
approve or in any way to have any
responsibility for the conclusion of a
peace treaty with Russia
TOTAL CLAIM IS $350,OOo.