The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-01-19
FROM EDITORIAL COLUMNS
Unconditional Victory

To speak of conditional surrender is to speak of some
thing that surrender at ALL 1t acknowledgment of
stalemate of mutual defeat of situation in which neither
warning power achieve decisive victory Sen Burton
Wheeler may have intended such acknowledgment
when he broadcast his attack against the Allied
policy Germany He has since denied that
he advocated negotiated But there be little
doubt to the of Secretary Stes assertion that
the senator's remarks Twill be understood in Germany and in
Japan meaning that these countries resist long enough
kill enough American soldiers, the will of the Amer
people achieve complete victory will be broken and
La negotiated peace be secured"
Senator Wheeler announced his terms for Ger
many they will promote the conditional
surrender he seeks He insists for example, that the German
people SHOULD rid of Hitler Goebbes and Hmmler But
this bound to be altogether unsatisfactory to these worthless
hold absolute dominion Germany and will eXpend
last to protect themselves from punishment We
could have more quickly on still less exacng terms
Such would however, that American lives would
wives and mothers for whom the senator to speak
would be called upon sacrifice still another generation of
their husbands and resist aggression in the future
Unconditional surrender carries with implication of
ensavement We take to simply what Prime Minister
Churchill said it means-"no bargaining with the enemy.
The term employed today IN the sense that 1t was employed
General Grant when he asked for armsce by Gen
Bucner Fort Doneson mo terms except
dtiona immediate be accepted General
Buckner hereupon surrendered he
Internationally defeated Just such surrender must
be wresd from the Germans because just such defeat must
be inflicted them are to be secure against another
attempt at conquest by them.
Senator Wheeler might proftably read the account, in
Marshal Fochs words-recorded by his aide de camp
Maj Charles Bugnet in the volume Foch speaksof the
marshas interview with the German emssaries seeking an
armistice at Rethondes on November 8, 1918:
I asked them: "Who your" They gave their
names. 'Have you any papers? We must examine
them" Then asked them what do you want?"
eve wish to know your proposals"
II have proposals to make"
eve would like to know upon what conditions
armistice would be granted
II have conditions to give you"
Erzberger wished to read paper-President
Wilson's note-but stopped him. do you wish to ask
for armstce? If say so.'
eve ask for armistice"
Good"
1t u.s. to be sure fundamental policy of uncond-
ona surrender that the Allied should
impose upon Germans when the
And is here that of policy appears to exist
do not to understanding with allies the
kind of situation intend promote Germany
Germans have laid down their shall lose the
uny to capitalize victory Unconditional
merely the prerequisite of this opportunity at
expression of the indignation of mankind
a condition for the recreation of orderly world
neither brutal" Senator Wheeler called it,
able unjust Indeed would establish the only condition
under which could afford to deal generously the
mans.-Washington Post, January 10, 1915. It