The Daily News. FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 1917. WHAT DOES WILSON MEAN?

Taranaki Daily News, 26 January 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 1917. WHAT DOES WILSON MEAN?

Tno latest contribution of Frcsidcut Wilson to the veaeo question has caused ouite a stir amongst the belligerent lat'ons, and there is considerable spccniirion as to what he really means, j especially in connection with the phrase "j-u.ee without victory." Those u-l'O i are inclined to probe the speech with ! !hi object of arriving at its true bcar- | 'J.g.? on the peace.problem will do wc: i| to treat tlie pronouncements as an acaI domic exercise, so carried out as to permit of the American President ]io-> ;r.g as a philosopher who clothes his ideas so as to skilfully hide their uakslress, and leave them as abstract pi-o'o-■i 1.-ms that can be' turned and twisted I Mt will. It is advisable to note that S some sort of i.n explanation has lvn \ t'lcmed necessary, and we arc now toid j idat the peaco without victory is intended to be a replica of what happened at the close of the American civil war, when the military power of the South was crushed, but there were no conqueror's terms. Such a statement is but adding insult to injury, for it is preposterous to suppose that there can pusibly bo the slightest analogy Between the two cases. Mr. Bonar La>v, in his reply, appearing in this mornJ ing's cables, goes to the root of the matI i\r with that directness and incisiveI hss which characterises all his importM iti.t utterances. He completely cuts tUti I ground from beneath Dr. Wilson's feci,, ■ i;nd again emphasises the fact that i; 8 \z the world's future peace for which the 1 Allies are fighting and mean to obtain, I a peace that cannot be secured until I Prussian militarism is crushed. An- | parcntly President, Wilson has lte.-ii I traking a supreme effort to trim his I sails so that the opposing belligerents I can be induced to sail on his vessel of I j-.iace. Wo ari inclined to agree with i.uv Auckland contemporary as to there. mii. being a Gorman or pro-Gorman in tl.e world who will not read President Wilson's address with sinister appreciation, and that the Allies can now realise how well founded were Mr.'tieriird's utterances at Hamburg, \vhen he I dtclared that- the relations between'

Germany and the United States hu.l never been better. But the question arises as to what really is the President's aim. Li he playing Germany's fame?.. Is lie keeping strictly nentnl so as not to entangle America and vio It-it, the Monroe fetish! Or is lie deMi'i.ns of doing a good turn for the allies? These are questions on which Dr. Wilson's attitude in the past may iMow some light. He -was dumb when Geimany commenced a war she had d:lilciatcly planned by tearing up a li-uity that bore her signature, and 01; the strength of which the north-caste-n f. m.tier of France was practically unfortified. The Belgians appealed to him in vain. The Lnsitania certainly moved him to the writing of meaningless NVtes, hut only because a few Americans were murdered. In our terrible.

-tars he cheerfully endured the sight of Allied countries being ravaged by barbarian hordes and overwhelmed by superior armies. It is when the turn of the tide has set in that he becomes e!.cucnt and pathetic. 'France may be humiliated anl he is silent; Belgium nif.y have a resentment and he sa;s nothing; Russia, Serbia, Italy, may have bitter memories and he is a stoic; but that Germany should drink of the cup she has filled to the brim for others he cannot endure. One point is very clear, 'namely, the President is not. m.ived by the claims of humanitv. Whet wire-pulling been adopted will probably never be known, but it is safe to e-sume that President Wilson has made no more serious blunder in the whole of his career than the speech he delivered to the Senate on the peace question. The Allies are. firm in their joint purpose and determination and will not swerve therefrom.