um, frankly and
unequivocally.

Germany asserts that she is waging a defensive war. She must tell the
world what she is defending. That she has never been willing to do.

Germany asserts that she is victorious thus far. She must say what she
thinks her "victories" mean, and what they entitle her to claim and
keep.

In brief, Germany must lay her cards on the table. If she wants
peace--and certainly she needs it,--she must be willing to say what she
means by it.

2. The second condition precedent to any discussion of peace terms with
Germany has been clearly defined by President Wilson in his reply to the
note issued by His Holiness Pope Benedict.

That reply was thoroughly sympathetic and conciliatory. Among its frank
and strong paragraphs there was one which must be particularly noted:

"We cannot take the word of the present rulers of Germany as a guarantee
of anything that is to endure unless explicitly supported by such
conclusive evidence of the will and purpose of the German people
themselves as the other peoples of the world would be justified in
accepting. Without such guarantees treaties of settlement, agreements
for disarmament, covenants to set up arbitration in the place of force,
territorial adjustments, reconstitutions of small nations, if made with
the German Government, no man, no nation, could now depend on."

Understand--this is not a flat refusal to treat with the House of
Hohenzollern in any circumstances, which the more rabid and less
thoughtful newspapers of England have urged. It is merely a statement
that the rulers of Germany must have behind them a sufficient and
explicit mandate and guarantee of the people of Germany before we can
trust them.

We do not presume to interfere in the internal affairs of the German
Empire. The people of that empire have a right to say how they shall be
ruled. If they like the Hohenzollerns, good!

All that we ask is some clear, democratic guarantee of the German people
behind the word of its chosen Government.

Does this mean a complete reformation of the German Empire, which in
effect now consists of twenty-two hereditary kings, princes, dukes, and
grand dukes, with the Kaiser at the head? Does it mean a constitutional
remoulding of the empire?

That would be a long process. The people of Germany are well
disciplined. There is small prospect of a revolution in that country
unless war compels it.

What is it that we are pledged by President Wilson'