Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-12-21
PRESIDENT WILSON is
SENDING PEACE APPEAL
TO WARRING NATIONS

ANAShNt o4 any hluu. fdcns would De
jealous of the formation of any more
rival leagues to preserve an uncer-
tain balance of power amidst multi
plying suspicious, but each is ready
to consider the formation of league
of nations to insure peace and Justice
throughout the world. Before that
final step can be taken, however, each
deems it necessary first to settle the
issues of the present war upon terms
which will certainly safeguard the in
dependence, the territorial integrity
and the political and commercial free
dom of the nations involved.
United States Vitally Concerned.
In the measures to be taken to Sc
cure the future peace of the world the
people and government OF the United
States are as vitality and as directly
interested as the governments now at
war. Their interest, moreover, in the
means to be adopted to relieve the
smaller and weaker peoples of the
world of the peril of wrong and
violence is as quick and ardent as that
Of any other peoples or government
They stand ready, and even eager, to
cooperate in the accomplishment of
these ends, when the war is over, with
every influence and resource at their
command. But the war must first be
concluded. The terms upon which it
is to be concluded they are not at lib
erty to suggest, but the president
does feel that it is his right and his
duty to point out their intimate inter
ests in its conclusions, lest it should
presently be too late to accomplish
the greater things which lie beyond
its conclusion; lest the situation fof
neutral nations, now exceedingly hard
to endure, be rendered altogether IN
tolerable, and lest, more than all, an
injury be done civilization itself which
can never be atoned for or repaired.
The president, therefore, feels al
together justified in suggesting an
Immediate opportunity for a compari-
son of VIEWS as to the terms which
must precede those ultimate arrange
ments for the peace of the world
which all desire and in which the neu-
tral nations, as well as those al war,
aTe ready to play their full responsible
part. 1t The contest must continue to
proceed towards underlined ends by
slow attrition until the one group of
belligerents or the other is exhausted,
If million after million of human lives
must continue TO be offered up until
on the one side or the other there is
no more to offer, if resentments must
be kindled that can never cool and
despairs engendered from which there
can be no recovery, hopes of peace
and of the willing concert Of free peo-
pies will be rendered vain and idle.
Life of World Affected.
"The life of the entire world has
been profoundly affected. Every part
of the great family of mankind has
felt the burden and terror of this un-
precedented contest of arms. No ma
tion in the civilized world can be said
in truth to stand outside its Influence
or to be safe against its disturbing
effects. And yet the concrete objects
for which it is being waged have never
been definitely stated
"The leaders of the several belliger-
ents have, as has been said stated
those objects in general terms. But,
stated in general terms, they seem the
same on both sides. Never yet have
ei5, enG "uuaoli5a'iEc 5 ~ Sl,oHeslgH OF eltner
.a,,15 @dou I'?@eu ~ ene precise opJegls "hicn
,i,o4 goGru' - @t'"lneu' s"'isIS mem ana
eoaah tl,r,l Ppot'' tria' TI lne war Iau peen
loisnl Jul nc "9ri' mas peeh leII
~ vo"Jutg "haI ~ I,iNe results
',.tat "hat l;t: SJtaai eAeloiEt . oI gualohteeS,
MIA mmai p4ln.ieai t4 - teF'ItoIla' gnahgfs q
re"o uStnnth's, WIZ s,age OF ml ltafy
success ,l even "oV'd orlhS 'he war 20 an
'''t.' t.rt a., .,o. ,.... =, ,....a.. !,
,,o ina. "n%S Dg ,.i't ~, I'1Dp - ne9tr[ 'lhu
y wv i'nl,;S. Nno"n' 'n'' ~ leii"s "nlch 'he
IN H. s1Ien'o 1l on 'ue oHt Slue ana on
wy otne' "ou'u ueenl u necessary 10
t'i''s. uPoi "l' nol 80 llIe'onei'ilaple ~
al son'e nav IeaIe9 .9at an lhler'
" oh"hee "a s'e"' Wou'u e'c"r tI,e way