The state herald., 1916-12-29

rights and privileges of weak peoples
and small states as secure against az.
gression or denial In the future as the
rights and privileges Of the great and
powerful states now at war. Each
wishes itself to be made secure In the
future, along with all other nations
and peoples, against the recurrence Of
wars like this and against aggression
OF selfish Interference Of any kind.
Each would be jealous OF the
formation Of any more rival leagues
to preserve an uncertain balance Of
power amidst multiplying 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 1t necessary
first to settle the issues of the pres
ent war upon terms which will GER
tainly safeguard the Independence, the
territorial integrity and the political
and commercial freedom OF the ma
ti0ns involved.
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 vitally and as
directly interested as the governments
now at war. Their interest, moreover,
In the means to be adopted to relieve
the smaller ana weaker peoples Of the
world Of the peril OF wrong and vio-
lence Is as quick and ardent as that
OF any other people or government.
They stand ready, and even eager. to
cooperate in the accomplishment Of
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 liberty to
suggest; but the President does feel
that It is his right and his duty to
point out their intimate interests In
its conclusion, lest 1t should presently
be too late to accomplish the greater
things which lie beyond Its conclusion.
lest the situation Of neutral nations,
now exceedingly hard to endure. be
rendered altogether intolerable, and
lest. more than all. an injury be done
civilization itself which can never be
atoned for or repaired.
THE President therefore feels alto
gether justified In suggesting an i'm
mediate opportunity for q comparison
Of views as to the terms which must
precede those ultimate Arrangements
for the peace Of the world. which all
L., xuk, hA
tions As well as those at war are
ready to play their full. responsible
part.
IF the contest must continue to
proceed toward underlined ends BY
slow attrition until the one group OF
belligerents or the other Is exhausted.
II million after million OF human lives
must continue to be offered up until
on the one side or the other there are
NO more to offer, II 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.
"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 M.
tion In the civilized world can be said
In truth to stand out to Its influence
or to be safe against It's disturbing
effects. And yet the concrete objects
for which II is being waged have
never been definitely stated.
"The leaders OF the several bcllIger.
ents have, rs has been said, stated
those objects In general terms. But.
stated In general terms. they seem
the same on both sides. Never yet
have the authoritative spokesmen Of
either side ayowed the precise objects
which would, II attained. satisfy them
and their people that the war had
been fought out. The world has been
left to conjecture what definitive re-
suits. what actual exchange o. guar.
antics, what political or territorial
changes or readjustments. what stage
OF military success. even. would bring
the war to an end.
1T may be that peace is nearer than
we know; that tho terms which the
belligerents on the one side and on
the other would deem II necessary to
Insist upon are not 80 irreconcilablc
as some have feared; that an inter
change Of views would clear the way
At least for conference and make the
permanent concord OF the nations q
hope OF tho immediate future. n con.
cert Of nations Immediately prsc-
tlcable.
The President In not proposing
peace; he is not even offering media.
tion. lie is merely proposing that
soundinEs be taken In order that we
may learn. the neutral nations with
tho belli6ercnt, how near tho haven
OF peace may bc for which all man.
kind longs with nm intense and IN.
crcasinE longing.
He believes that tho spirit In
which he speaks and tho objects
which he seeks will be understood by
all concerned. and he confidently
hopes for u response which will bring
new light into the affairs OF tbs
world"
Tho note To tho ent.ute vroup viii