Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-30
NATIONS
SHOULD BIND SELVES
To ENFORCE RIGHT
Absolute Freedom of the Seas
He Says, Has Been the Key
note of Every Diplomatic
Contention

| WASHINGTON, May 27.-Fresident
Wilson declared here TONIGHT before the
league 70 enforce peace that the Unit
ed States was ready to join in any feast
bic association of nations to preserve
the peace of the world against 'politi-
cal ambition and selfish hostility and
in service of "a common order, a COM
mon justice and a common peace" He
expressed the hope that the terms OF
peace which end the war would include
such an agreement
Outlining suggestions for peace which
the president said he hoped the United
States would make IL IL had opportu-
nifty to do so. he included provision for
absolute freedom of the seas, a conten-
ton which has been the keystone of all
the diplomatic discussions with Ger
many and Great Britain; and virtual
guarantees OF territorial integrity and
political independence.
OnciaIs interpreted the presidents
address as being a preliminary "feeler"
for peace in Europe. He outlined the
conditions on which the United States
would move II IL makes a formal media
tory ofrer. with the idea, 1t was under
stood. OF learning how such suggestions
would be received abroad.
AMERICA ASKS NOTHING.
OF am sure" said the president, that
the people of the United States would
wish their government to move along
these lines:
First. such a settlement with regard
TO their own immediate interests as the
beIligerents may agree upon. We nave
nothing material of any kind to ask for
ourselves and are quite aware that we
are in no sense or degree parties TO the
present quarrel. Our interest is only
in peace and its future guarantees.
Second An universal association OF
the nations to maintain the inviolate
security of the highway of the seas Tor
IN. common and unhindered use of all
the nations of the world and to prevent
any war begun either contrary TO
treaty covenants or without warning
and full submission Of the causes 10
the opinion of the world a virtual
guarantee Of territorial integrity ana po-
Iitical independence"
The fundamentals Of lasting peace
President Wilson said he believed We're:
First that every people has right
to choose the sovereignty under which
they shall live. Like other nations,
the president said, I'VE have ourselves
no doubt once and again offended against
that principle. for little while con-
troIled by selfish passion, as our franker
historians have been honorable enough
TO admit; but II has become more and
more our rule of life and action.
Second. that the small states of the
world have a right to enjoy the same
respect for their sovereignty and Tor
their territorial integrity that great and
powerful nations expect and insist upon.
And, third, that the world has
right to be free from every disturb
ance of it's peace that has Its origin in
aggression and disregard OF the rights
of peoples and nations.
The. outstanding lesson of the world
war, the president said. had been that
the peace of the world must henceforth
depend upon "a new and more whole
some diplomacy
NECESSARY FOR THINKING.
eff this war has accomplished moth
ing else for the benefit of the world,
he said, at has at least disclosed a
great moral necessity and set forward
the thinking of the statesmen of the
world by a whole age. Repeated ut
terances of the leading statesmen Of
most of the great nations now engag-
ed in war have made it plain that
their thought has come to this, that
| the principle of the public right must
henceforth take precedence over the in
dividuaI interests of particular nations,
and that the nations of the world must
| in some way band themselves togeth-
er to see that right prevails as against
/ henceforth alliance must not be set
I'D against alliance. understanding
/ against understanding, but that there
must be a common agreement for a
common object and that at the heart
of that common object must lie the
inviolable rights Of peoples and of man
kind"
$50 sincerely do we believe in these
things" said the president in con-
clusion, "that I am sure that 1 speak
the mind and wish of the people of
America when I say that the United
States is willing to become a partner in
any feasible association of nations
I formed in order to realize these OBJ
jects and make them secure against
violation"
| The president told his hearers he had
nos come to discuss a program, but only
u avcw a creed and give expression to
/ the confidence that the world was ap-
preaching a day when some common
force would be created for 'the service
OF a common order, a common justice
/ ana a common peace"