The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-05-29

would be our duty to take. OF the
policies and practices against which
we would feel bound TO use all our
moral and economic strength and in
certain circumstances even our ply
steal strength also, our own contri-
button TO the counsel which might
have averted the struggle would
have been considered worth weigh
ing and regarding.
And the lesson which the shock Of
being taken by surprise IN a matter
so deeply vital 10 all the nations Of
the world has made poignantly clear
Is. that the peace Of the world must
henceforth depend upon new and
more wholesome diplomacy. Only
when the great nations OF the world
have reached some sort OF agree
ment as TO what they hold 10 be fun
damental TO their common interest.
and as 10 some feasible method or
acting in concert when any nation
or group of nations seeks TO distur b
those fundamental things. can We
feel that civilization IL at least In a
way Of justifying its existence and
claiming TO be finally established. IL
is clear that nations must In me
future be governed by the same high
code OF honor that we demand OF IN
diyiduals.
we must. indeed. in the very same
breath with which We aVow this con-
viction admit that we have ourselves
upon occasion in the past been Of
tenders against the Law Of diplomacy
which we thus forecast. but our con-
viction IL not the less clear, but
rather the more clear. on that ac-
count. IL this war has accomplished
nothing else for the benefit OF the
world. IL has ar lesst disclosed =
great moral necessity and set for
ward the thinking OF the statesmen
OF the world by whole age.
Repeated utterances Of the lead
ing statesmen OF most Of the great
nations now engaged In war have
made II plain that their thought mas
come to this. that the principle Of
public right must henceforth take
precedence over the individual p In :
terests OF particular nations. and
that the nations 81 the world must
in some way band themselves to-
gether to see that that right pre-
walls as against any sort Of selfish
aggression; that henceforth alliance
must not be set UP against alliance
understanding against understand
ing, but that there must be a COM
mon agreement for a common oh
ject. and that at the heart OF that
common object must lie the inviola-
bic rights OF peoples and of man
kind.
The nations OF the worId have be-
come each others eighboT-. II is to
their interest thai they should un-
derstand each other, IL IL imperative
that they should agree 10 cooperate
in common cause, and that they
should so act that the guiding prtn-
NlHit Oh Nndl common cause Snail De
evenhanded and impartial Justice.
This Is undoubtedly the thought OF
America This is what we ourselves
Will say when there comes proper
occasion TO say 1t. In the dealings
OF nations with one another arm
uary force must be rejected and We
must move forward TO the thought
Of the modern world. the thought Of
which peace IL the very atmosphere.
That thought constitutes a chief part
of the passionate convictions Of
America
We believe these Fundamental
things First, that every people mas
a right To chose the sovereignty un-
der which they shall live Like other
nations. we have ourselves no dyubt
once and again offended against that
principle when for a little while con-
trolled by selfish passion, a. our
franker historians have been honor
able enough To admit; but IL has be-
come more and more our rule OF III,
and action Second. that the SINAI
states OF the world have "a right u
enjoy the same respect for their SOW
ereignty and for their territorial in
tions expect and insist upon. And
third. that the world mas a right &
be free from every disturbance 81
| It's peace that has its origin In AK
gression and disregard OF the right
| Of peoples and nations.
SO sincerely do We believe In thes
| things that ] am sure that I speal
| the mind and wish Of the people o
America when 1 say that the Unite,
| States Is willing u become a partne
| In any feasible association OF nation
| formed in order 10 realize these Oh
| Jects and make them secure agalns
| violation.