The Washington herald., 1916-05-28
President Wilson Offers
Basis for Peace in Europe
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

cssion to say 1T. In the dealings of
nations with one another arbitrary
force must be rejected and we must
move forward to the thought of the
! modern world, the thought of which
peace is the very atmosphere. That
thought constitutes a chief part of
the passionate conviction Of America.
We believe these fundamental
things: First, that every people has
right to choose the sovereignty un-
der which they shall live Like other
nations, we have ourselves no doubt
once and again offended against
that principle when for a little while
controlled by selfish passion, as our
franker historians have been honor
able enough to admit; but II has be-
come 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 SOW
ereignty and for their territorial in
| tegrity that great and powerful ma
tions expect and insist upon. And,
third. that the world has a right to
| be free from every disturbance Of its
peace that has its origin in aggres-
sion and disregard of the rights OF
peoples and nations.
So sincerely do we believe in these
| things that 1 am sure that 1 speak
the mind and wish of the people of
America when 1 sny that the United
states is willing to become a partner
In any feasible association of nations
formed In order to realize these OBJ
Iects and make them secure against
violation.
Outlines Plan.
There is nothing that the United
States wants for itself that any other
nation has. We are willing, on the
contrary, to limit ourselves along
with them to a prescribed course OF
duty and respect for the rights OF
others which will check any selfish
passion OF our own. as it will check
any aggressive impulse of theirs.
IL Ii should ever be our privilege
to suggest or initiate n movement for
peace among the nations now at war
| I am sure that the people of the
United States would wish their gov
ernment to move along these lines
/ First, such q settlement with regard
to their own immediate interests as
the beIligerents may agree upon
We have 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 quar-
! rel Our interest Is only in peace and
Its future guarantees. Second, an uni
! yersal association of the nations to
maintain the inyiolate security of the
highways of the seas for the common
and unhindered use of all the nations
of the world, and to prevent any war
begun either contrary to treaty cove
nants or without warning and full
submission of the causes to the opin-
Ton of the world-a virtual guarantee
of territorial integrity and political
independence.
But I did not come here. let me re-
peat, to discuss a program. I came
only to avow a creed and give express
sion to the confidence I feel that the
world is even now upon the eve OF a
great contamination. when some COM
mon force will be brought into exist
ence which shall safeguard right as
the first and most fundamental inter
est Of all peoples and all govern
ments. when coercion shall be sum-
moned not to the service of political
ambition or selfish hostility. but to
the service of a common order. a
common justice. and a common peace.
God grant that the dawn of that day
Of frank dealing and Of settled peace,
concord. and cooperation may be near
at hand.
For Adequate Defense.
The peace of the United States can
be obtained and maintained only by
an adequate national defense which
we have not l hope that we have
now entered upon a path that will
lead US to the upbuilding of that de-
! fense in army and navy. Not only
to make our peace secure, but because
we as a nation shall find it difficult
to induce others to put force behind
~
hind our own peace"
This assertion by Senator Cabot
Lodge. of Massachusetts,, together
with the statement of r. G. Rhett
president of the United States Cham
Der of Commerce, that the members
of that body by a vote of go to s
declared for an immediate national
defense which will include a navy
that will be adequate to guard both
the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the
United States, created a furore.
Both speakers were expected to
discuss the future program of the
League to Enforce Peace and the sud
den turn to national defense surprised
the delegates.
Senator Lodge declared that the
United States has led the world in
the matter of arbitration, but now
the limit of arbitration has been
reached and the only possible next
step is that proposed by the league
TO put behind international peace
force.
Business Backs League.
Mr.. Rhett told the delegates that
the members of the United States
Chamber Of Commerce by a referen-
dunn had gone on record by more
than a two-thirds majority as in
dorsing the league.
President A. Lawrence Lowell, OF
Harvard University. declared that the
peoples of the world now have the
idea that nations should go to. war
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