The Colorado statesman., 1916-06-03
BASIS FOR MEDIATION
Speech Before League to Enforce
Peace Outlines What He VIII
Propose If Offer of Mediation
Is Made by America to Bel
ligerents.
Western Newspaper Union News Service.

Washington, May 30.-President
Wilson declared here Saturday night
before the League to Enforce Peace
that the United States was ready to
join in any feasible association of ma
tions to preserve the peace of the
world against political ambition and
selfish hostility" and in service Of "a
common order, common justice and
a common peace" He expressed the
hope that the terms of peace which
end the present war would include
such an agreement.
Outlining suggestions for peace,
which the President said he hoped the
United States would make if it has
opportunity to do so, he included the
provision for absolute freedom of the
seas, contention which has been the
keystone of all the diplomatic discus
sions with Germany and Great Brit
ain, and virtual guarantees of terri
torial integrity and political independ-
ence.
Officials interpreted the President s
address as a preliminary feeler for
reace in Europe. He outlined the
States would move If it made a for
NAL mediatory offer with the idea, it
was understood, of learning how
such suggestions would be received
abroad.
Outlines Peace Proposal.
81 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 re-
gard to their own immediate inter
ests as the belligerents may agree
upon. We have nothing material OF
any kind to ask for ourselves, and
are quite aware that we are in nc
sense or degree parties to the pres
| ent quarrel. Our interest is only in
peace and its future guarantees.
Second, a universal association oi
nations to maintain the inviolate Sc
curity of the highway of the seas foI
the common and unhindered use OF
all the nations of the world and tc
| prevent any war begun either con
| trary to treaty covenants or without
warning and full submission of the
causes to the opinion of the world
| virtual guarantee of territorial in
tegrity and political independence"
The fundamentals of lastinf
peace, President Wilson said he be
lieved we're:
First, that every people has a right
| to choose the sovereign under which
they shall live.
Same Liberty for All Nations.
Like other nations" the President
said, I'VE have ourselves no doubt
once and again offended against thai
principle when for little while con
trolled by selfish passion, as ouI
| franker historians have been honor
able enough to admit but it has be
come more and more our rule of life
and action.
Second, that the small states oi
the world have a right to enjoy the
same respect for their sovereignty
and for their territorial integrity that
great and powerful nations expect
and insist upon.
"And, third. that the world has q
right 70 be free from every disturb
ance nf its peace that has its origin
in aggression and disregard of the
rights of people and nations"
The outstanding lesson of the world
war, the President said, had been that
|
forth depend upon new and more
wholesome diplomacy"
IF this war has accomplished moth.
ing else for the benefit of the world.
said he, 'it has at least disclosed a
great moral necessity and set for
ward the thinking of the statesmen
of the world by a whole age. Repeat.
| ed utterances of the leading states
men of most of the great nations now
| engaged in war have made it plain
that their thought has come to this ::
| That the principle of public right
must henceforth take precedence over
the individual interests of particular
nations. and that the nations of the
world must in some way band them
selves together to see that that right
prevails against any sort of selfish
aggression; that henceforth alliance
must not be set up against alliance,
| but there must be common agree
ment for a common object, and that
at the heart of that common object
must lie the inviolable rights of peo-
pies and of mankind
$50 sincerely do we believe in these
things" said the President in con-
clusion, that am sure that speak
the mind and wish of the people of
America when ! say that the United
States is willing to become a partner
in any feasible association of nations
formed in order to realize these OBJ,
jects and make them secure against
| a violation"
The P. .esident told his hearers he
had not come to discuss a program
but only to avow a creed and give
expression to the confidence that the
world was approaching a day when
some common force would be created
for "the service of a common order.
peace"
when the invitation to be here to-
night came to me- he said, 81 was
glad to accept it-not because it Of
cred me an opportunity to discuss
the program of the league-that you