Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-12-24
WHAT ARE YOU
FIGHTING F0R?'
That Is Burning Question
U. S. Wants Belliger-
ents to Answer.
PREMIERS' SPEECHES VAGUE
Lloyd-George and BRAND
Were "Indefinite," Of
ficials Declare.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23.-Informa
ions to their exact meaning In seeking
Just and permanent peace" is the
whole purpose OF the note addressed 10
all the helligerents by President Will
son. The United States desires a full.
practical and detailed statement from
each Of the governments addressed
This outline and what follows was
stated officially today for the admin
istartion
This government does not know ana
feels that it has been given no real
means of knowing what terms would
be required by each of the belligcr-
ents to make peace. 1t regards the
recent speeches Of the leading states
men in all countries as vague and un-
defined and sees nothing in them that
would enable a conference to Jraw ub
treaty. All speak of the rights of
small nations. the repugnance of con-
quest and the guarantees Of perma-
rent peace, but no one nation has vet
gone into what ii means by those
phrases IN "a way that the government
Ci the United States can understand.
Recent press comment has beer
taken to enhance that vaoucness.
France. for instance. has not disc 'osed
II what she considers a Just peace
means the evacuation of her northern
province or in addition To that the
restoration of Alsace Lorraine or IL
In addition to both tnosc claims she
expects money indemnity for the
damage Of invasion or beyond that If
sne mas an actual program for doing
away with so-called German militar-
ism.
Want tho Basis.
In short, the United States asks
what would she accept today as the
basis of peace.
Similar issues apply to all the bel
Ngerent countries in merely n varying
form. What President Wilson wants
Is their details. As the largest neutral
fucing grave problems and as the
friend Of al parties concerned. the
United states feels most earnestly
that IL Is entitled to know these facts.
Mess some Of rhe groups lays down
its actual terms there will be no basis
FOR negotiation and no possibility of
peace until the world is bed white,
officials declare.
Give Il Starting Place.
There is not the slightest oxpecta-
tion here that the terms laid down Will
he recOnciliahle at first. 1t Is known
that some OF the nations viii demand
what i'm actuality is impossible
Nevertheless, the naming Of these
terms viii afford basis Of negotia-
tion, q starting place from which the
conflicting forces can converge. Nor
is any Embarrassment seen to any Of
the nations in naming such terms. II
is understood in advance that they are
apt 10 fluctuate with the miiitarv
changes and are not permanently
binding under now conditions What
ever any nation feels must he Included
H. its terms for moral reasons can also
be added 10 the terms without embar-
rassment, it is said.
Open to Suggestion.
As to permanent guarantees II was
officially declared that the United
States stands ready to enter any kind
Of international agreement that NAV
seem most desirable to the nations.
whether permanent peace is to be sc
cured by force, II necessary, or by law.
g'he country is not committed to any
one plan and President Wilson is ell
tirely open to SUGGESTIONS. Ii is the
administration view that the country
can be committed to an abandonment
of the policy of isolation muca as
President Monroe committed Il to the
Monroe doctrine without senate ac-
ton. In the plans so far contemplated.
however. il IS probable the nation
would hc bound by treaty agreements