The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-12-31
TIE PRESIDENT ASKS TERMS

IINhlUi Il NJ ltnhl mas Aah'Al 'Ai' 80
definite step toward ascertaining the
terms upon which the b-iligcrent ma
tions will consider peace He has taken
II in manner TO which no bclligerent
can well offer objections.
The President makes it plain that
he is not proposing peace, and that
"hc is not even Offering mediation W
lie merely asks that the belligerents
authoritatively state the precise OBJ
jccts which would If attained. satisfy
them and their people that the war
had been fought out To this end
he speaks as the representative of a
neutral nation whose interests have
been most seriously affected by the
war and whose concern for its early
conclusion arises out Of manifest ne
cessity to determine how to safeguard
those interests if the war is to con
tnuc'
In other words he requests each Of
the bclligerents to declare precisely,
from its own point OF view, what the
war is about and under what condi-
tions it would be- willing to have the
war ended.
As for future guarantees of the peace
of the world the president pledges the
co operation of the United States, but
this war must be concluded before
steps can be taken TO prevent future
wars. II is ON that ground that he
seeks information US to the terms up
on which each bclligercnt would be
prepared to consider peace.
In this connection the President
points out that the responsible states.
men of the various bclligcrcnts have
hitherto discussed the objects OF the
war only in general terms. and stated
In general terms they seem the same
on both sides" What he seeks is a
specific definition. As be- says
The life of the entire world has
O'tu plbloNllhlA di''N'Hs A-''lN
Eart of the great family OF man
kind has felt the burden and ter
ror of this unprecedented contest
Of arms. 30 nation in the civil
lied world ran be said in truth to
stand outside its influence or be-
safe against its disturbing effects.
And yet the concrete objects for
which it is being vagcd have new
cr definitely been stated
This Is true. nor have the concrete
terms upon which any bclligcrcnt
would conclude peace, ever been stated.
Even MIR Lloyd Georges complete re
stituuou. fun rcparation and cnectual
guarantees is riddle unless IL is to
be interpreted as the language of a
conqucror whose adversary is pros
tratc.
Certainly after two years four
months and twenty days of the most
devastating war known to human his
lOlNt neutral kNAtIUlutUl~ AduuNA w
ACCUSED of an Interior purpose IL they
politely ask what it Is all about and
on what terms il could be ended. Nor
is it unfricndly for the most powerful
or all the neutral governments To sug
gcst AN immediate opportunity for a
comparison of views as to the terms
which must prcccdo those ultimate ar
ranrcmcnts for the peace of the world
which all desire and in which the
neutral nations as well as those al war
are ready to play their full responsible
part"
The Ardmorcit, gives its readers
this morning the demands the allies
make ON Germany That the presi
dent has influenced the allies in stat.
ing their terms. there is hardly any
question That Europe is ON the way
toward peace is almost certain, vhcth,
or Germany accepts Ih, terms offered
or not