The Elbert County tribune., 1916-06-02

WhsOn declared mere SATURDAY uiBut |
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 anu
selfish hostility and In service of "a
common order, a common justice and
a common peace" lie expressed the
hope that the terms of peace whicn
end the present war would include
such an agreement.
Outlining suggestions for peace.
which the President said he hoped the
United States would make II 1t 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 Presidents
address as a preliminary feeler for
ace in Europe. He outlined the
| conditions on which the United
States would move II It made n for
NAL mediatory offer with the idea 1t
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 no
| sense or degree parties to the pres
ent quarrel. Our interest is only in
peace and its future guarantees.
Second, universal association of
nations to maintain the inviolate Sc
| curity of the highway of the seas for
| the common and unhindered use of
| all the nations of the world and to
! 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
I dSvtrtual guarantee of territorial in
tegrity and political independence"
| The fundamentals of lasting
| peace, President Wilson said he be-
lieved we're:
First, that every people has 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 that
prin ciple when for a little while con-
| trolled by selfish passion. as our
franker historians have been honor
able enough to admit; but 1t 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 sovereignty
and for their territorial integrity that
great and powerful nations expect
and insist upon.
And, third. that the world has a
right to be free from every disturb
sDce OF 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
| the peace OF the world must hence
forth depend upon a 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 whole age Repeat
| ed utterances of the leading states
rem of most of the great nations now
engaged in war have made It plain
thst 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 wav band them
| selves together to see that that right
| prevails against any sort OF selfish
aggression: that henceforth alliance
ust not be set up against alliance,
| but there must be a common agree
ment for a common object. and that
at the heart OF that common object
rust lie the inviola BILE rights OF peo-
pies and OF mankind.
SO 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 anv feasible association of nations
| formed in order to realize these OBJ
jects and make them secure against
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 common order.
common justice and a common
peace"
When the invitation to be here to-
night came to me- he said, II was
glad to accept it-not because 1t Of
cred me an opportunity to discuss