Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1916-12-28
WILSON ASKS NATIONS At
WAR To OUTLINE TERMS
WHICH WOULD END WAR

at war. Each wishes itself to be made
secure in the future along with all
other nations and peoples, against the
recurrence of wars like this and
against aggression of selfish interfer-
ence OF any kind Each would be
jealous of the formation of any more
rival leagues to preserve an uncer-
tain balance of power amidst multi
lying suspicions;' but each is ready
to consider the formation OF a league
OF nations to insure peace ar- Justice
throughout the world. Before that final
step can be taken, however. each
deems it necessary first to settle the
issues Of the present war upon terms
which will certainly safeguard the in
dependence. the territorial integrity
and the political and commercial free
dom of the nations involved
v. S. vitality Interested.
IN the measure TO be taken to Sc
cure the future peace of the world the
people and the Government of the
United States are as vitally Interested
as the Governments now at war.
Their interests, moreover in the
means to be adopted to relieve the
smaller and weaker people OF the
world OF the peril Of wrong and vio-
lence is as quick and ardent as that
or any other people or Government.
They stand really. and even eager. TO
cooperate in the accomplishment of
these ends, when the war Is over. with
every influence and resource at their
command But the war must first be
concluded. The terms upon which il
Is to be concluded they are not at lib
erty to suggest; but the President does
feel that it is right and his duty to
point out their intimate interest in its
conclusion. lest it should presently be
too late to acmomplish the greater
things which lie beyond its conclu-
sion, lest the situation of neutral ma
tions. now exceedingly hard to en-
du be rendered altogether intoler-
able, and lest, more than all, an in
jury be done civilization itself which
can never be atoned for or repaired.
The President therefore feels al
together justified in suggesting an i'm
mediate opportunity for a comparison
of views as to the terms which must
ARRANGEMENTS
for the peace of the world, which all
desire and in which the neutral ma
tions as well as those at war are ready
to play their full responsible part. II
the contest must continue to proceed
towards underlined ends by slow attri-
ton until the one group OF belliger.
ents or the other is exhausted, if mil
lion after million of human lives must
continue to be offered up until on the
one side or the other there are no
more to offer If resentments must be
kindled that can never cool and des-
pairs engendered from which there
can be no recovery, hopes of peace
and OF the willing concert Of free
peoples will be rendered vain and idle.
The life OF the entire world has
been profoundly affected. Every part
of the great family OF mankind has
felt the burden and terror Of this un-
precedented contest of arms. No ma
ton in the civilized world can be said
in truth to stand outside it's influence
or to be safe against its disturbing
effects. And yet the concrete objects
for which 1t is being waged have
never been definitely stated.
The leaders of the several bellig.
erents have, as has been said. stated
those objects in general terms. But
stated in general terms they seem the
same on both sides. Never yet have
the authoritative spokesman OF either
side avowed the precise objects which
would if attained. satisfy them and
their people that the war had been
fought out. The world has been left
TO conjecture what definite results,
what actual exchange OF guarantees,
what political or territorial changes
or readjustments, what stage OF mil
tary success ever would bring the war
to an end.
ut may be that peace is nearer than
we know: that the terms which the
belligcrents on the one side and on
the other would deem it necessary to
insist upon are not so irreconcilable
as some have feared; that an inter
change OF views would clear the way
at least for conference and make the
permanent concord of the nations |
hope for the immediate future. n con-
cert of nations Immediately practica-
bic
The President is not proposing
peace; he is not even offering media
tion lie is merely proposing that
soundings be taken i'm order that we
may learn the neutral nations with
tie belligerents, how near the haven
OF peace may be for which all mankind
longs with an intense and increasing
longing. He believes that the spirit
in which he speaks and the objects
which he seeks will be understood by
all concerned and he confidently hopes
for response which will bring a new
light into the affairs OF the world"
The note to the Entente group will
be delivered to Great Britain, France,
Italy, Japan, Russia. Belgium, Monte
negro. Portugal. Rumsnia and Serbia
That to the Central Allies will be de-
livered to Germany. Austria Hungary
Turkey and Bulgaria.
1t is being delivered to all neutral
governments for their information.