Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1916-06-01
WILSON OUTLINES
PEACE SUGGESTIONS
u. s. is EAGER TO TAKE PART,
BUT ASKS FOR NOTHING
MATERIAL.
ONLY FREEDOM Of Tie SEAS
Settle Forever Contention Which Has
Been Keynote Of All Diplomatic Dis.
cussions With Germany and Great
Brltain.-Want Virtual Guarantee of
Territorial Integrity and Political
Independence.


Territorial Integrity and Political
Independence.
hington.-President Wilson de-
ciared here before the League to En-
force Peace. that the United States
was ready TO join in any feasible as
sociation OF nations to preserve the
peace of the world against political
ambition and selfish hostility" and In
service of "a common order, a COM
mon justice, and a common peace"
He expressed the hope that the
terms of peace which end the war
would include such an arrangement.
Absolute Freedom Of the Seas.
Outlining suggestions for peace,
which the President said he hoped
the United States would make if it
had opportunity to do so, he included
provision for absolute freedom of the
neas, 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 indie
pendence
Officials interpreted the Presidents
address as preliminary feeler for
peace in Europe. He outlined the
conditions on which the United States
would move If IL made a formal med
iatory offer with the idea, 1t was un-
derstood, OF learning how such sug-
gestions would be received abroad.
Il am sure" said the President,
80
would wish their government to move
along these lines:
Peace Only, and Its Future Guaran-
tees,
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 present
quarrel. Our interests is only in
peace, and its future guarantees.
Universal Association of Nations.
Second, an universal association
OF the nations to maintain the invio-
late security 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
contrary to treaty covenants or with.
out warning and full submission of
the causes to the opinion OF the
world-a virtual guarantee of terri
torial integrity and political indie.
pendence."
The Fundamentals of Lasting Peace.
ThA
peace, President Wilson said he be-
lieved were:
First, that every people has
right to chose the sovereignty under
which they shall live Like other
Nations" the President said. I'VE
have ourselves no doubt once and
again offended against that principle
which for little while controlled by
selfish passion, as our franker histor.
ians have been honorable enough to
admit; but 1t has become 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
right to be free from every disturb.
ance of its peace and that it's origin
In aggression and disregard of the
rights of people and nations"
Principle Of Public Right Must Take
Precedence.
''If this war has accomplished moth
ing else for the benefit OF the world"
he said. 'it has at least disclosed
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
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 Ma.
tions, and that the Nations of the
world must in some. way band them
selves together to see that right pre-
walls as against any sore OF selfish ag-
gression.
lnVioIable Rights Of Mankind.
That henceforth all alliance must
not be set up against alliance. under
standing against understanding, but
that there must be a 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 mankind.
United States Eager to Participate.
so sincerely do we believe in these
things" said the President in conclu.
sion, that l am sure that speak the
mind and wish Of the people of Amer.
lea when say that the United States
is willing to become partner in any
feasible association of Nations form
ed in order to realize these objects
and make them secure against viola
tion,"