The Arvada enterprise., 1916-12-28


rights and privileges of the great and
powerful states now 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 interference Of any kind.
Each would be jealous of the
formation of any more rival leagues
to preserve an uncertain balance of
power amidst multiplying suspicious;
but each is ready to consider tn"
formation of league of nations TO
insure peace and justice throughout
the world
Before that final step can be taken,
however, each deems it necessary
first to settle the issues of the pres
ent war upon terms which Will Ger
tainly safeguard the Independence, the
territorial integrity and the political
and commercial freedom of the ma
tons involved
In the measures to be taken to Sc
cure the future peace of the world
the people and government of the
United States are as vitality and as
'''N''N liA''4'HNNi is INC b'N IlAll'tlA'
now at war. Their interest. moreover.
in the means to be adopted to relieve
the smaller ana weaker peoples of the
world of the peril OF wrong and VIC
lencc is as quick and ardent as that
of any other people or government.
They stand ready, 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 it is TO be
concluded they are not at liberty to
suggest; but the President does feel
that it is his right and his duty to
point out their intimate interests in
its conclusion, lest it should presently
be too late to accomplish tn" greater
things which lie beyond its conclusion,
lest the situation OF neutral nations,
now exceedingly hard to endure, be
rendered altogether ntolerablc, and
lest, more than all. an injury be done
civilization itself which can never be
atoned for or repaired.
THE President therefore feels alto.
gothCr justified in suggesting an i'm
mediate opportunity for "A comparison
of views as TO the terms which must
prcccdc those ultimate arrangements
for the peace OF the world, which all
desire and in which the neutral ma
tons as well rs those at war are
ready to play their full. responsible
part.
IF the contest must continue to
proceed toward underlined ends by
slow attrition until the one group OF
helligercnts or the other is exhausted,
if million 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 rcsontmcnts must
be kindlcd that can never cool and
dcspairs cnGcndorcd from which there
can be no recovery, hopes of peace
and of the willing concert OF free PEG
pies 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.
prcccdcnicd contest of arms. No ma
ton in the civilized world can be said
in truth to stand out to its influence
or to be safe against its disturbing
effects. And yet the concrete objects
for ~hich it is being wagod have
never been definitely stated.
"Tho leaders Of the several bclligor.
onts 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 spokcsmcn OF
either side avowod the prccis" 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 dofuilivo re
suits. what actual exchange o. guar
antics, what political or territorial
changes or establishments, what stage
OF military success, even, would bring
the war to an end.
IT may be that peace is nearer than
We know; that the terms which tn"
b"lliu"rcnis on the on" side and on
the other would deem II necessary to
Insist upon are not 20 irruCuucilablo
AS some have feared; that an inter
chang" Of views would clear tho way
at least for conference" and make the
permanent concord OF the nations n
hop" of ~" immediate future. a con.
cert Of nations Immediately prac.
ticahlo.
THE President Ia not proposing
peace, he ig not oven offering media
ton. lie is merely proposing that
soundings be taken In order that We
may learn, the neutral nation. with
tho bclllgor"nt how near tho haven
Of peace may be for which al man
kind longs with an Intense and in
crcasng longing.
lie believes that the spirit In
which he speaks and tho objects
which he seeks VIII b" understood b.
all concerned. and he confidently
hopes Tor n response which win hrlng
a n"w Hight into the affairs of IA, .
world"
Tho not" 10 the rri"uto group Uil! .
b" delivered to Gr"nt Britain. Franco.
Italy, Japan. ltusain. belgium, Monte. |
negro, Portugal, Rumanin and Scr.
bla
That TO tho central allies VIII he |
delivered to Germany, Austria Hun. |