The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-22
NATIONAL UNITY
ORGANIZATION is
AGAINST EFFORTS
LEADING TOPEACE
Pledges Support Until
Autocratic Power of
Germany Is Broken
NO COMPROMISE
is CONCEIVABLE
War Not Won Until Ger
many Makes Repara-
ton for Wrongs Done !.

New York, Dec. 22.-The League
for National Unity today issued q
declaration, signed by its officers ana
executive committee, In which all ef-
forts toward q premature peace are
condemned and the determination NJ
continuing the war until a military
victory Is achieved and the autocratiO
power OF the imperial German gov
eminent is broken, In pledged.
we are In this war TO conquer the
enemys armies" declares the state
msnt, though not his territory or
population. We intend TO nullify the
power OF the imperial German gov
eminent. We do not intend that &c
shall gain. at the expense OF other ma
tons, either an enlargement OF terri
tory or an expansion Of industrial
and commercial opportunities or an
increase OF prestige"
When German military rGverses
obliterate past victories and the war
map becomes unfavorable, no doubt
some OF the German parties viii be-
gin 70 consider the peace principles
or world democracy" the statement
concludes. But no influential Ger
man party yet sees coming defeat.
There Is, therefore, as yet no COM
mon ground for discussion between
the partisans Of might and the par
tisans OF right
The imperial German government
foiled and defeated in It's plan 20
cripple the great self governing
nations OF the world, first France,
next England, last the United States,
Is seeking to achieve through its
proposals for peace what IL has been
unable to obtain by arms.
The imperial German government
seeks q compromise in the irrepress-
tble conflict between autocracy and
democracy before IL shall be too late
All who are willing to compromise
on this issue are willing TO aid
despOtism, as all who urged com
Civil war aided slavery. The Ameri-
can people today are fighting for
their own liberty as we'll as for the
freedom OF the world. The world
cannot be safe for democracy so long
as an organised autocFacy--Bts peO-
pie still believing IL victoriOusr-is In
trenched in tho center OF Europe
leading 1O,O0O,000 armed men and
possessing the resources OF 10000
900 people In the worlds central
position for all seas and all cOntin-
ents."
Asserting that the underlying
the war was that the German gov
eminent endangered our safety and
challenges our freedom" the state
ment declares that president Wilson
was the true spokesman OF the Am
er1can people when he said in his
message 20 congress that the Ameri-
can people are impatient with those
who desire peace by any sort OF
compromised"
mo compromise IL conceivable.
continues the declaration "if the
German government Is not utterly
brought 20 an end by military defeat
or political revolution from within.
Since a lasting world peace is our
chief war aim, which OF Germany's
crimes can we AFFORD 10 accept a.
innocent acts and permit 10 be re-
peated and continued? Which OPP
pressed nationality can we safely
abandon TO her sovereignty? What
slaughter Of innocents and destruc-
ton Of their property shall we leave
without such reparation as can be
afforded by financial indemnity"
Quoting from President Wilson's
assertions that the war win not be
won until the rulers OF the German
people make reparation for tha
wrongs they have done, the league
asserts that indemnities should be
paid in the cases OF Belgium, Serbia.
Poland, Rumania and France.
The League for National Unity
was organized In Washington last
September. It's purposes are to I
create a medium through which
loyal Americans OF all classes can |
give expression 10 the fundamental
purpose Of the United States 70 carry
on the war to a successful conclusion.
Cardinal James Gibbons Is honorary
chairman OF the league and Theodore
n. Vail, president OF the American
Telephone & Telegraph Co. Is chair
man. Among the vice chairmen are
Samuel Gompers. president Of the
American Federation OF Labor, and
George Pope, president Of the Ma
tionai Association OF Manufacturer.