Middletown transcript., 1917-01-27
MONROE DOCTRINE
FOR THE WORLD
President Outlines Peace Terms
That Will Satisfy United
States.
SECOND STEP TO END WAR
Reads to the Senate His Reply
to Peace Proposals.

Was:. .ington.-Whether the United
States shall enter a World Peace
League and, as many contend, thereby
abandon its traditional policy Of iscla-
tion and no entangling alliances was
laid squarely before Congress and the
country by President Wilson in per-
Bonal address to the Senate.
For the first time in more than a
hundred years President Of the Unit
ed States appeared in the Senate cham
Der to discuss the nations foreign re-
latiens after the manner Of Washing
ten, adams and Madison.
The text of the Presidents address
was as follows:
Gentlemen Of the Senate:
"On the eighteenth Of December last
l addressed an identical note to the
governments Of the nations now at war
requesting them to state, more definite
ly than had yet been stated by either
group Of belligerents, the terms upon
which they would deem it possible to
make peace. I spoke on behalf OF
humanity and OF the rights Of all neu-
trail nations like our own, many of
whose most vital interests the war puts
in constant jeopardy. The Central
Powers united in a reply which stated
merely that they were ready to meet
their antagonists In conference to dis
cuss terms Of peace.
Ety,fn
much more definitely and have stated,
In general terms indeed, but with suffi-
cient definiteness to imply details, the
arrangements, guarantees and acts or
reparaticn which they deem to be the
indispensable conditions Of a satisfac-
tory settlement. We are that much
nearer q definite discussion OF the
peace which shall end the present war.
We are that much nearer the discus
sion Of the international concert which
must thereafter hold the world at
peace.
Must Be Definite Concert.
In every discussion Of the peace
that must end this war it is taken
for granted that that peace must be
followed by some definite concert OF
powers which will make 1t virtually
impossible that any such catastrophe
should ever cverwhelm us again
Every lover of mankind, every sane
and thoughtful man must take that
for granted.
Il have sought this opportunity to
address you because I thought that
owed it to you, as the counsel asso
ciated with me in the final determine
ton CT our international obligations
to disclose to you without reserve the
thought and purpose that have been
taking form in my mind in regard t6
the duty of our government in the
days to come when it will be necessary
to Law afresh and upon new plan the
foundations of peace among the ma
tions.
United States a Party.
1T is inconceivable that the people
Of the United States should play M
part in that great enterprise. TX
take part in such a service will bt
the opportunity for which they have
sought to prepare themselves by thu
very principles and purposes or thel
policy and the approved practices C.
their government ever since the day:
when they set up new nation in thu
high and honorable hope that it Nigh
in all that it was and did show man
kind the way to liberty. They cannc
in honor withhold the service to which
they are now about to be challenged
They do not wish to withheld it. Blu
they owe it to themselves and to tn
other nations Of the world to state tn
conditions under which they will fee
free to render it.
That service is nothing less thai
this, to add their authority and thei
power to the authority and force o
other nations to guarantee peac
and justice throughout the world
Such a settlement cannot now b
long postponed. l is right that be
fore it comes this government shoul
frankly formulate the conditions upo
which it would feel justified in askin
our people to approve Its formal an
solemn adherence to league for peac'
I am here to attempt to state thos
conditions.
"The present war must first b
ended; but we owe 1t to candor an
to a just regard for the opinion
mankind to say that, so far as OF
participation in guarantees of futui
peace is concerned, 1t makes a gre;
deal Of difference in what way, an
upon what terms, it is ended. TT
treaties and agreements which brin
It to an end must embody tern
which will create peace that
,gorth guaranteeing and preserving,
peace that will win the approval
mankind, not merely peace that wi
serve the several interests and imm
diate aims Of the nations engaged.
A Guarantor OF Peace.
We shall have no voice in dete
mining what those terms shall be, o
we shall, feel sure, have a voice
determining whether they shall
made lasting or not by the guarante
of O. universal covenant; and our Jud
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