Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-01-22

most vital interests the war puts III
| constant Jeopardy.
The central powers united in a re-
ply which stated merely that they were
ready to meet their antagonists in con-
ference to discuss terms Of peace.
The entente have replied much
more definitely and have stated in gen.
eral terms, indeed. with sufficient def
| niteness to imply details, the arrange
| ments, guarantees and acts Of repara-
tion which they deem to be the indis-
pensable conditions of satisfactory
settlement.
Sees Step Toward Peace,
I'VE are that much nearer a def
mite discussion of the peace which
shall end the present war; we are that
much nearer the discussion of the
International concert which must ever
after hold the world in peace. In the
discussion Of the peace 1t Is taken for
granted that such peace must be given
by concert of powers which will make
it impossible that any such catastro-
phe should ever overwhelm us again.
Every sane and thoughtful man must
take that Cor granted
II have sought this opportunity to
eAdui SSS you pSNuuSS lllOuSul OWSu
it to you as the council associated with
me in the final determination Of our
| international obligations to disclose to
YOU without reserve the thought and
purpose that have been taking form in
my mind In regard to the duty Of our
government in those days to come.
| when it will be necessary to lay afresh
and upon a new plan the foundations of
peace among the nations.
Y. s. Must Take Part.
1T Is inconceivable that the people
| Of the United States should play no
part in that great enterprise. To take
part in such service will be to them
| the opportunity for which they sought
to prepare themselves by the very prin-
ciples and purposes of their policy and
the approved practices Of their govern
ment ever since the days when they
set up a new nation in the high and
honorable hope that 1t might endure
and that it was showing and did show
mankind the way to liberty. They can
not tn honor withhold the service to
which they are now about to be chal-
lenged. They do not wish to withhold
it, but they owe it to themselves and
sAAS OsAASA AAe1~AoAS VI AHC WOllu " Stdlc
the conditions under which they will
feel free to render it
That service is nothing less than
this, to add their authority and their
power to the authority and force of
other nations to guarantee peace and
justice thruout the world
"Such settlement can not now be
long postponed. 1t Is right that before
it comes this government should
frankly formulate the conditions upon
which it would feel justified in asking
our people to approve its formal and
solid adherence to league for peace.
am hero to attempt to state those
conditions.
U. 8. 10 Concerned. ~.
Tho present war must first be
ended; but We owe it to candor and
to a just regard for, the opinion Of
mankind to say, thar go far as our
participation in guarantees Of future
peace is concerned it makes a great
deal of difference IN wEat way and
upon. what; tcrms 1T is ended. The
treaties and agreements WHICH bring
it to an end must e'nbody terms which
will guaranteN.sa a peace that Will win
the approval tf mankind: MT merely
peace which will serve the several
interests and imine diate AIMS of the
nations engaged. We shall have 70
voice in determining wha' those terms
will be, but we shall, feel sure, have
q voice in determining whether they
shall be made lasting or not by guar
antees or by universal covenant,
and our judgment upon what Is
fundamental and necessary precedent
to permanency should be spoken now.
not afterwards when It may ae too
late.
Future Unsafe Unless We Take Part.
"No covenant Of cooperative peace
that does not include the people Of
the new world can suffice to keep
the future safe against war and yet
there is only one sort Of peace that
the peoples Of America could Join in
guaranteeing.
be elements that engage the conf
American government; elements con-
sistent with their political faith and
practically with the convictions which
and taken to defend
i 90 not mean 10 say rtlldl duS tAIIleI
lean government would throw an OBJ
tacle in the way of any terms OF peace
the governments at war might agree
upon or seek to upset them when
made, whatever they might be. I only
take it for granted that mere terms
Of peace between the belligerents will
not satisfy even the belligerents them
selves. Mere agreements may not
make peace sure. 1t will be necessary
that a force be created as a guar
antor of the permanency Of the set
tlement Of much greater than the force
Of any nation now engaged or any
alliance hitherto formed or projected
that no nation, no probable combina-
ton Of nations, could face it or with
stand 1t.
Depends on Stable Europe.
IF the peace presently to be made
Is to endure it must be a peace made
secure by the organised major force
Of mankind. The terms Of the imme-
date peace agreed upon will deter
mine whether there is a peace where
such guarantee can be secured.
THE question upon which the whole
future peace and policy Of the world
depends IL this:
rs the present war a struggle for
Just and secure peace or only for
a new balance of power? II it be
only struggle for new balance OF