The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1917-01-22

people Of the United States should
play no part in that great enter
prise. To take part in such a SER
vice will be tho opportunity for
which they have sought TO pre-
pare themselves by the very prin.
ples and purposes OF their poiity
and the approved practices Of
their government ever since tho
days when they set up a new ma
ton in the high and honorable
hope that u might in all that u
wss and did show mankind the
way TO liberty.
"They cannot In honor withhold
the service TO which they are now
about to be challenged. They do not
wish TO withhold II. But they owe II
to themselves and 90 other nations Of
the world to state ths conditions un-
der which they will feel free TO rem
der II.
THAT service 10 nothing less
than thls-to add their authority
and their power TO the authority
and force OF other nations TO guar.
sntee peace and Justice through.
out the world.
SETTLEMENT CANNOT BE LONG
POSTPONED.
such a settlement cannot now be
long postponed. II Is right that be-
fore II comes this Government should
frankly formulate the conditions
upon which II would feel justified in
asking our people to approve its
formal and solemn adherence to "A
league for peace. am here 10 at
tempt to state those conditions.
The present war must first be
ended; but wo owe II to candor and
TO a Just regard for tho opinion OF
mankind to say that 80 far as our
participation In guarantees OF future
peace Is concerned. II makes a great
deal of difference in what way and
upon what terms It Is ended"
The treaties and the agree
ments which bring IL 10 an end
must smbody terms which will
create . peace that 10 worth guar.
sntssina and preserving. . peace
that will win the approval Of
mankind. not merely q peace that
will servo the several interests
and immediate aims OF the ma
tions engaged. We shall have no
voice in determining what those
terms shall be, but we shall. !
feel sure, have q voice in deter
mining whether they shall be
made lasting or not by the guar
antees OF Q universal covenant;
and our judgment upon what is
fundamental and essential as a
condition preoedsnt TO perma-
nenoy should be spoken now. not
afterward. when IL may be too
late.
mo covenant OF cooperative peace
that does not include tho peoples OF
the aew world can suffice to keep the
future safe against war: and yet
there In only one sort OF peace that
the people OF America could join In
The elements OF that
peace must be elements that engage
the confidence and satisfy the prin-
ciples OF the American Governments
elements consistent with their |
political faith and the practical con-
victions which the people OF America |
have once for all embraced and un- |
dertaken to defend.
U. s. WILL PUT NO OBSTACLES
IN WAY OF PEACE.
II do not mean to say that any Am
erican Governmpnt would throw any |
obstacles In tho way OF any terms of
peace the Governments now at war
might agree upon. or seek to upset
them when made, whatever they
might be. ] only take it for granted |
belligerents will not satisfy even the
belligeSents themselves.
Mere agreements may not make
peace secure.
1T Will be absolutely necessary that |
a force be created as a guarantor OF |
the permanancy OF the settlement SO |
much greater than the force OF any |
nation now engaged or any alliance |
hitherto formed or projected that no |
nation, no probable combination OF |
nations. could face or withstand.
If the peace presently to be made !
In to endure. II must be Il peace made |
secure by the organized major force
OF mankind.
QUESTION ON WHICH FUTURE
PEACE WILL DEPEND.
"The terms of the Immediate peace |
agreed upon will determine whether
II is a peace for which such a guar
antee can be secured.
Tho question upon which the
whole future peace and policy Of
the world depends is thisi Is
tho present war . struggle for q
lust and secure peace. or only for
q now balance Of power7 II Il be
only q struggle for q now balance
OF power. who will guarantee, who
can guarantee, the stable squili-
brium OF tho new arrangement
Only . tranquil Europe can be q
stable Europe. There must be,
not q balance Of power. but q
Il