The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-12-05
they must pay for having started the
Restatement Of War Aims.

Restatement Of War Aims.
by Perry Arnold, United Press For
eign Editor.]
NEW YORK, Dec. 5.-America's
plan for restatement of allied war
aims jointly subscribed to by those
fighting to make the world safe for
democracy Is advancing inevitably to
contamination.
British newspaper comment on
President Wilson'S message today in
dicated powerful backing is forming
in England for the plan.
By his message, the president has
once again clearly illumined Americas
war aims and tacitly put the same
course up to Americas allies for de-
cision.
First announcement OF President
Wilson's plan of joint restatement
of allied war aims was made in the
United Press dispatches from Ed l..
Keen, it's London staff CORES pondent,
on November TO- 1t was stated there
in on highest authority that Colonel
House Of the American mission, then
/ in London, was urging such a plan IS
military measure" of the most SUI
preme Importance.
The presidents idea as then ex-
planned was for the allies to place all
their war aims on the council table
for discussion and then to coordinate
from these a Joint set, representative
of the highest ideals OF democracy,
rejecting those of purely selfish ma
tional interest.
The aims that passed the crucible
test were to be jointly subscribed to.
Their attestation by solemn pledge of
the allies would be regarded as a
potential weapon Of incalculable
strength in aiding German reformers.
removing misconceptions Of the Rus,
sian responsibles and as reaesuring
all allied peoples of the democratic
principles on which they were asked
by their chosen governing powers to
sacrifice their lives, money and prop
erty.
On November 80, ten days after the
United Press announcement of this
plan Of Joint restatement, the MARQUIS
OF Lansdowne issued his bombshell
letter. One Of its main arguments
was that the allies should restate
their aims.
The fnter-allied conference met In
Paris. November 20, United Press dis
patches Of December from its staff
correspondent assigned to cover that
important session, reported discussion
OF such restatement of aims. Dele
gate Maklakoff, repres enting Rus
sfa's moderate socialists approved the
plan; American delegates supported
it and the British statesmen were said
to be passively acquiescent"
The matter, was, however, post
poned for later discussion.
The New York Tines, in dispatch
quoted Minister of Finance Nitti of
Italy known as one Of Italy's strong
est political leaders, as stating at
would be desirable to make a frank.
unanimous declaration of allied war
aims" and again "too much harm has
been done to the entente cause al
ready by imperialist or self conferred
war aims of individual countries"
Today's comment Of the Daily News
OF London on President Wilson's reit-
GRAFTON Of American war aims. urges
England to adopt that course. The
Daily News is a liberal newspaper of
radical tendencies and great strength,
A dispatch from London quotes the
Manchester Guardian today as predict.
ing that former Premier Asuafth.
when he speaks at Birmingham will
be sympathetic to Lansdownes let
ter--that is, he will also approve
reinstatement of aims. This would
mean the greatest of Englands liberal
leaders would thus endorse the plan.