TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1917-10-17
PRESIDENT WILSON
GETTING THE FACTS.
COL. [. NJ. HOUSE AND JUSTICE
LOUIS BRANDEIS CONSTITUTE
HIS PEACE INFORMATION
BUREAU.

The establishment OF a peace
Information bureau by the Pres
ident does not mean anything
ike an immediate opening OF
peace negotiations. 1t does not
mean that the United States will
blunt in any way the instru-
ments Of war which it holds, or
that it will lessen in any way
the yigor Of the preparations
which it is making for an ener-
eetic prosecution Of the war.
But it means something al
most as important. It means
that the President is taking
comprehensive measures to in
form himself as to the facts that
underlie the great conflict. He
is collecting data as to frontiers,
nationalities, industrial needs
and racial ambitions in the ter
ritories Immediately affected by
the war. lie is taking the ut
most pains to place at the dis
nosal Of the American delegates
to the peace conference the Wild
est possible information as to
the forces that have moved and
are moving the nations OF war
torn Europe.
The peace studies which Col
L. NJ. House land Justice Louis
Brandeis-Ed) has been appoint
ed to make are a guarantee OF
President Wilson's intention to
pursue an independent American
policy at tile conference. They
are a guarantee Of his purpose
to look at the issues that will
come before the conference, not
through English eyes, not
through French eyes, not
through Italian or Russian eyes.
but through American eyes.
This does not imply any lack
of confidence in the correctness
and Justice Of the British OF
the French or the Italian view
of issues and events. 1t is plain
ly minated by the State de-
partrlent that, in its survey oil
the European situation, Amer
lean diplomacy does not con
template any interference with
purely European issues. The
President is determined, how
ever. that the foundations foi
the structure OF world peace
must be sound and enduring
And he is determined tina.
American policy at the confer
ence shall be guided by purel,
American reasoning, by purel,
American purpose.
The President IS determines
that when the issue Of Alsace
Lorraine is placed upon tn,
green table, the American pleni
t potentiary shall have at his com
B nand all the facts about Alsac
) and Lorraine-the desires Q
their people, their racial char
, acter, their political and econ
: omic interests.
. He is determined that whe
the Balkan question is mad
b the subject Of decision, tn
= American plenipotentiary sha
have at his command complet
I data OF the racial character {
. the people Of Macedonia, the.
. kinship with surrounding race
: and their aspirations.
!. He is determined that in ever
1 one Of the other conplicate
. problems that underlie the pre-:
!, ent struggle the representative
= Of the United States shall /
= able to act with their eyes wiz
: open to the facts.
+ In beginning a study Of Il
:. framework Of European life
|, its racial, economic and polite
! aspects, the President is maxim
preparations to carry out Il
policy which he e~nunciated
q his reply to the popes pea
\ note:
II The American people,.
IL Believe that peace should re
upon the rights Of people
= not the rights Of Cover
ments-the rights Of peopl
great or small, weak or pc.
erful-their equal right
freedom and security and Sc
; government and to particir
ton on fair terms in the eco
omic opportunities Of t
world.
!;
z And these are the only four
@ Il Iii ~. -,