The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-27
OUTLINE TERMS

Continued from Page One.l
lawful right BE protected in gen
eral peace treaty. -+
Count Czernin explained the posi-
rnent which he read at the secoio u
session of the peace conference at ~
o'clock Tuesday evening. His state
ment follows:
Reads Peace Proposition.
THE delegations Of the allied tIeu-
+,,ic1 mowers acting upon the clearly
espressed will of their goVernme Us
and peoples will conclude as soon as
uossible a general peace me ueie-
cations in complete accord with the
EXPRESSED viewpoint of their govern
,nents think that the basic principles
OF the Russian delegation can De ilaue
the basis of such a peace.
= ..rThe DELEGATIONS of the quadruple
alliance are agreed Immediately 10
conclude general peace without loIC-
ible anneXations and lndemhlleS' ney
sbare the view of the Russian dele-
ztion which condemns the continual
lion of the war purely for aims OF con-
? ..,The statesmen of the allied CTeu-
rbnic1 governments in programs anu
statements have emphasized lliile anu
time again that for the sake OF COLI
ouest they will not prolong the war
sinple day. The governments of the
slIies unswerVingIy have followed this
view all the time. They solemnly de-
clare their resolve Immediately to sign
terms of peace which will stop the war
ON the above terms, equally just 10 an
belligerents without exception.
sJt is necessary, however, to lndl-
oate most clearly that the proposals Of
the Russian delegation could De real
led only in case all the powers paruc-
ipating in the war obligate themselves
serupulously to adhere to the terms
al with all neODleS.
= 1.-THE powers of the quadruple al
liance now negotiating with RUSSIA
cannot of course, onesidedly Pima
themselves to such terms, not having
the guarantee that Russia 8 allies Will
recognize and carry out these terms
honestly without reservation with re
card to the quadruple alliance. start
ing upon these principles and regard
ing the six clauses proposed by the
Russian delegations as basis of ne
eotiations the following nust be
stated:
Clause 1-Forcible annexation of
territories seized during the war does
not enter into the intentions of the
allied powers. About troops now oc-
cupying seized territories it must be
stipulated in the peace treaty if there
is no agreement before regarding the
evacuation of these places
CLAUSE PIT is not the intention Of
the allies to deprive the political indie
pendence Of those nations which lost
IL during the war.
Clause 3-The question of subjec-
ton to that or the other countries of
those nationalities who have not pollt-
ical independence is not, in the opinion
of the powers of the quadruple alli-
ance to be solved internationally. In
this case il must be solved by each
government together with its peoples
I'm a manner established by the con-
stitution.
Clause Likewise in accordance
with the declarations of the statesmen
Of the quadruple alliance the prOtec-
ton of the rights of minorities consti-
tutes an essential part of the right of
peoples to self definition. as indicated
by their constitutions.
Put Time Limit on Discussion.
Clause THE governments of the
(Teutonic) allies also recognize this
principle. (This refers to clause of
of the Russia peace terms STIMULATING
that no belligerent country shall be
required to pay contributions and that
private persons shall be compensated
for losses incurred thru the war from
a special fund contributed by all the
belligerents on a proportional basis.)
There is a material possibility of mu-
tual refusal net only to refund war
expenditures bus also. to pay for dam
each belligerSnt would be required to
bear only the exp .nse of its subjects
made war prisoners and to pay for
damages caused to civil subjects of
any adversary by deliberate violation
of international law. The creation of
a special fund for this purpose as
suggested by the Russian government
can be discussed only in case other
belligerents join in peacs negotiations