Evening journal., 1917-08-29
TEXT OF WILSON'S PEACE REPLY

which would be attempted by all
the mallgn Influences 10 which the
German Government has Of late ac-
customed the world. Can peace be
based upon a restitution Of its
power or upon any word OF honor
it could pledge In a treaty OF set
tlement and accommodation
Basis For Enduring Peace Is Right.
Responsible statesmen must now
everywhere sec. II they never saw
before, that no peace can rest Sc
curely upon political or economic
restrictions meant to benefit some
nations and cripple or embarrass
others, upon indicative action OF
any sort, or any kind OF revenge or
deliberate injury. Tho American
people have suffered intolerable
wrongs at the hands Of the lmper-
ial German Government, but they
desire no reprisal upon the German
people, who have themselves SUI
fered all things in this war, which
they did not choose. They believe
that peace should rest upon tho
rights Of peoples, not the rights OF
Governments-the rights Of peoples
great or small weak OF powerful
their equal right 10 freedom and
security and self-government and 70
participation upon fair terms IN
the economic opportunities OF the
world--the German people OF
course Included, n they will accept
equality and not seek domination.
The True Test Of All Peace Plans.
THE test, therefore. OF every
plan OF peace Is this -
"Is II based upon the faith Of all
the peoples involved or merely
upon the word OF an ambitious and
intriguing Government, on the one
hand, and OF q group OF free peo-
pies. on the otherT
This Is a test which goes 10 the
root Of the matter and II is the test
which must be applied.
THE purposes Of the United States
IN this war are known 10 the whole
world-to every people TO whom
the truth has been permitted 70
come They do not need TO be
stated again. We seek no material
advantage Of any kind We be-
lieve that the intolersble wrongs
done In this war by the furious and
brutal power OF the Imperial Ger
man Government ought TO be re-
paired, but not at the expense OF
the sovereignty Of any people
rather a vindicatlon Of the SOW
erelgnty both Of those that are
weak and those that are strong.
Punitive damages, the dlsmem-
berment Of Empires, the establish
ment AZ selfish and exclusive eco
nomlc leagues, we deem inexpedient
and IN the end worse than futile
no proper basis for a peace OF any
/ kind. least Of all for an enduring
peace. That must be based upon
Justice and fairness and the com
mon rights Of mankind.
Cannot Take Word Of German
Rulers.
I'VE cannot take the word Of The
present rulers Of Germany as
guarantee Of anything that is q
endure. unless explicitly supported
BY such conclusive evidence OF IN
VIII ana purpose OF lnb hcihiai
people themselvIs as the other peo
ples OF the world would be JUST
ned in accepting. Without sucl
guarantees. treaties Of settlement
agreements for disarmament, COZ
enants TO set up arbitration In IN
place OF force. territorial adius
ments. reconstitutions Of small ma
tions. n made with the Germa
Government. no man, no natio
could now depend on.
1--WE must await some new ev
dence Of the purpose Of the gres
peoples Of the Central Powers. Go
grant 10 may be given soon and
a way TO restore the confidence
all peoples everywhere In the fat
Of nations and the possibility
a covenanted peace.
ROBERT LANSING.
Secretary OF state Of the Unite
States OF America