The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1917-01-18

losses and suffering which the wal
causes to neutrals as well as 10 the
belligerents, and they deplore them
but they do not hold themselves 70
sponsible for them. having In no wa,
either willed or provoked this war
and they strive to reduce these dam
ages In the measure compatible viii
the inexorable exigencies of their de
tense against the violence and the
wiles of the enemy.
1t is with satisfaction. therefore
that they take note OF the declaration
that the American communication is
in nowise associated in its origin Win
that OF the Central Powers, trans
mitted on the 18th OF December by the
Government OF the United States.
They did not doubt, moreover, tht
resolution OF that Government to avoid
even the. appearance OF support even
moral. of tNs authors responsible for
the war.
The Allied Governments believe that
they must protest in the most friendly
but in the most specific manner against
the assimilation established in the
American note between the two
groups OF bellgerents; this assimila
tion, based upon public declarations by
the Central Powers, is in direct oppo'
sition to the evidence, both as regards
responsibility for the past and as con
Germs guarantees for the future; Presi
dent Wilson in mentioning 1t certain
" had no intention of associating him
self with It.
II there Is an historical fact estab'
llshed at the present date, It Is the
willful aggression OF Germany and
Austro.Hungary to insure their hege'
mony over Europe and their economic
domination over the world. Germany
proved by her declaration OF war, by
the immediate violation of Belgium
and Luxembourg and by her manner OF
conducting the war, her Stimulating
contempt for all principles OF human
ity and all respect for small states; as
the conflict developed the attitude OF
the Central Powers and their allies
has been a continual defiance OF hui
manity and civilization. 1t Is neces'
sary TO recall the horrors which ac-
companied the invasion of Belgium
and Of Serbia, the atrocious regime
imposed upon the invaded countries.
the massacre of hundreds Of thousands
OF inoffensive Armenians, the barbar
tiles perpetrated against the popula-
tions OF Syria, the raids Of Zeppelins
on open towns, the destruction by sub
marines OF passenger steamers and OF
merchantmen even under neutral
flags, the cruel treatment inflicted
upon prisoners Of war, the jurisdical
murders Of Miss Cavel, of Captain
Fryatt, the deportation and the reduc.
ton to slavery of civil populations,
ct cetera? The execution of such a
series OF crimes perpetrated without
any regard for universal reprObation
fully explains to President Wilson the
protest of the Allies.
They consider that the note which
they sent to the United States in reply
to the German note will be response
to the questions put by the American
Government, and, according to the
exact words OF the latter, constitute
"a public declaration as to the condi-
tions upon which the war could be
! terminated"
President Wilson desires more: he
desires that the belligerent powers
openly affirm the objects which they
seek by continuing the war; the Allies
experience no difficulty In replying to
this request. Their objects in the war
are we'll known; they have been
| formulated on many occasions by the
chiefs Of their divers governments.
Their objects in the war will not be
made known in detail with all the
equitable compensations and indemni.
| ties for damages suffered until the
hour of negotiations. But the civilized
world knows that they imply in all
necessity and In the first instance the
restoration of Belgium, Of Serbia and
of Montenegro and the indemnities
which are due them; the evacuation OF
| the invaded territories of France, OF
Russia and of Roumania, with just
reparation; the reorganization OF Eu-
rope guaranteed by stable regime
and founded as much upon respect of
nationalities and full security and lib
erty of economic development, which
all nations, great or small, possess, as
upon territorial conventions and inter
national agreements suitable to guar.
antee territorial and maritime from.
tiers against unjustified attacks; the
restitution Of provinces or territories
wrested in the past from the Allies by
force or against the will OF their popu.
lations; the liberation OF Italians, OF
Slavs, of Roumanians and OF Tcheco
Slovaques from foreign domination
the enfranchisement OF populations
subject to the bloody tyranny Of the
Turks; the expulsion from Europe OF
the Ottoman Empire decidedly (''')
to western civilization. The inten
tions OF His Majesty the Emperor OF
Russia regarding Poland have been
clearly indicated in the proclamation
which he has just addressed to his
armies. 1t goes without saying that II
the Allies wish to liberate Europe
from the brutal covetousness of Prus
sian mllitarism, 1t never has been theil
design, as has been alleged to encom
pass the determination Of the German
peoples and their political disappear
ance. That which they desire above
all is to insure peace upon the prin
ciples of liberty and justice, upon the