Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-10
DEF|NESPURPOSE
Of AMERICA IN WAR
President Makes Plain U. S.
Wants "No AMlexations"
and "No Indemnities.
MESSAGE TO new RUSSIA


President Wilson, in communication
to the new government Of Russia, has
made plain the war aims OF the United
States and its position on mo annexa-
tons; no indemnities."
mo territory must change hands ex-
cept for the purpose of securing for those
who inhabit it a fair chance OF life and
liberty" says the communication.
'fNo indemnities must be insisted on
except those that constitute payment ior
manifest wrongs done
EMO. rea diustments Of power must be
made except as will tend to secure the
future peace of the world ana the !uture
welfare and happiness OF its people
In unnistakable terms President VII.
BON declares against Germany's proposal
to restore the status quo pe1ore tne
war.
TT was the status quo ante out OF which
this iniQuitous war issued FORTH, he says,
ssthe power Of the imperial German gov
ernment within the empire and Its W1de-
spread domination and influence outside
OF that empire.
THAT status must be altered in such
fashion as to prevent any such htdeous
thing from ever happening again."
Text Of Presidents Communication.
The Presidents communication was de-
Nvered to the Russian government by
Ambassador Francis at Petrograd. In
full. 1t is as follows:
TN view Of the approaching visit Of
the American delegation to Russia to ex-
press the deep friendship Of the American
people for the people Of Russia and to
discuss the best and most practical means
Of cooperation between the two peoples
in carrying the present struggle for the
freedom of all peoples to a successful
consummation. it seems opportune ana
appropriate that should state again, IN
the light Of this new partnership, the
mind in entering the war. Those objects
have been very much beclouded during
the past few weeks by mistaken and mis-
leading statements. and the issues at
stake are too momentous, too tremendous.
too significant for the whole human race
to permit any misinterpretations or mis-
understandings. however slight. to re-
main uncorrected for moment.
Germany, and in their desperate desire
to escape the inevitable ultimate de-
feat those who are in authority In Ger
many are using every possible fnstru-
influence of groups and parties among
their own subjects to whom they have
never been just or fair or even toler-
ant, to promote q propaganda on both
sides of the sea which will preserve for
them their influence at home and their
power abroad, to the undoing OF the
very uacu tney are u6lu6.
50 States America's Position.
THE position Of America In this war
h so clearly avowed that no man can
be excused for mistaking 1t. She seeks
no material profit or ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF
any kind She as.is is lighting td for no ,,.,a ad-
but for the liberation Of peoples every
where from the aggressions of auto
cratic force. The ruling classes of Ger
I v~kA
like 1iberaIity and Justice of purpose.
but only to preserve the power they
have set up in Germany and the selfish
aned sas aey bsr
projects of power all the way from Ber-
lin to Bagdad and beyond. Govern
ment after government has by their In
duence. without open conquest Of its
territory. been linked together in a
net Of intrigue directed against moth
tpF less than the peace and liberty of
.tae world. The meshes Of that in
trigue must be broker. but cannot be
broken unless wrongs already done are
undone; and adequate measures must
be taken to prevent 1t from ever again
being rewoven or repaired.
'Of course. the imperial German gov
eminent and those whom 1t is using
for their own undoing are seeking to
obtain pledges that the war will end
ante. It was the status quo ante out
Of which this iniQufto6s war issued
forth the power OF tho imperial Ger
man government within the empire and
It's Widespread domination and infiu-
ence outside Of that empire. That
status must be altered in such fashion
n to prevent any such hideous thing
I'VE are fighting for the liberty. the
eelf-government and the indicated de-
velopr1ent of all peoples, and every fea-
ture Of the settlement that concludes
this war must be conceived and exc
cuted for that purpose. Wrongs must
first be righted and then adequate safe
guards must be created TO prevent their
being committed again. We ought not to
consider remedies merely because they
have a pleasing and sonorous sound.
Practical questions can be settled only by
practical means. Phrases will not accom-
win. and whatever readjustments are nee
essary must be made.
Saws Principle Is Plain.
"But they must follow principle and
that principle is plain. No people must
be forced under sovereignty under
which 1t does not wish to live. No ter
ritory must change hands except for
the purpose of securing those who in
habit 1t fair chance Of life and liberty.
No indemnities must be insisted on ex-
cent those that constitute payment for
manifest wrongs done. No readiust
ments of power must be made except
such as will tend TO secure the future
peace Of the world and the future well
fare and happiness Of it's peoples.
"And then the free peoples Of the
world must draw together in some com :
mon covenant. some genuine and prac-
tical cooperation that will in effect
COM mbine their force to secure peace and
Justice In the dealings of nations with
one another. The brotherhood of man.
kind must no longer be a fair but empty
phrase; IL must be given a structure of
force and reality. The nations must
m nd a
workable partnership TO secure that life
Pass FOO1 RW Ro