The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1917-06-14
j. S. WAR AIMS
GIVEN RUSSIANS
President Asserts Germany Plots
, for Peace.
MUST KEEP THE WORLD SAFE
Wilson Declares Kaiser Must Right
Wrongs Inflicted Upon Other coun.
tries-opposed to lndemnitles
Except as Reparation.

Washington, June 1l.-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 annexations, no
indemnities." The principal terms on
which the United States will insist
are:
No territory must change hands ex-
cept for the purpose of securing those
who inhabit 1t a. fair chance of life and
liberty.
NO establishments of power must
be made except such as will tend to
secure the further peace of the world
and the future welfare and happiness
of its people,
Text Of the Message.
The presidents communication was
delivered to the RUSSIAN government
by Ambassador Francis at Petrogcad
1t is in part as follows
I'm view of the approaching visit Of
the American delegation TO Russia to
express the deep friendship Of the
American people for the people of Rus
STA and to discuss the best and most
practical means Of! cooperation be-
tween the Two people in carrying the
present struggle for the freedom of
all peoples TO a successful consumma-
ton, it seems opportune and appropri-
ate that / should state again In the
light OF this new partnership the OBJ
JectS the United States has had in
mind in entering the war,
German Plots for Peace.
"rhe war has begun to go against
Germany,aand in their desperate desire
to escape the inevitable ultimate de-
feat, those who are In authority in
Germany are using every possible in
strumentnlity, are making use even of
the influence of groups and parties
among their own subjects, to whom
they have never been just or fair or
even tolerant, to promote propa-
ganda on both sizes of the sea which
will preserve for them their influence
at home and their power abroad, TO the
undOing Of the very men they are
using.
"The position of America in this war
is so clearly avowed that no man can
be excused for installing it. America
seeks no material profit of aggrandize-
ment of any kind. She Is fighting for
no advantage or selfish object of her
own, but for the liberation of peoples
everywhere from the aggression of
,autOcratic force. .. ,.
Trick in Berlin Offers.
1.-THE ruling classes in Germany have
begun of late to profess q like liberal
ity and justice of purpose, but only to
preserve the power. they have set up in
Germany and the selfish advantages
which they have wrongly gained for
themselves and their private projects
of power all the way from Berlin to
RaCdad and beyond. .....
Government after government has.
by their influence, without open con-
quest "a its territory, been linked to-
sgether in net OF intrigue directed
against nothing less than the peace and
liberty of the world The meshes Of
that intrigue must be broken.
eminent and those whom it is using for
their own undoing are seeking to OBJ
tain pledges that the war will end in
the restoration of the status quo ante.
1t was the status quo ante out of which
this Ubiquitous war issued forth, the
power Of the imperial German govern
ment within the empire and its wide
spread domination and influence out
side of that empire. That status must
be altered In such fashion as to pre-
vent any such hideous thing from ever
happening again.
Fight for World Liberty. /
"We are fighting for the liberty, the
self-government and the indicated de-
velopment of all peoples, and every
feature of the settlement that con-
cludes this war must be conceived and
executed for that purpose. Wrongs
must first be righted and then ade-
quGte safeguards must be created TO
prevent their being committed again.
mo territory must change hands ex-
cept for the purpose of securing those
who inhabit ii a fair chance of life
and liberty. No indemnitiSs must be
insisted on except t.,ose that consti-
tute payment for manifest wrongs
done. No readjustments of power
must be made except such as will tend
ito secure the future peace of the world
and the future welfare and happiness
Of its peoples.
World League for Peace.
"And then the freed peoples of the
world must draw together In some
common covenant, some genuine and
practical cooperation that will In eff
feet combine their force to secure
peace and justice In the dealings of
nations with one another.
''For these things we can afford to
pour out blood and treasure.
'"The day has come to conquer or
submit. If the forces of autocracy can
divide us they will overcome MS; If
we stand together victory is certain,
and the liberty which victory will Sc
cure. We. can afford then to be gen.
erOus, but we cannot afford then or