Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1917-01-24
WILSON PROPOSES
LEAGUE FOR PEACE
MAKE MONROE DOCTRINE WORLD
DOCTRINE, SAYS PRESIDENT
IN ADDRESS TO SENATE.
APPEARS BEFORE SENATE
Discusses Nations Foreign Relations.
DECLARES That Lasting Peace in
Europe Cannot Be a Victory For
Either Side.

Observation-Disclosures the United
States shall enter a world peace
league and, as many contend, thereby
abandon its traditional policy of isola-
ton and no entangling alliances was
laid squarely before Congress and the
country by President Wilson in a per-
sonal address to the senate.
For the first time in more than a
United States appeared in the senate
chamber to discuss the nations for
eign relations after the n of
Washington, Adams and Madison. The
effect was to leave congress-, all official
quarters and the foreign diplomats
amazed and bewildered. Immediately
there arose a sharp division of opinion
over the propriety as we'll as the sub
stance of the Presidents proposal.
"Startling." staggering" "astound-
ing the noblest utterance hat has
fallen from human lips since the Dec
laration of Independence were among
the expressions of senator's. The
President, himself, after his address.
said:
Il have said what everybody has
been longing for and has thought i'm
possible. Now it appears to be pos
sible.''
The chief points of the Presi-
dents address were:
That a lasting peace in Eu-
rope cannot be a peace of victory
for either side.
That peace must be followed
by a definite oncert of power to
assure the world that no catas-
trophe of wal shall overwhelm it
again.
That in such a concert of pow
erS. the United States cannot
withhold its participation to guar
:ntee peace and justice through
out the world.
And that before a peace is made
the United States Government
should frankly formulate the ION
ditions upon which it would feel
justified in asking the American
people for their formal and solemn
adherence.
at is clear to every mar who
thinks" the President told the senate.
that there is in this promise no
breach in either our traditions and our
policy as a nation. but a fulfillment
rather of all that We have professed or
striven for.
President Wilson's address was sent
to American diplomats in the bellig-
erent countries last Monday, two DAYS
before the United States received the
note from Minister Balfour. of the
British Foreign Office, supplementing
the Entente reply to his peace note.
and on the same day that German
Foreign Minister Zimmerman declared
it was impossible for the Central Pow
ers to openly lay down their terms.
The Presidents address was inSnd.
ed as an open message to the world
Of the conditions under which he
would urge the United States to enter
a world federation to guarantee future
peace. There is nothing in the adj
Sress or in the instructions accompany
ing its presentation that will of itself
necessitate an answer. according to
the Administration view but some re-
sponse nevertheless is expected from
both groups of belligerents.
Fear of a leak" surrounded the
sending of the address abroad with
such secrecy as has seldom been
equalled in the State Department.
Only President Wilson, Secretary Ian
sing and the men who transmitted it
are known definitely to have been
aware of it.
While the President was speaking,
copies of his address had been for
warded to belligerent countries for the
information of the foreign offices. and
were being prepared for representa-
tives of neutral Government here.