The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1917-06-15
WILSON DEFINES
war ARMS OF US.
IN NOTE TO RUSSIA, REASON FOR
ENTERING STRUGGLE is
MADE CLEAR.
WE SEEK NO MATERIAL PROFIT
America Is Fighting for Liberation Of
All Peoples From Agressions Of
Autocratie Force.

Washington - President Wilson's
message to Russia-the message,
which tells why the United States is
In the war-was given out by the state,
department Saturday evening.
"The war has begun to go against
Germany" says President Wilson. in
openig his message.
THE day has come to conquer or
submit" adds the president In the last
paragraph of the note.
The note to Russia, designed to stiff.
fen the purpose of Russia to continue
with the allies is believed by Mr.. Will
sons immediate advisers to be the
most important public document from
any country since the United States
became belligerent.
The gist of the message follows:
1.-THE objects the United States has
had in entering the war have been very
much beclouded during the past few
weeks by mistaken and misleading
statements, and the issues at stake
are too momentous, too tremendous,
too significant for the whole human
ldCC W pCluilI ihlbihtCi III OtoSAOhc
or understanding, however slight,
to remain uncorrected for moment.
Americas Position.
1.-The position of America in this
war is so clearly avowed that no man
can be excused for mistaking 1t. She
seeks no material profit or 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 aggressions OF
autocratic force. The ruling classes
in Germany have begun of late to pro-
fess like liberality and justice OF
purpose, but only to preserve the pow
er 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 Bagdad
and beyond. Government after gov
eminent has by their influence, with
out open conquest Of its territory,
been linked together in a net Of in
trigue directed against nothing less
than the peace and liberty OF the
world. The meshes of that intrigue
must be broken, but cannot be broken
unless wrongs already done are un-
done; and adequate measures must be
taken to prevent it from ever again
being rewoven or repaired.
"Of course, the imperial government
and those whom 1t is using for their
own undoing are seeking to obtain
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 issues 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.
I'VE 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 adequate safeguards must be
created to prevent their being commit
ted again. We ought not to consider
remedies merely because they have a
pleasing and sonorous sound. Practi-
cal questions can be settled only by
practical means. Phrases will not &C
complish the result. Effective read
justments will, and whatever readjust-
ments are necessary must be made.
But they must follow a principle,
and that principle Is plain. No people
must be forced under sovereignty un-
der which II does not wish to live. No
territory must change hands except
for the purpose Of securing those who
inhabit 1t fair chance of life and
liberty. No indemnities must be in
sisted on except those that constitute
payment for manifest wrongs done. No
readjustments of power must be made
except such as will tend to secure the
future peace OF the world and the fu-
ture welfare and happiness OF it's peo-
pies.
Would Unite World.
"And then the free people OF the
world must draw together in some
common covenant. some genuine and
practical cooperation that will in Of.
feet combine their force to secure
peace and justice in the dealings of
nations with one another. The broth.
erhood of mankind must no longer be
a fair but empty phrase; II must be
given structure Of force and reality.
The nations must realize their CON-
mon life and effect a workable part
nership to secure that life against the
aggression Of autocratic and self-pleas-
ing power.
For these things we can afford to
pour out blood and treasure. For
these are the things we have always