Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-01-23
WILSON, Tells THE SENATE WHAT
UN|TEDSTATEs
PART Of THE TERMS ENDING WAR
Text of Speech
The president spoke as follows:

Gentlemen of the senate: On the
eighteenth of December last l address
ed an identic note to the governments
of the nations now at war requesting
them to state, more definitely than had
yet been stated, by either group Of
belligerents, the terms upon which
they would deem it possible to make
peace. | spoke on behalf of humanity
and of the rights Of all neutral nations
like our own, many Of whose most Vita
interests, the war puts in constant
jeopardy.
"The central powers united in re-
ply which stated merely that they
were ready to meet their antagonists
in conference to discuss terms o!
peace.
'The entente powers have replied
much more definitely and have stated
in general terms, indeed, but with suf-
flcent deflniteness to imply details,
the arrangements, guarantees and acts
of reparation which they deem to be
the indispensable conditions Of salts.
factory settlement.
I'VE are that much nearer a definite
discussion of the peace which shall end
the present war We are that much
nearer the discussion Of the interna.
tional concert which must thereafter
hold the world at peace. In every dis
cussion Of the peace that must end this
war it is taken for granted that that
peace must be given by some definite
concert Of power which will make 1t
virtually impossible that any such
catastrophe should ever overwhelm us
again. Every lover of mankind, every
sane and thoughtful man must take
that for granted.
II have sought this opportunity to
adore essSyo1 because thcEght that I
owed 1t to you, as the council associat-
ed with me IN the final determination
of our international obligations, to dis
close to you, without reserve, the
thought and purpose that have been
taking form In my mind in regard to
the duty of our government in these
days to come, when 1t will be neces.
sary to lay afresh and upon new
plan, the foundations Of peace among
nations.
ut is inconceivable that the people
of the United States should play no
part in that great enterprise. To take
part in such service will be the op-
portunity for which they have sought
to prepare themselves by the very
principles and purposes Of their polity
and the approved practices of their
government, ever since the days when
they set up new nation in the high
and honorable hope that 1t might in all
that 1t was and did show mankind the
way to liberty. They cannot. in hon.
or, withhold the service to which they
are now about to be challenged. They
do not wish to withhold it. But they
owe It to themselves and<to the other
nations of the world to state the condi-
tions under which they will feel free
to render It.
"That service is nothing less than
this-to add their authority and their
power to the authority and force Of
other nations to guarantee peace and
Justice throughout the world. Such
settlement cannot now be long post
poned. 1t is right that before 1t comes
this government should frankly formu-
late the conditions upon which 1t
would feel justified in asking our peo-
pie to approve its formal and solemn
adherence to league for peace
81 am here to attempt to state those
"The present war must first be
ended;
Our Voice to Be Heard.
'The present war must first be end.
ed; but we owe 1t to candor and to a
just regard for the opinion Of mankind
to say that so far as our participation
In guarantees Of future peace is con-
I'D pf
ference in what way and upon what
terms 1t is ended. The treaties and
agreements which bring 1t to an end
must embody terms which will create
a peace that is worth guaranteeing and
preserving, a peace that will win the
approval Of mankind: not merely a
peace that will serve the several in
terests and immediate aims of the ma
tions engaged. We shall have no
voice In determining what those terms
shall be- but we shall, I feel sure. have
a voice in determining whether they
shall be made lasting or not by the
Of universal covenant and
our Judgment upon what is fundamen-
tai and essential as a condition prece-
dent to permanency should be spoken
now. not afterwards when 1t may be
too late.
mo covenant Of cooperative peace
that does not include the peoples Of
the new world can suffice to keep the
future safe against war, and yet there
Is only one sort Of peace that the peo-
ples of American could join in guaran-
teeing.
The elements of that peace must be
elements that engage the confidence
and satisfy the principles Of the
American governments. elements con-
sistent with their political faith and