Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-12-27
FoRC1BLE LAMENTATIONS
NOT DESIRED.

FORCIBLE LAMENTATIONS
NOT DESIRED.
The Austrp- p-Hungarian foreign min
lister declared that the central pow
ers did" not intend to forcibly annex
territories seized during the war, nor
to deprive nations OF political inde-
pendence lost In the war. ''
z, The question of the 'subjection Of
nationalities who have not political
independence to another country can
not be solved internationally and
must be met by each government and
its people in q manner established
by the constitution OF that govern
ment. The protection Of the right OF
right of peoples to self-dennition..
s In the event of mutual refusal
to meet war expenditures and pay.
damages caused by the war. Count
Czerntn., continued, each belligerent
i4hhll bear only the expensas of ;ita
subjects made prisoner and ;dlmaEey
caused to- properly Of ,cNilian SUD
5Jsdts by eBberate yiolatfoks OF sfnter-'
national law On the part OF the ad
fund forsthi purpose. as suggested
by Russia, could be discussed only in
the event that the other belligerents
join in the. peace negotiations within
a certain time.
MUST RE-ESTABLIsH
RIGHTS OF SMALL NATIONS.
The chairman of the Russian dele
cation expressed qualification at Ger
man Willingness to make peace with
out aDnexations and lndemnit.es and
with the self-definition Of peoples.
He dumurred: however. at. the Ger
man statement on self-definition as
being. incomplete. He said the war
could not end without the re-estab-
lishment OF the violated rights of lit
tie and oppressed nationalities and
Russia would. insist on guarantees
that their lawfulirights would be pro-
tected in a general peace treaty.
f. Count Czernin explained the posi-
ton Of the central powers in state
ment which he read at the second
session of the peace conference Tues
day evening. His statement says:
= The delegations of the allied
tTeutonic) powers acting upon the
clearly expressed will Of their agov-
as, soon as possible a general peace.
The delegations, in complete accord
with the repeatedly expressed view
point OF their governments, think
that the basic principles Of the Rus
sian delegation can be made the basis
of such a peace.
CoNPEMN WAR
OF CONQUEST. a.,
alliance are agreed Immediately to
conclude a general peace without
forcible annexations and indemnities.
They share the view OF the Russian
delegation which condemns the con-
tinuation of the war purely for aims
of conquest. <t
The statement of the allied (Teu-
tonic) governments in progress and
statements have emphasized time and
they will'not prolong the war single
day. The governments Of the allies
unswervingly have followed this view
all the time. They solemnly declare
their resolve Immediately to sign
terms of peace which will stop this
war on the above terms. equally just
to all bell gerents without exception.
| WANT ENTENTE II
10 JOIN WITH RUSSIA.
1T is necessary, however, to indi-
\ cate most clearly that the proposals
OF the Russian delegation could be re-
alised only in case all 1.-The powers
PARTICIPATE in the war obligate
themselves scrupulously to adhere Il.
! the terms in common with all peo-
ples.
The powers Of the quadruple alK-
ance now negotiating with Russia
cannot. Of course. one-sidedly bind
| themselves to such terms. not having
the guarantee that Russia's allies
will recognize ana carry out these
terms honestly without reservation.
with regard to the quadruple alli-
anoe. Starting upon these principles
4 tnS Rd{MA "a civ ole ivHsSa