Omaha daily bee., 1917-06-10
WILSON STATES
POSITION OF THE
UNITED STATES

Sohsthuch AVfu nBu ouo1
profess like liberality 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 them
selves and their private projects Of
power, all the way from Berlin to
Bagdad and beyond.
Intrigue Must Be Broken.
Government after government has
by their influence, without open con-
quest Of its territory, been linked to-
gether in net of intrigue 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 al
ready done are undone; and adequate
measures must be taken to prevent
it from every again being rewoven or
repaired.
"Of course, the imperial German
government and those whom Il Is
using for their own undoing are seek
ing to obtain pledges that the war will
end In the restoration of the status
quo ante. II was the status quo ante
out of which this iniquitous war is
sued forth, the power of the imperial
German government within the en-
pire. That status must be altered In
such fashion as to prevent any such
hideous thing from ever happening
again.
I'VE are fighting for the liberty, the
self-government and the indicated
development 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 COM
nitted again. We ought not to con-
slider remedies merely because they
have pleasing and sonorous sound.
Practical questions can be settled only
by practical means. Phrases will not
achieve the result. Effective readjust-
ments will, and whatever readjust-
ments are necessary must be made.
Principle Is Plain.
but they must follow a principle,
and that principle is plain. No peo-
pie must be forced under sovereignty
under which it does not wish to live.
No territory must change hands ex-
cept for the purpose of securing those
who inhabit il fair chance of life
and liberty. No indemnities must be
insisted on, except those that consti-
tute 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 future welfare and hap
piness OF its people.
"And then the free peoples OF the
world must draw together in some
common covenant, some genuine and
practical cooperation that will in ef-
feet combine their force to secure
peace and justice in the dealings of
nations with one another. The broth
srhood OF mankind must no longer be
a fair but empty phrase; il must be
given structure of force and reality.
The nations must realize their COM
mon live and effect workable part
nership to secure that life against
the aggressions of autocratic and self
pleasing power.
Must Conquer or Submit.
"For these things we can afford to
pour out blood and treasure. For
these are the things we have always
profcssed to desire, and unless we
pour out blood and treasure now and
succeed we may never be able to unite
or show conquering force again in
the great cause of human liberty. The
day has come to conquer or submit.
IF the forces of autocracy can divide
Us, they will overcome us; if we stand
victory is certain and the
liberty which victory will secure. We
AN afford then to be generous, but |
se cannot afford then or now to be
weak or omit any single guarantee ofl
ustice and security