Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-07-03
RED. WHITE, AND
BLUE BOOK

The Red. White. and Blue Book
How the War Came to America" has
been issued by the Committee on
Public Information at Washington. II
Is OF special interest to holders OF
liberty bonds. as they are assisting In
financing the war. 1t Is a document
Ill students of this country's affairs
should read.
Its contents are % pages of intro
ductory historical matter. with the ad
dress OF President Wilson to the sen.
ate on January 22. 1917. and his ad.
dress to the joint session OF the houses
Of congress on April 2 announcing the
reverence OF diplomatic relations with
Germany and asking that state of
war between the United States and
Germany be recognized.
The traditional policy of the United
States, always strictly adhered to. in
abstaining from any entangling alli-
apces and participation in European
controversies is set out ably, with cita-
lions of incidents and documents in
proof.
The position Of the United States in
the summer of 1914 is summarized as
follows:
II. The Monroe doctrine.-We had
pledged ourselves to defend the New
World from European aggression, and
we had by word and deed made It
clear that we would not intervene in
any European dispute.
"2. The freedom of the seas.-in
every naval conference our influence
had been given In support of the prjn-
ciple that sea law to be Just and
worthy of general respect must be
based on the consent Of the governed.
"S. Arbitratlon.-As we had Sc.
cured peace at home by referring
interstate disputes to n federal tri.
bunal, we urged similar settlement
of international controversies. Our
ideal was a permanent world court
We had already signed arbitration
treaties not only with great powers
which might conceivably attack us,
but even more freely with weaker
neighbors in order to show our good
faith In recognizing the equality of all
nations both great and small"
The attitude Of this country toward
Germany and the other nations at war
Ia evidenced by the presidents pro.
clamation OF neutrality and its recep.
lion by the people. Questions which
arose between the entente allies and
the United States involved only prop.
erty rights and were covered by arbi.
tration treaties. Questions that arose
between the Teutonic allies and this
country involved irreparable loss of
life, and through their refusal to make
arbitration treaties were not subject
to compulsory arbitration.
The course OF the Imperial German
government In this country and in
Mexico and other countries of this
hemisphere, Its deceit, secret machina.
lions, and overt acts OF hostility are
reviewed and the patience and the for
eearance of the president and the
American government demonstrated.
The pamphlet summarizes the
events leading to the entrance of the
United States into the war with Ger.
many. The exact condition of affairs
at the time OF the delivery OF the
presidents war message is set out and
the course Of the president and the
nation justified by the recital of facts
now known to all.
The revolution in Russia, It is said,
made the course Of the United States
much palmer and converted the whole
conflict into a real struggle that the
world must be made safe for demo.
eracy.'