Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1917-06-15
AMERICAN War :
aims OUTLINED
President Wilson Sends Stirring
Note to Russia.
SEEKS NO MATERIAL PROFIT
United States Is Fighting for Liberia
ton Of All Peoples From Aggres-
sions Of Autocratic Force.

Washington. President Woodrow
Wilson, in communication to the
new government of Russia, has made
plain the war aims of the United
States and it's position on mo annex
alton, no indemnities." The presidents
communication says:
I'm view Of the visit of the Amer
lean commission to Russia to discuss
the best and most practical means of
cooperation between the two peoples
in carrying the present struggle for
freedom of all peoples to a successful
ccnsummation it seems opportune and
appropriate that l should state again,
in the light of this new partnership,
the objects the United States has had
in mind in entering the war.
THE war has begun to go against
Germany and in their desperate de-
sire to escape the inevitable ultimate
| defeat those who are in authority in
Germany are using every possible in
strumentality, are making use even of
the influence of groups and parties
amcng their own subjects to whom
they save never been just or fair or
even tolerant, to promote a propa.
ganda on both sides of the sea which
will preserve for them their influence
at home and their power abroad, to
the undoing of the very men they are
using.
"The position of America in this
war Is so clearly avOwed no man can
be excused for installing it. She seeks
no material profit or aggrandizement
Of any kind. She is fighting for no
advantage or selfish object of her
own, but for the liberation of PEG.
pies everywhere from the aggressions
of autocratic force.
THE ruling classes in Germany
have begun of late to profess a like
liberation and justice of purpose, but
only to preserve the power they have
set up in Germany and the selfish ad-
vantages which they have wrongly
gained for themselves and their pri-
vate prospects of power all the way
from Berlin to Bagdad and beyond.
Government after government has,
by their influence without open con-
quest of territory, been linked togeth-
er in net of intrigue directed against
nothing less than the peace and lib.
erty Of the world
Wrongs Done Must Be Undone.
THE meshes of that intrigue must
be broken, but cannot be broken un-
less wrongs already done are undone, |
and adequate measures must be taken |
to prevent it from ever again being |
rewoven or repaired.
1--WE are fighting for the liberty, the |
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 this being commit
led again. We ought not to consider
remedies merely because they have a
pleasing and sonorous sound.
mo people must be forced under
sovereignty under which it does not
wish to live. No territory must
change hands except for the purpose
If securing for those who inhabit it a
air chance of life and liberty. No
ndemnities must be insisted on ex-
'ept those that constitute payment
or manifest wrongs DONE No read
ustments of power must be made ex-
'ept such as will tend to secure the
uture peace of the world and the
Welfare and happiness of its people.
And then the free peoples of the
world must draw together in some
COMMON government, some genuine
nd practical cooperation that will,
n effect, combine their force to Sc
ure peace and justice in the dealing
f nations with one another.
"The brotherhood of mankind must Z
10 longer be fair but empty phrase.
1T must be given a structure of
orce and reality. The nations must 8
ealize their common life and effect
workable partnership to secure that
lie against the aggressions of au-
ocratic and self-pleasing powers. Il
For these things we can afford to
our out our blood and treasure. For I
hese things we have always protested s
, desire and unless we pour out blood T
nd treasure now and succeed we may
ever be able to unite or show con-
uering force again in the great cause
human liberty. r
''The day has come to conquer or :
lbmit. If the forces of autocracy can o
wide us they will overcome us; If y
e stand together victory is certain :,
nd the liberty which victory will &C.
Ire. We can afford to be generous,
ut We cannot afford then or now to
2 weak ool omit any single guarantee
justice and security"