Daily Kennebec journal., 1917-01-20
AIMS OF FRANCE
(Continued from Page One)

to the Belligerents was in accord with
the traditional friendship between our
two nations. But being conscious that
~ ar" lighting for mankind, we find
"ur$"ivc> without the right to lay down
oar N"alons before we can sign n peace
i.a.i' hunanc: tha, is to say, founded
"Por principles which would make il
Horh5h'c and lasting. which would bc
""u$tat"nt with the rights OF nations
"i1 Which would spare the world from
ihc repetition of such q terrible catas.
t-ci'.', AZ th!s war
nhappilJ il is certain that GERMANY.
"ro pr4tcnds now 20 consider herself
Victorious althoug'. She can hardly en-
tellai:i any doubt 20 the end. is not
ripe as vet for such 4 necessary peace
We therefore arc condemned TO continue
the war until we--our gallant allies and
oursolves--can obtain the reparations and
guarantees rendered Indispensable by the
aggression of which VIC have been the
victims, by the sacrifices to which We
have subjected ourselves. and by the
losses which We have suffered
Nothing to Conceal"
The answer which the Allied nations
colicct!Hcly have lust given 10 President
Wilson 10 perfectly lear In this respect.
For our part We have nothing to conceal.
We were attacked. We are defending
ourselves, but VIC are not willing to be
obliged to defend ourselves perpetUally
against fresh attacks. Therefore We are
determined 70 have reparations for the
past and guarantees for tho future
You feel that the President was justi.
led N putting to the bei!igerent pow ers
the question which he asked?" the cor
respondent inquired
1T will not be from our side. " said
President roincare. that will come any
reru!sc Of the generous IDEAS Of Presi-
dent Wilson regarding the internationas
agreements {" be concluded AS. soon as
the peace IS signed III order to assure re-
speot for the pledges given On the con.
ti1ry. We very willingly shall associate
ourselves With his noble intentions. But
~ order That such UNDERSTANDINGS later
may produce their fuI, henefcent effcc,
we must begin hy restoring the right VIC
'1t"d and b, protecting Europe against
n peace which would contain the germ, OF
further outrages"
For Alsace and Lorraine
fnc correspondent asked Prcsiden,
foiucare whether France felt the re-
turn Of her lost provinces, Alsace and
Lorraine. rs well as the restoration of
Belgium. essential to the conclusion of
satisfactory peace.
president Poincare replied: I'VE also
hav" spoken OF the restitution Of prov
inces torn away In the past by. main
Stirngth or separated from us against
the VIII Of their inhabitants. Note
TINS that during A years France has
stranglod The pain which her old
wounds have caused her. III 1871 Ger
many took from her Alsace and Loy-
fainr. a-'Girst the unanimous wish of
tho inhabitants. Whatever NAV have
been the burning regret which she felt
tor this. France never would have been
willing TO make war of revenge, We
knew too well. alas, what war must
cost humanity. Instead we waited
taking care to avoid ali occasions for
conflict. France proved herself patient
and resigned. She endured proyoca-
tions such as that of Agadir and manv
others. But today. when war has been
declared upon her without lust mo-
tives; today, when her blood has been
poured out through the fault of Others
now could she fail to claim vindication
founded upon right and Justice? Pres
ident Wilson and the people of the
United states certainly understand the
high moral import of the answer of
the Allies"