The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-01-23
Appearance Before Senate De-
failing His Views on Estab-
lishment of Lasting Peace
Marks Epoch In Nations
History, Officials Say.
Congress and Diplomats, Re-
covering From Surprise Oc-
casiOned by Message, Begin
to Study Speech-President
Receives Much Support.

Washington. Jan. 23-Congress and
the diplomatic corps, recovering
somewhat from their bewildered
amazement Of yesterday, set them
selves with varying emotions to the
consideration of President wilson
speech to the senate, outlining the
conditions under which he believes
the United States would enter a world
league for permanent peace.
The president asked the senate for
no action. He merely laid before the
counsel associated with him" in the
final determination Of the country s
International obligations what he has
done and his views of the duty of the
government Gin the days that are to
come when it will be necessary to lay
afresh and on a new plan the founda-
lions of peace among the nations"
Copies of the address are already in
the hands of American diplomats
abroad for delivery to the foreign
Offices of belligerents and neutrals and
on the nature of it's reception there
may depend whether there is to b
any further protracted discussion of
peace in the immediate future.
After summarizing his note to the
be1ligerents. the reply Of the Central
powers offering to meet theirr antag-
onists in peace conference and that
OF /the Entente stating their general
terms, what the president had to say
about the Immediate situation was ex-
pressed in the sentences: I'VE are
that much nearer definite discussion
OF the peace which shall end the
present war. We are that much
nearer the discussion of the interna-
tional concert which must thereafter
hold the world at peace" ~
White the president is looking to
Europe with the most profound in
terest In the effect his pronouncement
may have on the governments and
peoples Of the warning nations, he
awaits with Nequal eageress the YER
dict to be given by the American pub
lie after mature deliberation son the
course he has championed before the
world. It is, known tina the real
ICES the tremendous opposition to be
overcome before the United States can
take place in world alliance to pre-
serve peace, even though that alliance
be based on such a peace as he OUT
lined as the condition. Open op-
position to his ideals already has been
expressed among Republicans of the
senate and the inherent aversion of a
large part of the people generally to
any suggestion of a departure f-,om
the traditional policy of America is
fully recognized.
The president is said to believe,
however, that with full understand
ing of his reasons for holding that
It would be impossible for the United
States to remain neutral through an
other great war and realization of
the part their country, can play in
advancing civilization. these difficult
ties will be swept away.
Bitter criticism from Europe and
denunciation Of the American presi-
dent for what will be called attempt
ing to prescribe the terms on which
the great powers at war shall lay
down their arms is expected. New
fident that eventually substantial good
will come Of Mr.. Wilson's unprece-
denied course. It is pointed out that
he did not mean to imply that the
American government would throw
any obstacle in the way of any terms
of peace the nations at war might
agree upon, but merely expressed the
opinion that no peace could endure
that was not made secure by the
organized major force of mankind -
and stated the conditions on which
the United States would feel free to
take part in that great enterprise.