Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-12-08
wilson IDEA SPREADS
THROUGHOUT ENGLAND
and PRESS APPROVES
Re Statement Of Allied War
Aims Is Likely To Be APP
proved and Carried Out
By Perry Arnold


Omitted Press foreign editor)
New York, Dec. 7.-America IS plan
for re-statement of allied war aims
jointly subscribed to by those fight
ing to make the world safe for democ-
racy, is advancing inevitably to con-
summation.
British newspaper comment ON Pres
ident Wilson 8 message today indicat-
ed powerful backing is forming in Eng
land for the plan.
By his message the president has
once again clearly illumined America =
war aims and tactily put the same
course up to Americas allies for de-
cision.
First announcement of President
Wilson 3 plan Of a joint restatement
of allied war aims was made in the
United Press dispatches from Ed L.
Keen, its London staff correspondent,
on November 20. 1t was stated therein,
on highest authority, that Colonel
House of the American mission, then
in London, was urging such a plan as
a Hmilitary measure" Of the most SUI
prone Importance.
The president S idea, as then explain
ed, was for the allies TO place all their
war aims ON the council table for DIS
cussion and then to coordinate from
these a joint set, representative of the
highest ideals of democracy, rejecting
those of purely selfish national inter
est.
The aims that passed the crucible
test were to be jointly subscribed to.
Their attestation by solemn pledge of
the allies would be regarded as po-
tential weapon of incalculable strength
in aiding German reforms, removing
misconceptions of the Russian irrespon-
sibles and as reassuring all allied peo-
pies of the democratic principles on
which they were asked by their chos-
en- governing powers to sacrifice their
lives, money and property.
On November 80, ten days after the
United Press announcement Of this
plan Of joint re-statement, the Mar
quis of Lansdowne issued his bombshell
letter. One of its main arguments was
that the allies should re-state their
aims. 4
The inter-allied conference met insI
Paris November 29. United Press dis
patches of December 3 from its staff
correspondents tt3olSu6u W CONCA Lhds
important session, reported discussion
of such a re-statement of aims. Dele
gate Mawlakoff, representing Russia g
moderate socialists, approved the plan;
American delegates supported it and
the British statesmen were said to be
''passively acqaiescent. The matter
was, however, postponed for later dis
cussion.
Today the New York Times in a
Paris dispatch quoted Minister of Fl
nance Nitti of Italy, known as one of
Italy's strongest political leaders, as
stating Sit would be desirable to make
frank, unanimous declaration of al
lied war aims, and, again, "too much
harm has been done to the entente
cause already by imperiahst or self
centered war aims of individual coun-
tries. -
Today's comment of the Daily News
of London on President Wilson s re-
iteration, of American war aims, urges
England to adopt that course. The
Daily News is liberal newspaper OF
radical tendencies and great strength
The Manchester Guardian predicts
Former Premier Asquith, when ne
speaks at Birmingham, will be "sym-
pathetic to Lansdowne's letter, that
is, he will also approve re-statement
Of aims. This would mean the greatest
of England S liberal leaders would thus
endorse the plan