The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-27
Subject Nations.

The question Of the subjection OF
nationalities who have not political
independence to another country,
cannot be solved internationally and
must be met by each government and
its people in the manner established
by the constitution of that govern
ment. The protection OF the right
OF minorities is an essential part sf
the right OF peoples to self-definition.
In the event Of a mutual refusal
TO meet war expenditures and pay
damages caused by the war, Count,
Czernin continued, each beIIigerentf I
shall bear only the expense of its
subjects made prisoner and damages,
caused to property OF civilian sub
jects by deliberate violations of in
ternational law on the part Of the /
adversary. The creation of q special
fund for this purpose, as suggested
by Russia. could be discussed only
In the event that the other beIliger-
ents join in the peace negotiations
within a certain time.
The chairman OF the Russian dele !
cation expressed qualification at
German willingness TO make peaces
without annexations and indemnitie8i
and with the self-definition Of peo-
pies. He demurred, however, at thet
German statement on self -definttions
as being incomplete. He said the
war could not end without the re-
establishment of the violated rights
OF little and oppressed nationalitiess
and Russia would insist on guaraH-
tees that their lawful rights would
be protected In general peace
czsrnin's Statement.
Count czernin explained the post~i
ton OF the central powers in a
statement which he read at the sec-4
ond session Of the peace conferencsl
Tuesday evening. His statement
says:
"The delegations of the allied,
CTeutonic) powers. acting upon the
clearly expressed win OF their gov
ernments and peoples. win concludeS
as soon as possible a general peace. ]
The delegations, In complete accord
with the repeatedly expressed View
point Of their govermuAents, think
that the basic principles of the Rus-
sian delegation can be made th8
basis OF such a peace.
''The delegations of the Quadrupl@
alliance are agreed Immediately to
conclude q general peace without
forcible annexations and lndemnl-
ties. They share the view of the
Russian delegation which condemusf
the continuation OF the war purely
for aims of conquest.
The statesmen Of the allied.
(Teutonfcl governments in programs
and statements have emphasized
time and again that for the sake Of
conquest they viii not prolong tho
war a single day. The governments
Of the allies unswerylngly have f0l-
lowed this view all the time. They
solemnly declare their resolve Inn
mediateIy to sign terms of peace
which viii stop this war on tha
above terms, equally just to all
belligerents without exception.
1T Is necessary, however. to in-
dicate most clearly that the propos-
ais Of the Russian delegation could
be realized only In case ali the pow
ers participating in the war OhIigat0
themselves scrupulously to adhere
to the terms In common with all
peoples.
-The powers Of the uuadrnple al-
lance now negotiating with Russia
cannot, Of course, ome-aldeoly bind
themselves to such terms. not have
ing the guarantee that EusslasE a1~
lies win recognise and carry out
these terms honestly without reser=
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