Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-01-26


early days of the republic, President
Wilson went before the United States
senate Monday afternoon and in a
personal address put squarely before
that body, the nation and the world
his belief that the United States
should enter a world league to guar
antee peace and justice throughout
the world.
1t was the first time in more than
a hundred years that president of
the United States had appeared in
the senate chamber to discuss the
nations foreign affairs after the
manner of Washington, Adams and
Madison. The effect was to leave
congress-, all officials and the for
eign diplomats amazed.
The presidents declaration of pol
icy had been sent to the American
diplomats in the belligerent coun-
tries for presentation to those gov
ernments Monday of last week, and
was an open message to the world
of the conditions under which he
would urge the United States to en-
ter = world federation to guarantee
future peace. Not until word had
been received from the diplomats
abroad that the message had been
received did the president publicly
address the senate.
The Presidents Address.
The complete text of his address
follows:
Gentlemen of the Senate: On
the 18th of December last ad-
dressed an identical note to the gov
ernments of the nations now at war
requesting them to state more def
nitely than had yet been stated by
either group of belligerents, the
terms upon which they would deem
1t possible to make peace. spoke
on behalf of humanity and of the
rights of all neutral nations like our
own, many of whose most vital in
terests the war puts in constant
jeopardy.
1.-THE central powers united in a
reply which stated merely that they
we're ready to meet their antagonists
in conference to discuss terms Of
peace.
1.-THE entente powers have replied
much more definitely and have stat
ed in general terms indeed, but with
sufficient definiteness to imply de-
tails, the arrangements, guarantees
and acts of reparation which they
deem to be the indispensable condi-
lions of a satisfactory settlement.
I'VE are that much nearer a def
mite discussion of the peace which
shall end the present war. We are
that much nearer the discussion of
the international concert which must
thereafter hold the world at peace.
In every discussion of the peace that
must end this war 1t is taken for
granted that that peace must be
given by some definite concert Of
power which will make it virtually
impossible that any such catastrophe
should ever overwhelm us again.
Every lover of mankind, every sane
and thoughtful man, must take that
for granted.
Favors League for Peace.
II have sought this opportunity to
address you because thought
that l owed it to you, as the council
associated with me in the final deter
mination Of our international obliga-
tons, to disclose to you, without re-
serve, the thought and purpose that
have been taking form in my mind
in regard to the duty Of our govern
ment in these days to come, when it
will be necessary to lay afresh and
upon a new plan. the foundations of
peace among the nations.
1T is uncomfortable that the peo-
pie Of the United States should play
no part in that great enterprise. To
take part in such a service will be
the opportunity for which they have
sought to prepare themselves by the
very principles and purposes Of their
policy and the approved practices Of
their government ever since the days
when they set up a new nation in the
high and honorable hope that 1t
might in all that 1t was and did,
show mankind the way to liberty.
They can not. in honor, withhold the
service for which they are now about
to be challenged. They do not wish
to withhold it. But they owe It to
themselves and to the other nations
OF the world to state the conditions
under which they will feel free to
render it.
| THAT service is nothing less than
this--to add their authority and
their power to the authority and