El Nuevo mexicano., 1917-08-30
GERMANYS


pe u k6NeTdl COnuOuutioh, uipni mn
ment, and a concert OF nations, based
upon an acceptance Of the principle
Of arbitration; that by a similar on'
cert freedom of the seas be, estab.
lished and that the territorial claims
Of France and Italy, the preplexing
problems Of the Balkan states and
the restitution of Poland be left to
such conciliatory adjustments as may
be possible In the new temper OF
such a peace, due regard being paid
to the aspirations of the peoples
whose political fortunes and affilia-
tons will be involved.
Must Have Firm Basis
1T is manifest that no part Of this
program can be successfully carried
out unless the restitution of the
status quo ante furnishes a firm and
satisfactory basis for it. The object
of this war Is to deliver the free peo-
pies of the world from the menace
and the actual power of a vast mill
tary establishment controlled by an
irresponsible government, which hav-
ing secretly planned to dominate the
world proceeded to carry the plan
out without regard either to the sa-
cred obligations of treaty~,o OF the long
established practices and long cher
ished principles of international ac-
ton and honor; which chose its own
time for the war, delivered its blow
fiercely and suddenly; stopped at no
barrier either Of law or OF mercy;
swept a whole continent within the
tide of blood-not the blood Of SOL
diers only-but the blood Of innocent
women and children also and of the
helpless poor; and now stands baked
but not defeated the enemy Of four
fifths of the world.
"This power Is not the German
people. 1t is no business Of ours how
that great people came under its con-
troll or submitted with temporary zest
to the domination of its purpose, but
1t Is our business to see to 1t that the
history of the rest Of the world is no
longer left to its handling.
ITO deal with such a power by way
of peace upon the plan proposed by
His Holiness, the pope, would, so far
as we can see, involve a recuperation
Of its strength and a renewal of its
policy; would make It necessary to
create a permanent hostile combina-
ton of nations against the German
people who are its instruments; and
would result In abandoning the new
born Russia to the intrigue, the a
ifold subtle interference, and the Ger.
tain counter revolution which would
be attempted by all the malign influ-
ences to which the German govern
ment has of late accustomed the
world. Can peace be based upon a
restitution of its power or upon any
word of honor it could pledge In a
treaty of settlement and accommo-
dation?
U. s Wants No Reprisal
Responsible statesmen must now
everywhere see, If they never saw be-
fore, that no peace can rest securely
upon political or economic restrictions
meant to benefit some nations and
cripple or embarrass others, upon
vindictive action of any sort or any
kind of revenge or deliberate injury.
The American people have suffered
intolerable wrongs at the hands OF
the imperial German government but
they desire no reprisal upon the Ger
man people who have themselves suf-
fered all things in this war, which
they did not choose. They believe that
peace should rest upon the rights OF
peoples not the rights of govern
ment-the rights of peoples great or
small, weak or powerful-their equal
right to freedom and security and
self-government and to a participa-
ton upon fair terms in the economic
opportunities Of the world-the Ger.
man people of course included If they
will accept equality and not seek
"The test therefore of every plan Of
peace is this: Is 1t based upon the
faith of all the peoples involved or
merely upon the word of an ambi-
tious and intriguing government on
the n hand and a group of free peo-
Piles on the other This is a test
which goes to the root of the mat
ter; and it is the test which must be
applied.
THE purposes Of the United States
In this war are known to the whole
world-to every people to whom the
truth has been permitted to come.
They do not need to be stated again.
We seek no material advantages Of
any kind. We believe that the in
tolerable wrongs done in this war by
the furious and brutal power of the
Imperial German government ought
to be repaired, but not at the expense
Of the sovereignty of any people,
a vindication of the sovereign
ty, both of those that are weak and
those that are strong. Punitive dam
ages, the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of empires,
the establishment Of selfish and ex-
economic leagues, we deem
and in the end worse
than futile, no proper basis for al
peace of any kind, least Of all for an
enduring peace. That must be based
upon justice and fairness and the
common rights Of mankind.
German Guarantee Useless
'fWe cannot take the word of the
present rulers of Germany as a guar
OF anything that is to endure
1nless explicitly supported by such
evidence of the will and
purpose Of the German people them
selves as the other people Of the
world would be justified in accepting.
Without such guarantees. treaties of
agreements for disarma-
nent, covenants to set up arbitra-
ion in the place of force, territorial
adjustments, reconstitutions of small
II made with the German
government, no man, no nation could
low depend on. We must await some