New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-01-22
Declares No People Should Be Parcelled 4
By Sovereigns and Cites Poland as lnstal|
of His Argument in Surprise Speech Bef1
United States Senate
EXPRESSES FAVORABLE OPINION, OF
49,. WORLD LEAGUE TO ENFORCE PEI

Washington, Jan. 22.-President
Wilson, in personal address to the
senate today, laid down the question
of whether the United States shall de-
part from it's traditional policy of
isolation and no entangling alliances
and take part in a world league to
preserve peace after the war.
Shattering precedent of more than
a century the president, regarding the
senate with it's treaty making power
as his counsellor in foreign affairs, en-
planned why he believed the time had
come for the world to know Amerl-
cas- position and the underlying
causes on which he believes per-
manent peace of the world can De
maintained.
While President Wilson was speak
ing directly to the senators after 'he
manner of Washington, Madison ana
Adams, his address was in the hands
oP all foreign governments or on its
way to them.
No such history-making event with
such far reaching possibilities to the
United States probably has never
been seen in the senate chamber.
In the background Of the funda-
mental principle of whether the
United States should allow the for
eign policy laid down by Washington
and carried out by long line OF
presidents was the policy that out OF
some such league of nations might
come way to end the present war.
The president spoke as follows:
Gentlemen of the senate:
ION the 18th of December last L
addressed an identic note to the gov
ernments of the nations now at war
requesting them to state, more def1n-
itely than they had yet been stated by
either groups of belligerents. the
terms upon which they would deem
it possible to make peace. I spoke
on behalf of humanity of the rights
1 of all neutral nations like our own,
I many Of whose most vital interests
the war puts in constant Jeopardy.
'1'he central powers united in a
reply which stated merely that they
were ready to meet their antagonists
| in confidence to discuss terms of
peace.
1.-The Entente powers have replied
much more definitely and have stated,
in general terms, indeed, but with
sufficient defniteness to complete de-
tails, the arrangements guarantees
! and acts of PREPARATION which they
! deem to be the indispensable con-
dittons Of a settlement.
1--WE are that much nearer a def
mite idea of the peace which shall end
the present war. We are that much
nearer the basis Of the international
concert, which must thereafter hold
the world at peace. In every discus
sion Of the peace that must end this
war it is taken for granted that that
peace must be followed by some def
note concert of power which will make
it impossible that any such cata,stro-
phe should ever overwhelm us again.
! Every lover Of mankind, every sane
and thoughtful man, must take that
for granted.
II have sought this opportunity to
address you because l thought that I
owed it to you, as the council aSso-
ciated with me in the final determ;
nation of our international obligations
to disclose to you without reserve, the
thoughts and purpose that have been
taking form in my mind in regard to
the duty of our government in these
days to come when it will be neces-
sary to lay afresh, and upon a new
plan, the foundations Of peace among
the nations.
'It is uncomfortable that the people
part in that great enterprise. To take
! part in such a service will be the OPP
portunity for which they have sought
to prepare themselves by the very
principles and PHILOSOPHERS of their
| policy and approved practices or their
| government ever since the days when
they set up a new nation in the hlsh
and honorable hope that it might, IN
all that it was and did. show mankind
the way to liberty. They cannot. in
honor withhold the service to which
thew are now about to be challenged.
Thev do not wish to withhold it. But
| they owe it to themselves and to the
! other nations of tn world to state the
7 conditions under which they will feel
free to render it.
That service is nothing less than
! this: To add their authority and thctr
power to the authority and force OF
| other nations to guarantee peace and
| Justice throughout the world. Such
settlement cannot now be long post
! Doned, 1t is right that before u
comes this government should frankly
| formulate the conditions upon Whlch
! it would feel justified in asking other
neoples to approve its formal ana
solemn adherence to league lof
peace. / am here to aim to state
| those conditions.
"The present war must first be'
ended; but we owe 1t to candor ana
| to a lust regard for the opinion or
mankind to say that, so far as our
| participation in guarantees of future
peace is concerned, it makes great
deal of difference in what way and