Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1917-12-07
TO WIN THE
WAR is AIM
OFU. SNOW
Peace Will Then BE Evolved
Based On Mercy and Justice.
Germany Must Make I6esti-
tuition For Wrongs Done
Smaller Nations.


statement to the world Of America s
war aim and of the basis upon which
peace will be considered was made to-
day by President Wilson in an ad-
dress to congress in which he urged
immediate declaration of state of
war between the United States and
Ausrita- -Hungary-Germany's vassai
and tool. AS to Turkey and Bulgaria
also tools of the enemy-he coun-
seled delay because "they do not yet
stand in direct path of our necessary
action"
To win the, war, the President de-
clared in emphatic and ringing tones,
is the immediate and unaltcrable task
ahead. He urged congress. just begin
ming its second war session, to conccn-
trate itself upon it.
The president sharply dismissed the
possibility of premature peace, sought
by German intrigue and debated by
men who understand neither its ma
ture nor the way it may be attained.
with victory an accomplished fact"
he said, peace will be evolved, based
upon "mcrcy and justice,"-to enemy
and friend-wilth hope of Il partner
ship of nations to guarantee future
world peace.
The war will be deemed won, he
declared, "when the German people
say to us, through properly accredited
representatives, that they are ready
to agree to settlement based upon
justice and reparation of the wrongs
their rulers have doEc." Terms of
peace, he added, would rot include
dismemberment, robbery or punish
ment of the enemy, but would be bas-
ed on justice, defined briefly as fol-
lows:
Freedom Of nations and their peo-
pies from autocratic domination, rep
aration to Belgium, REIMBURSEMENT
of German power over the people OF
Austria, Turkey, the free Balkan
states as well as evacuation of Prus-
sian territorial conqucsts in Belgium
and Northern France.
Emphasizing the purpose of the
United States not to interfere in the
internal affairs of any nation, the
president asserted that no wrong
against the German empire was in
tended and that there was no desire
to rearrange the Hungarian
empire. He said when he spoke eight
months ago of the right of nations to
free access of the seas, he had Aus
tria, as we'll rs the smaller and weak
er nations, in mind.
Appearing before Congress in joint
session for the first time since he ask
ed for the war declaration against
Germany last April, the president was
more than usually warmly greeted
and his speech was received with en-
thusiastic applause when he reached
the recommendations as to Austria
Diplomats, justices of the supreme
court and other high officials as
sembled on the floor to join in the
demonstration.
The definiation war ans and peace
terms, the most explicit ever voiced
by the heads of any of the great
warning powers, was accepted as the
more significant because since his re-
ply to the pope's peace note the pres
ident has come to be regarded more
and more as spokesman for all the
nations fighting Germany.
By advancing arrangements the ad-
dress was made available for publica-
tion today in nearly every corner OF
the globe.
The request for declaration OF
war with Austria met with virtually
unanimous approval and congress was
prepared to give prompt response
Passage by the house Fridaycmfwyr
Passage by the house Thursday anC
by the senate Friday of the necessary
resolution was planned by leaders
who began drafting the formal docu-
ment soon after the president finished
speaking.
Strong sentiment in favor of in
Guiding Turkey and Bulgaria in th'
new war declaration in spite of th'
presidents counsel was prevalent, bu
administration leaders expected t,
curb it by pointing to Mr.. Wilson
declaration:
eve shall go wherever the necessi
ties of war carry us, but it seems t.
me that we should go only wher
immediate and practical considera
tions lead us, and not heed Others"
1t was learned that in conversation
with congressional leaders befor
leaving the capitol the president sal
that the Austrian declaration was ad
vised largely because it might be nc
cessary at any cine to have Ameri
can soldiers in Italy.
Approval of the address on all side
was pronounced and was demonstrat
ed by the outburst of applause, an
in statements of the congrcssiona
leaders. Many declared it the great
est of the presidents state papers
He was more than half an hour i
reading his manuscript in clear, per
etrating tones, gaining and earnest
ness Of delivery as he proceeded to
dramatic conclusion with an invoc;
tion 10 God. for victory for "ju:
and holy cause"