Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-06-14

war aims of the United States and its
position on mo annexations;' no indemni-
ties"
mo territory must change hands
EXCEPT for the purpose of securing those
who inhabit it a fair ohance of life and
liberty" says the communication
mo indemnities must be insisted on
except those that constitute payment for
manifest wrong done.
mo establishments of power must be
made. except such as will tend to secure
the ruture peace of the world and future
welfare and happiness of its people"
In unrnistakable terms. President Will
son declared against Germany's proposal
to restore the status quo" before the
war
TT was the status quo ante out Of
which this iniquitous war issued forth,
he says the power of the imperial Ger
man government within the empire and
its widespread domination and influence
outside of that empire.
That status must be altered in such
fashion as to prevent any such hideous
thing from ever happening again
The Presidents communication was de-
livered to the Russian government by
Ambassador Francis at Petrograd. In
full it is as follows:
I'm view of the approaching visit of
the American delegation to Russia to ex-
press the deep friendship of the Ameri-
can people for the people of Russia and
to discuss the best and most practical
means of cooperation between the two
peoples in carrying the present struggle
for the freedom of all peoples to sue
cessfu contamination. it seems oppor-
a q 7
again. in the light of this new partner
ship, the objects the United States has
had in mind in entering the war. Those
objects have been very much beclouded
during the past few weeks by mistaken
and misleading statements. and the is
sues at stake are too momentous. too
tremendous too significant for the whole
human race to permit any misinterpreta-
tons or MISUNDERSTANDING. however
slight. to remain uncorrected for a
moment.
The war has begun to go against Ger
many, and in their desperate desire to
escape the inevitable ultimate defeat
those who are in authority in Germany
are using every possible instrumentality,
are making use even of the influence of
groups and parties among their own sub
jects to whom they have never been just
or fair or even tolerant to promote a
propaganda on both sides of the sea
which will preserve for them their in
fluence at home and their power abroad
to the undoing of the very. men they are
using.
THE position of America in this war is
so clearly avowed that no man can be eX-
cused for mistaking it. She seeks no ma
terial profit or ACKNOWLEDGMENT of any
kind. She is fighting for no advantage o,
~ g. II,
GRAFTON of peoples everywhere from the
aggressons of autocratic force. The rul
ing classes in Germany have begun of late
to profess like liberality and justice OF
purpose. but only to preserve the power
they have set up in Germany and the sci
fish advantages which they have wrong
ly gained for themselves and their private
projects of power all the way from Berlin
to Bagdad and beyond. Government
after government has by their influence
without open conquest of its territory
been linked together in net of intrigue
directed against nothing less than thu
peace and liberty of the world. Tit
meshes of that intrigue must be broken
but cannot be broken unless wrongs al
ready done are undone; and adequate
measures must be taken to prevent il from
ever again being rewoven or repaired.
"Of course, the imperial German gov
eminent and those whom it is using 70
their own undoing are seeking to Obtain
pledges that the war will end in the res
toration of the status quo ante. 1t wa
the status quo ante out of which this mi
Quitous war issued forth, the power o
the imperial German government With
the empire and it's widespread dominatio
and influence outside of that empire Tha
status must be altered in such fashion a
to prevent any such hideous thing fror
ever happening again
we are fighting for the liberty, tn
self-government, and the indicated de
velopment of all peoples. and every fea
ture of the settlement that concludes thi
war must be conceived and executed fo
that purpose. Wrongs must first be right
ed and then adequate safeguards must b
created to prevent their being committe
again. Remedies must be found as we
as statements of principle that will hay
pleasing and sonorous sound. Practic;
questions can be settued only by practic;
means. Phrases will not accomplish I'll
result. Effective readjustnents will; an
whatever establishments are necessar
must be made
But they must follow a principle ar
that principle is plain. No people must
forced under sovereignty under which
does not wish to live. No territory mu
change hands except for the purpose
securing those who inhabit il a fair chan,
of life and liberty No indemnties mu
be insisted on except those that constitu
payment for manifest wrongs done
FeadJustments of power must be mat
except such as will tend to secure Il
future peace of the world and the futu
welfare and happiness of it's peoples.
And then the free peoples of the wor
must draw together in some CONNIE
covenant, some genuine and practical C
operation that will in effect combine the
force to secure peace and justice in d
dealings of nations with one another. T.
/. brotherhood of mankind must no long
be fair but empty phrase. it must
given structure of force and realit
r. The nations must realize their COMM
life and effect a workable partnership
secure that life against the aggressions
autocratic and pleasing power
E. For these things we can afford to pc
out blood and treasure. For these are t
70 things we have always professed to desi
and unless we pour out blood and treasu
y. now and succeed, we may never be able
unite or show conquering force again
p. the great cause of human liberty T
day has come to conquer or submit.
the forces of autocracy can divide us, tn
will overcome us; if we stand togetf
victory Is certain and the liberty viii
victory will secure. We can afford tn
to be generous. but we cannot afford tn
or now to be weak or omit any SIM
guarantee of justice and security"
Il