The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1917-01-27
News of the World
PRESIDENT WILSON OUTLINES POL
ICY OF UNIVERSAL PEACE, IN AN
ADDRESS BEFORE SENATE

ADDRESS BEFOEE SENATE
BELIEVES THAT THE UNITED STATES SHOULD
ENTER WORLD LEAGUE FOR SECURITY OF
NATIONS-DECLARES THAT BELL
GERENTS SHOULD ARRANGE PEACE
WITHOUT VICTORY
President Wilson, in a personal address to
the United States Senate, on January %,
outlined plan by which he believes the
United States should enter a world league
for permanent peace thereby departing from
it's traditional policy of isolation.
1t is claimed, by one writer, that no such
history making event, with such far-reaching
possibilities to the United States, probably
ever has been seen in the Senate chamber.
For the first time in more than 100 years,
a president of the United States appeared in
the Senate chamber to discuss the nations
foreign relations after the manner of Wash
ington, Adams, and Madison.
Copies of the address were Immediately
placed in the hands of American diplomats
abroad for delivery to the foreign offices of
belligerents and neutrals.
After referring to his peace note to the
nations at war, of December 18th, and briefly
outlining their replies, he said
I'VE are that much nearer definite dis
cussiOn 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 it is taken for granted that that
peace must be given by some definite concert
of power which will make it virtually impos-
sible that any such catastrophe should ever
overwhelm us again. Every lover of man.
kind, every sane and thoughtful man must
take that for granted
II have sought this opportunity to address
you because l thought that owed it to you,
as the council associated with me in the final
determination of our international obliga-
tions, to disclose to you, without reserve, the
thought 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 necessary to lay afresh, and upon
new plan, the foundations of peace among
the nations"
THE UNITED STATES MUST ADD THEIR AU-
THORITY TO THAT OF OTHER NATIONS TO
GUARANTEE PEACE
"It is inconceivable that the people of the
United States should play no part in that
great enterprise To take part in such SER
vice will be the opportunity for which they
have sought to prepare themselves by the
very principles and purposes of their polity
and the approved practices Of their govern
ment ever since the days when they set up
new nation in the high 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 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 force of other nations to guar
antee peace and justice throughout the world
Such settlement cannot now long be post
poned 1t is right that before it comes this
government should frankly formulate the
conditions upon which it would feel justified
in asking our people to approve it's formal
and solemn adherence to league for peace
am here to attempt to state those condi-
tions."
SEEKS UNIVERSAL COVENANT OF NATIONS
"The present war must first be ended but
we owe it to candor and to a Just regard for
the opinion of 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 upon what terms
it is ended * *
eve shall have no voice in determining
what those terms shall be, but we shall, feel
sure have voice in determining whether
they shall be made lasting or not by the guar
antees OF universal covenant and our iudg-
ment upon what is fundamental and essential
as condition precedent to permanency
should be spoken now, not afterward. when
it may be too late.
mo covenant of cooperative peace that
does not include the peoples of the new world
cI1ffIa 10 Ed.