The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-06-11
President Outlines Ameri-
can War Aims in Letter
to Russia.
NO STATUS QUO ANTE.
Germany Must Get Rid of
Militarism Before She
Can Have Peace.

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dent Wilson, in a communication to
the new government of Russia, has
made plain the war aims of the Unit
ed States and its position on nc an
nexatlons; no indemntties.
mo territory must change hands
except for the purpose Of securing
those who inhabit it a fair chance of
life and liberty" says the commun-
ication.
mo indemnities must be insisted
on except those that constitute pay
ment for manifest wrong done.
mo readjustments of power must
be made, except such as will tend to
secure the future peace Of the world
and the future welfare and happiness
of its people"
In unmistakable terms, President
Wilson declares against Germany's
proposal to restore the Status quo"
before the war.
ut was the status quo ante out of
which this iniquitious war issued
FORTH" he says, the power of the
Imperial German government within
the empire and its widespread domin-
alton and influence outside of that
empire.
"That status must be altered in
such fashion as to prevent such hid
eous thing ever happening again"
The Presidents communication
was delieverd to the Russian govern
ment by Ambassador Francis at Pc
trograd. In full it is as follows:
"In view of the approaching visit
of the American delegation to Russia
to express the deep friendship of the
American 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 successful consum-
nation, it seems opportune and ap-
propriate that l should state again,
in the light of this new partnership,
the objects the United States has had
in mind in entering the war. These
objects have been very much becloud-
ed during the past few weeks by mis-
taken and misleading statements, and
the issues at stake are too moment
Gus, too tremendous, too significant
for the whole human race to permit
any neutrality-suspicious. or misunder-
standings, however slight, to remain
uncorrected for moment.
1.-THE war has begun to go against
Germany, and in their desperate de-
sire to escape the inevitable ultimate
defeat those who are in authority in
Germany are using every possible in
strumentality, are making use even
of the influence of groups and parties
among their own subjects to whom
they have never been just or fair or
even tolerant, to promote a propo-
ganda on both sides of the sea which
will preserve for them their influence
at home and their power abroad, to
the undoing of the very man they are
using.
-"The position of America in this
war is so clearly avowed that no man
can be misled into mistaking it. She
seeks no material profit or agrandize-
ment of any kind. She is fighting for
no advantage or selfish object of her
own, but for the liberation of peoples
everywhere from the aggressions Of
autocratic force. The ruling 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 selfish advantages which they
have wrongfully gained for them
selves and their private projects Of
tpower all the way from Berlin to
Bagdad and beyond. Government af-
ter government has by their inf1u-
ence, without open conquest of its
territory, been linked together in a
net of intrigue directed against moth
ing less than the peace and liberty Of
the world. The meshes Of that in
trigue must be broken, but cannot be
broken unless wrongs already done
are undone; and adequate measures
must be taken to prevent 1t from ever
again being re-woven or repaired.
"Of course, the Imperial German
government buu IuOsS HuUu IL - ub-
ing for their own undoing are seek
ing to obtain pledges that the war
will end in the restoration Of the
status quo ante. It was the status
quo ante out Of which this Ubiquitous
war issued forth, the power of the
Imperial German government within
the empire and its widespread domin-
alton and influence outside Of that
empire. That status must be altered
in such fashion as to prevent any
such hideous thing from ever hap
pening again.
eve are fighting for the liberty,
the self-goYernment, and the undic-
tated development of all peoples, and
every feature Of the settlement that
concludes this war must be conceived
and executed for that purpose.
Wrongs must first be righted and
then adequate safeguards must be
created to prevent their being COM
mitted again. We ought not to con-
slider remedies merely because they
have a pleasing sonorous sound.
Practical questions can be settled
only by practical means. Phrases viii
not accomplish the result! Effective
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