Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-20
Wilson Wants Allied
War Aims Defined
Continued from Page One

move to purge the Allied coalition OF
tho last tinge OF suspicion Of selfish inter-
est or hope Of individual gain for any
nation.
Such move. dsarming the Kaiser of
his argument that the German soldier is
fighting defensive war, is counted on
to deal a telling blow 70 German morale,
to give reinsurance TO neutrals and to re-
move from the mind OF any Allied soldier
any idea that he is risking his life in
furtherance Of the commercial or political
interests of any Allied nation.
That President Wilson personally desires
such a declaration by such a council is ad
mittedly the best guarantee that both will
be forthcoming. The American Executive
IL at the moment ia q position to obtain
the most friendly consideration of his ideas,
Allied diplomats state frankly that Presi.
dent Wilson. by reason Of Americas
peculiar position and vitality valuable re.
sources, now holds tn" balance of power
among the Allied leaders.
Washington has stated repeatedly that
American participation in tn" Interallicd
council will be confined entirely 20 military
measures"
No deviation from This idea Is cont"m-
plated, but it can be said with authority
that the President will reserve the hight
TO determine what constitutes military
measures"
ALLIES ONE DIRECTIVE
The announced military objective Of all
the Allies is the defeat Of German mill
tarisrn and the shattering Of the IIohen-
zollern menace to the peace Of the world
Anything calculated to further that ohJec-
tive will, it is pointed out. bc classed by
America as "a military measure"
Evidence is already forthcoming that
more discomfort has been caused IN" ruling
class within Germany by Wilson's appeal
on Jun" II to the German people over tn"
heads Of the Kaiser and his hand-picllcd
Government than by any single military
blow struck during 1914.
While no big result has yet been recorded
from this political offensive, ther" is evil
dence that the lravcn is working. TN"
French especially have been active in sow
ing the seeds Of German rcpubliCaniSm on
TeutOnic soil. war leaders regard any
move calculated to SUlidify and unite the
Allies to define and concentrate their Of
forts on common objectivcs. eliminating pri-
vate or selfish hopes Of individual Allied
helligcrents, as military measures. Along
the same line II has been urged as Of no
less necessity that greater consideration hc
given to the needs of and advantages of
and less consulted Allies.
FINANCIERS ~ OPPOSITION
There is good reason to believe that tho
statesmen among the Entente Powers are in
substantial agreement with President VIII
sons suggestion. Opposition. however may
develop among certain groups Of fnancicrs
because no attempt is made to conceal the
fact that such a statement of essential prin-
ciples As President Wilson desires may ne
cessitatc a whiting down Of maximum de-
mands by various countries. The statesmen
who have been guiding tho war for more
than three years are quite prepared to limit
demands to those essentials affecting the
Allies. II is known, however. that certain
great international financial groups desire
to run still further risks in the hope Of
making good, financially and territorally.
at the expense of the Central Powers.
IT is admitted readily here that America
is advan,agoOusly placed 10 put through her
program without Inconsistency.
With Russia definitely out of active fight
ing. the United States alone of all the Al
lies IS in position to furnish the man
power requisite to continue the war to a
successful elimination
American regulars are in France, Amcrj-
can volunteers are in khaki and i'm the
navy and the seective service army is In
tralhlhg--not to further individual aims
ot Individual nations. not to make possible
economic and commercial leagues against
hermany, but to uphold the inalienablc
rights Of American citizens on land and on
sea hs guaranteed under international law
ana in its highest sense make the world
safe for democracy.
AMERICANS MUST KNOW AIMS
II is pointed out that if America is to
furnish the full strength ana deliver the
full blow Of which she is capable the