The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1917-09-07
WILSON REPLIES TO PEACE PROPOSALS
RECENTLY MADE BY POPE BENEDICT "
Tells His Holiness Peace Can Not Be Considered as Long
as Kaiserism Rules German people-Leaves Way
Open for Further Discussion
WORLD KNOWS PURPOSES or THE UNITED STATES

hte auuscuznad Che world Can pcsre
be based upon . restitution Of Its pov.
or or upon any word Of hooor II could
btsxss ma ts<1xy''St Sastt aasAns inst md
accommodated
'Responaiols stAtssmen mud nov
everywhere sec. II they never saw b.
fore, that no peace can rest securely
upon political or eoenomic restrictions
meant TO benefit some nations and
cripple or embarrAss others, upon YIN
dictive action OF any son, or any kind
OF revenge or deliberate injury. The
American people have suffered intol.
cradle wrongs ut the hands OF the
imperial German government out they
desire no reprtsal upon the German
people, who have themselves suffered
all things In this war. which they did
not choose They believe that peace
should rest upon the rights o: peoples.
not the rights Of govsrnmsnts--ths
rights OF peoples, great o. email. weak
or powerful-their cQust night 10 tres
dom and security and seli-soverHment
and to q participation upon fair terms
In the economic opportunities Of IL
world--the German people Of oourSA.
included. II they will accept equality
and not seek domination.
"The test therefore, Of every plan
Of peace IL this: ls It based upon the
faith Of all the peoples involved or
merely upon the word OF an ambitious
and intriguing government on the one
hand. and OF a group OF free peoples on
the other7 This Is a test which coca
to the root OF the matter; and II IL the
test which must be applied.
Way Open For Peace.
The purposes OF the United States
In this war are known to the whole
world--to every people to whom the
truth has been permitted to come
They do not need 10 be stated again
VA seek no material advantage M any
kind We believe that the intolesnble
wrongs done In this war by the fuSi
Gus and brutal power OF the imperial
German government ought to Ia ~
paired, but not at the expense OF the
sovereignty Of any people-rathsf q
vindieation OF The sovereignty. both q
those that are weak aAd Of those thst
are strong. Punitive dsmASeA The
ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of empires, the estAe-
iishment OF selfish and exclusive eco
homie leagues We deem inexpedient
and In the end wore than futile, no
proper tasis for peace Of any kind.
Feast OF oil for an enduring peace, Tia,
mus, be based upon Justice and fair
ness and the common rights OF mar
kind.
We cannot take the word Of The
present rulers of Germany a. guar
antee Of anything that IL to endure.
unless explicitly supported by such
evidence OF the vii! and
purpose O, the German people them
selves as the other peoples OF the
world would be Justified In accepting
Without such guarantees treaties Of
settlement agreements for disarns-
nent. covenants to set up arbitration
10 the peace OF force. territorial sdjuss.
menss, reconstruction OF small nstionA
Il made with the German government
no man. no nation could now depend
On. We must await some new evt !
ience OF the purposes G! the great
peoples OF the central powers 0od |
grant II may be giveu soon and In |
way to restore confidence OF all peuo !
PIES everywhere IN the faith OF nations |
Ind the possibility OF covcnantad /
peace
tSisned) ROBERT LANSING.
Secretary Of State OF the Cnited
States"