Connecticut western news., 1917-01-25


 dom of 3eas and Open Ports For All. Wilson's Plan to Avert Wars-Shat-
 ters Tradition by Appearing Before
 Senate to Publicly State PoIicy-De- mands a Free Poland and a Regen-
 erated Europe Based on American
 Principles.
 Boldly and frankly. President Wilson has laid before the senate of the Unit ed States the fundamentals of Euro pean peace which this country consid. CTS essential.
 Clearly and forcefully he declared the right of the United States to have a voice in determining the peace condi- tions which shall be made lasting by the decree of an eternal covenant" through an international league to en- 1 force peace.
 He laid down flatly the conditions which both sides in the European struggle must agree to if the United States is to become a party to the world agreement to prevent future wars. He asserted that the United States cannot in honor withhold the service of adding their power to au- thority and force of other nations to guarantee peace and justice throughout the world through a league for peace.
 Epoch Making Speech. 1t was an epoch making occasion. Washington gasped with amaZement when the president announced hc would make his address. sat in tense silence while he demanded for his coun- try the right to determine what shall constitute a lasting peace in Europe and floundered helplessly in its efforts to appreciate the magnitude of the step.
 The dignified senate, taken by sur | prise, sat in amazement as the~ ~presi dent, speaking to the body which shares with him the conduct of foreign affairs, announced his tradition defy i ing doctrine. As the text of the pIesi l dents peace demands was speeding by ! cable and wireless to the capitals of Europe it left behind an astounied. amazed diplomatic corps. Entente dip ! lomats gasped and refused to discuss i the speech beyond accepting it as a ] master move in the presidents plans. Teutonic diplomats gaspel and refusel to be quoted. although plaintly show l ing their satisfaction that the foremost ] neutral was an aggressive peace advo- l cate. Neutral diplomats sat back and l W ndered.
 In quiet, low tones that reached ev- nf ,n ha hnp Si- dent read his carefully prepared an- nouncement. Not sound interrupted the tall. spare figure at the clerk 1 desk as he read the fatcful. precise die ] ton.
 Declaring his belief that he owed it , to the senate to disclose the thought i anI purpose" the president outlined i the duty of this government when it will he necessary to lay afreSh and l upon a new plan the foundation of ] peace among the nations" He contin- ued:
 1 It is inconceivable that the people of the | United States should play no part in that | great enterprise. They cannot in honor ! withhold the service to which they are ! now about to be challengcds They do not wish to withhold it.
 That service is nothing less than this 1 to add their power and authority to the l authority of other nations to guarantee ] peace and justice throughout the world. | Such a settlement cannot now be long | postponed.
 i It is right that before it comes this gov l ernment should frankly formulate the con ! ditions upon which it would feel justified in asking our people to approve it formal i and solemn adherence to n league for ! peace. 1 am here to state those conditions. The present war must first be ended. | But we owe it to candor and to Il just re- | gard for the opinion of mankind 10 say | that so far as our par ,icipation in guaran- | tees of peace for the future is concerned l it makes a great deal of difference in what l way and upon what terms it is ended. Will Demand Voice. The treaties and agreements which bring it to an end must embody terms whicn i will create a peace that is worth guaran. : teeiug and preserving, peace that will i win the approval of mankind, not merely a peAce that will serve the interests and 1 immediate aims of those nations engaged. We shall have no voice in determining i what those terms shai ne. but we shall. | ] feel sure. have voice in determining whether they shall be made lasting or not , by thc guat antceS of u universal roVCuant, ' a' Il our Judgment upon what is fundvmen. tal :.u,. C.SC.t,i". .s., d ~a-.. ..H t.tet..-..i ! to ,cr'nnrenCy should hr "Hofc" nrw, not cr'u',"g'1 when it rnv To too late No covenant of cooperative peace which does not include the peoples of the new