Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-24
AMERICA AND ENTENTE.

into SO close a practical cooperation
with the entente allies as practically
Ito identify ourselves with them, il
lis necessary that we recognize the
peril into which we should be thrown
|if the allies We're to conclude that
their war object had been served, al
least as far as it was practicable to
serve them, before we as nation
had vindicated against Germany the
humanitarian cause for which we
draw the sword. In other words, we
are in a position where we must con-
slider whether the allies need us more
acutely today than we need them to-
morrow. 1t is question which a
cautious government may not dodge.
Seeing this predicament very
clearly from the beginning, the dis
tinguished emissaries of Great Brit
ain and France who soon will en-
gage in war conference at Wash
ington will not fail to urge, politely
but with some insistence, that the
United States commit itself in some
definite way to the achievement of
the same war aims that are held by
the entente governments. This will
be difficult to refuse, particularly If
the astute gentlemen from, the other
side of the ocean propose nothing
more Objectionable than already has
been outlined as the peace conditions
of the entente.
To complete restoration of Bel
GUM America surely will not be OPP
posed. Cession Of at least the great
er part of Alsace-Lorraine was hint
ed at by President Wilson in one of
his peace notes as a reasonable de-
mand. A free Poland combining Ger
man and Austrian as well as Rus
sian territory doubtless would be
agreeable to the presidents regard
for the principle of nationality. AS
for, the Dardanelles-wha hat show of
hostility can Washington muster
against the passing of that Turkish
prize into the hands of our great sis
ter democracy, Russia? The Balkan
and colonial questions can be nothing
else than minor. Italia irredenta Of
fers no serious stumbling block.
There probably will be no indemnity.
In these things there is no cause
for such a hanging back on the part
of America as might imperil her own
vital interests, it would seem. The
apparent readiness of the entente
powers to fall in line with the plan
for world concert to enforce peace
makes it still easier for Washington,
if it chooses, to swallow the entente
program.
1t does not follow that the United
States will subscribe to everything
Mr.. Balfour and M. Viviani may sug-
gest. 1t probably will not even be
necessary to make categorical avow-
al of determination to conclude no
separate peace. But the effect, it
may be surmised, will not be far from
that. The allies will be prepared to
go q considerable way to meet our
wishes. We shall have to expect
that we must compromise some of
our fondness for playing lone hand
in order to meet their wishes. We are
at war, which is a practical thing.
And very little reflection as to the
position we should be in if the Euro
pean struggle ceased while we are
still battling for democracy is cal
culated to raise ones hair.
We cannot even be indifferent to
the possibility of the detachment of
Russia. That alarming possibility
means as much to America now as
it does to England. The administra-
ton recognizes it, The administra-
ton is doing what it can to avert it.
Falling away of Russia from the en-
tente would either mean defeat and
almost vassalage for the democratic
world, including the United States,
or, at the best, long and sanguin-
airy struggle in France to which the
United States of America would have
to contribute millions of it's young
men and untold billions of dollars.
The United States is in no position
TO be intolerant Of the allies war
policies. The United States must &C
cept the fact that it is no one-sided
that will be made by the
commissioners from Great Britain
and from France.
WANTED-competent girl for gen.
eral housework. Good wages. Mrs.
G. T. Chamberlain, S27 Division