Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1917-06-15
GERMANS WILL BE COMPELLED
TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGE AND
MAY LOSE TERRITORY.
UNCLE SAM ASKS NOTHING
Peace-can Not Revert To Con-
ditions Before War Because
of Danger of Future Strife.

shington.-President Wilson in q
communication to the new government
OF Russia has made plain the war aims
of the United States and it's position
on mo annexation, no indemnities."
In unmistakable terms President
Wilson declares against Germany's
proposal to restore the Status quo
before the war.
1T was the status quo ante out of
which this iniquitous war issued
FORTH" he says, "the power of the inn
perial German government within the
empire and its widespread domination
and influence outside of that empire.
That status must be altered in such
fashion as to prevent any such hide
Gus thing from ever happening again"
The presidents communication was
delivered to the Russian government
by Ambassador Francis at Petrograd.
In full 1t is as follows:
Uncle Sam Seeks Nothing.
In view OF the approaching visit OF the
American delegation to Russia to express
the deep friendship OF the American peo-
pie for the people of Russia and to dis
cuss 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 con-
summation, 1t seems opportune and ap-
propriate that should state again. in the
light of this new partnership, the object
the United States has had In mind in en-
tering the war. Those objects have been
very much beiclouded during the past few
weeks by mistaken and misleading state
ments and the issues at stake are too mo-
rnentous, too tremendous, too significant
for the whole human race to permit any
neutrality-suspicious. or Observation-Disclosures,
however slight, to remain uncorrected for
a moment.
The war has begun to go against Ger
many, and In their desperate desire to
escape the Inevitable ultimate defeat those
who are in authority in Germany are
using every possible instrumentality, are
making use even of the influence OF
groups and parties among their own sub
5ects to whom they have never been just
or fair or even tolerant, to promote a
propaganda on both sides of the sea
which Will preserve for them their fnfiu-
ence at home and their power abroad, to
the undoing OF the very men they are
using.
The position of America in this war Il
so clearly avowcd that no man can be ex-
cused for mstaking it. She seeks no ma
teriai profit or ACKNOWLEDGMENT of any
kind. She Is fighting for no advantage
or selfish aggression of autocratic force.
THE ruling classes in Germany have
begun Of late to profess like liberallty
and justice Of purpose, but only to pre-
serve the power they have set up in Ger
many and the selfish advantages which
they have wrongly gained for themselves
and their private projects of power all
the way from Berlin to Bagdad and be-
yond. Government after government has
of its territory. been linked together Ia a
net of intrigue directed against nothing
less than the peace and liberty Of the
world. The meshes of that intrigue must
nQ ha hrnir los
wrongs already done are undone; and ade-
quate measures must be taken to prevent
1t from ever again being rewoven or re-
paired.
Wrongs Must BE Riafted.
"Of course the imperial German gov
ernment and those wnom it is using for
pledges that the war will end in the
restoration OF the status quo ante. 1t
was the status quo ante out of which this
iniquitous war issued forth. the power of
the empire and its widespread domination
aid influence outside of that empire. That
status must be altered in such fashion as
to prevent any such hideous thing from
I'VE are nghting for the liberty. the
self government and the indicated devel-
opment Of all peoples and every feature
must be concsived and executed for that
purpose Wrongs must first be righted
and then adequate safeguards must be
C0mmlLJeQ
again. We. ought not to consider reme-
dies merely because they have a pleas
and sonorous sound Practical Questions
can be settled only by practical means.
Phrases win not accomplish the result.
Effective readjustments WILL and what
ever Establishments are necessary must
be made.
"But they must follow a principle, and
that principle Is plain. No people must
be forced under sovereignty under which
It does. not wish to live. No territory
must change hands except for the pur-
pose OF securing those who inhabit Il a
fair chance Of life and liberty. No indem-
mites must be insisted on except those
that constitute payment for manifest
must be made except such as will tend
to secure the future peace of the world
and the future welfare and happiness OF
Shed Blood For RIqht.
And then the free peoples of the world
must draw together In some common COW
| enant. some genuine and practical Cos
operation that will In effect combine their
force TO secure peace and justice in the
dealings Of nations with one another. The
brotherhood OF mankind must not longer
be fair but empty phrase: 1t must be
The nations must realize their common
life and effect = workable partnership to
secure that life against the aggrcss.ons
OF autocratic and sef-pleasing power
For these things we can AFFORD to pour
out blood and treasure. For these things
we have always professed to desire, and
unless we pour out blood and treasure
to unite or show conquering force again In
the great cause Of human liberty. The
day has come to conquer or submit. II
the forces of autocracy can divide us, the
victory Is certain and the liberty which
victory will secure. We can afford then
to be gen srous. but We cannot AFFORD then
guarantee of tugtfco and aacurityD