The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-12-04
AMERICAS AIMS
IN WAR OUTLINED
BYTHEPRES|DENT
fcontinusd from First Page.l


a single country have themselves done
deep and abominable wrongs
But while Mr.. Wilson expresses tnS
generous and just aims OF the entente
he does not make the mistake Whleh
the Marquis OF Lansdowne made, the
mistake of giving the impression tnat
WEAKNESS OF the war should lead 70
craven abandonment OF the terrible
task that lies ahead to insure victory:
Let there be no misunderstandins'
declares Mr.. Wilson. "Our present
and Immediate task Is to win the war
and nothing shall turn us aside from
it until It is accomplished Every
power and resource we possess,
whether Of men, of money. or mate
rails, is being devoted and VIII con-
tinue to be devoted to that purpose
until II il achieved"
Enumerates Principles.
The Presidents whole message Is
an answer to the question he himself
propounds: when shall we consider
the war won?" He does not go into
questions OF territorial detail He
merely enumerates principles, but
principles that the German people Will
not fail to understand
Peace will come" says the Presi-
dent. when the German people have
spoResmen whose word we can be-
Iieye and when those spokesman arg
ready In the name OF their people 10
accept the common Judgment OF the
nations as to what shall henceforth
be the bases of law and CT covenant
for the life of the world"
Mr.. Wilson. in other words, reaf-
firms what he wrote to the Pope
As soon as a responsible government
arises in Germany peace negotiation
can begin. Thera must be a part
nership OF peoples. not a mere part
nership OF governnrents" when the
war IL over, and - by some unfort-
innate circumstance peace shall have
been concluded without q complete
throwing off by Germany Of her in
triguing masters, :her the threat OF
economic discrimination is held out
by Mr.. Wilson.
EeOnomIe DIseFimInatiOn. 4
This is the Presidents first adher-'
ence to a war aim that has been re-
peatedIy misunderstood in this coun-
try, but which England and France
have steadfastly maintained was not
undemocratic. but military. II Is the
question of economic discrimination
as evolved at the Paris confAren"e.
The allies claimed they formed that
agreement merely as a. threat. and
Mr.. Wilson shows how II can conceiV-
ably be used to guarantee peace. but
he himself holds out the promise
that II Germany lived up to her word
processes "assuredly would set in"
to cure such a situation.
On the whole Mr.. Wilson appears
to have chosen his message to Con
gress as a vehicle for the expression
of the war aims OF the entente in
stead of the inter-allied conference.
which suddenly adjourned In Paris.
Russ Minds Poisoned
The Russian people, concludes Mr..
Wilson, "have been poisoned by the
very same falsehoods that have kept
the German people in the dark, and
the poison administered by the very
same hands. The only possible anti
dote 10 the truth. II cannot be ut
tered too plainly and too often
In this way the President has NOV
ed forward the whole progress OF the
allied war machine-its diplomatic as
well as military elements.
While relenting not a bit In his de-
termination to achieve q military vic
tory, the President announces Amer
iea's program as one OF unselfshness
and even generosity toward the peo-
pies against whom Il 10 lighting, peo-
pies VIII ocan attain peace as soon as
they disavow and overthrow the In
triguinE leaders who hitherto have
pretended to speak for them.