The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-06-11
TELLS RUSSIA
OUR WAR AIMS
President Wilson Sets Forth
Americas Ideals-Issue
Is Worth Cost
NO INDEMNITIES
OR LAMENTATIONS
Must Win or Submit to Loss
of Our Liber-
ties

Washington, June ll.--President Will
son, in communication to the new gov
eminent of Russia, has made plain the
war aims of the United States and its
position on mo annexatons; no indem-
mites"
mo territory must change hands ex-
cept for the purpose of securing those
who inhabit it fair chance of life and
liberty" says the communication.
mo indemnities must be insisted on
except those that constitute payment for
manifest wrong done.
mo readjustments of power must be
made except such as will tend to secure
future welfare and happiness of its peo-
| pie"
In unmistakable terms, President Will
son declared 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 imperial Ger
man 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 hideous
thing from ever happening again"
The presidents communication was de-
livered to the Russian government by
Ambassador Francis at Petrograd. In
full it is as follows:
In ,yia rs ha 4, - s
the American delegation to Russia to ex-
press the deep friendship of the Amer
lean people for the people OF Russia and
to discuss the best and most practical
means of cooperation between the two
peoples in carrying the present struggle |
for the freedom OF all peoples to sue
cessful consummation, it seems oppor
tune and appropriate that | should state
again, in the light of this new partner
ship, the objects the United States has
had in mind in entering the war.
Those objects have been very much
beclouded during the past few weeks by
mistaken and misleading statements, and
the issues at stake are too momentous,
too tremendous, too significant for the
whole human race to permit any mis-
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
leets to whom they have never been just
Or fair or even tolerant, to promote a
on both sides of the sea
which will preserve for them their nfiu.
snce at home and their power abroad, to
.he undoing of the very men they are
Using.
'The position of America in this war is
10 clearly svowed that no man can be
excused for installing it. She seeks no
profit or aggrandizement of any
lind. She is fighting for no advantage
II selfish object of her own but for the
Iteration of peoples everywhere from the
ggressions of autoegatic force.
1.-THE ruling classes in Germany have
egun of late TO profess a like liberslity
nd justice of purpose. but only to pre-
erve the power they have set up in Ger
many and the selfish advantages which
hey have wrongly gained for themselves
nd their private projects OF power all
he way from Berlin to Bagdad and be-
ond. Government after government has
V their influence. without open conquest
its territory, been linked together in a
ct of intrigue directed against nothing
SIS than the peace and liberty OF the
'orld. The meshes of that intrigue must
e broken but cannot be broken unless
'rongs already done are undone and
dequate measures must be taken to pre-
emit it from ever again being rewoven or
spaired.
''Of course. the imperial German gov
and those whom it is using for
leir own undoing are seeking to obtain
lodges that the war will end in the
.storation of the statth quo ante. 1t
as the status quo ante out of which,
lis iniquitous war issued forth, the pow
of the imperial German government
thin the empire and its widespread
animation and influence outside of that
npire. That status must be altered. in
ch fashion as to prevent any such hide
Is thing from ever happening again.
ave are fighting for the liberty. the
lf-government and the indicated de-
lopment of all peoples, and every fea
re Of the settlement that concludes this
sr must be conceived and executed for
at purpose. Wrongs must first he
GIFTED and then adequate safeguards
inst he created to prevent their being
again. We ought not to con
Ter remedies merely because they have
pleasing and sonorous sound. Practi-
questions can be settled only by prac-
al means. Phrases will not accomplish
2 result. Effective readjustments will;
d whatever readjustments are neces-
~ must he made.
But they must follow a principle and
at principle is plain. No people must
forced under sovereignty under which
does not wish TO live. No territory
ist change hands except for the pur
Sc Of securing those who inhsbit il
r chance Of life and liberty. No in
mnities must be insisted on except
Dse that constitute payment for mani
{ wrongs done. No resdjustments Of
Eer must be made except such a. will
IA TO secure the future peace Of the
rid and the future welfare and happi
: % its peoples.
And then the free peoples Of the
rid must draw together in some com
n covenant. some genuine and prscti-
cooperation that viii in efect com