Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-06-15

n ana LlaC all naClOnS must StGnu
the American delegation to Russia to
i express the deep friendship of the
American people for the people Of
Russia and to discuss the best and
most practical means of cooperating
between the two peoples in carrying
the struggle for freedom of all peo-
pies to a successful contamination,
1t seems opportune and appropriate
that should state again in the light
of this new partnership the objects
the United States has had in mind
in entering the war.
To Clear Up Misunderstanding.
These objects have been very much
broadened during the past few weeks
by mistaken and misleading state
ments and the issues at stake are too
tremendous, too significant, for the
whole human, race to permit any mis-
interpretations or misunderstanding
however slight to remain uncorrected
for a moment.
The war has begun to 60 a.
gaIlst Germany and in their des-
perate desire to escape the in
evitable ultimate defeat those
/ who are in authority are using
every possible instrumentality,
are making use even Of the in
fluence of groups of parties a.
mong their own subjects to whom
they have never been Just or fair
or even tolerant, to promote q
propaganda ON both sides of the
sea which will preserve for them
their continuance at home and
their power abroad, to the I'M
doing of the very men they are
using.
Position of America.
The position of America in this
war IL 80 clearly shown that no man
can be excused for mistaking it. She
seeks no material profit or aggran-
dizement Of any kind. She is tight
ing for no advantage or selfish object
of her own. but for the liberation Of
peoples everywhere from the agrees
sions of autocratic force. The ruling
classes In Germany have begun Of
late to profess a like liberality and
justice of purpose. but only to pre-
serve the power they have set up in
Germany 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 beyond.
Government after government has
by their influence. without open con-
quest of its territory, been linked
together in a net of intrigue direct
ed against nothing less than the
peace and liberty of the world. The
meshes of that intrigue must be
broken unless wrongs already done
are undone. and adequate measures
must be taken to prevent it from
ever again being rewoven or re-
paired.
! Must Alter Former Status.
! OF course, the imperial German
government and those whom it Is
using for their own undoing are
seeking to obtain 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 imperial Ger
! man government within the empire.
That status must be altered in such
fashion as to prevent any such hid
eous thing from ever happening again.
We are fighting for the liberty.
for the self government and the un-
dictated development Of all peoples
and every feature Of the settlement
that concludes this war must be con-
served and executed for that purpose.
!. Wrongs must first be righted and
then adequate safeguards must be
created to prevent their being COM