Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-09

greSS with wave OF A
Washington, Jan. S.--America's pro-
gram Of war and peace. with detinit e
terms upon which the rations great
and small fighting together against
German world domination are ready to
lay down their arms was given to the
world ny President Wilson today
through an address TO Congress i'll joint
session
For This program based upon the
Fighting of wrongs ana safety ot peace
loving peoY,c. do ailin@ 10 live their own
lives, the President committed the
United States to fight and continue to
tight until it is achieved. thus ne
pledged the country to the allied pol
icy If no separate peace. I'VE cannot
hc separated in interest o. divided in
purpose" he said. we stand together
10 the end"
Response to German Challenge
The speech, heard by Congress at an
hours notice and accepted with Il wave
"f approval that brought together Nir
ttallN every element Of both houses,
was delivered Us Il direct response to
in" German challenge in the n.-orla-
lions with the Russians at BrcSt-l.i-
tONSh. " followed closely and approx
cd the address Of the British premier,
but was far more specific in statement
# terms, r0bbipC Of force in advance
amy German peace drive designed to
confuse the t,ntcnte and American
governments and their people. while
- itc sarlc time presenting the found
alton for genuine ncgotia lions. when
talk e 4 lust ..cace.
Fourteen Concrete Proposals
Fourteen concrete proposals laid
down by the President began with the
declaration that the days of private in
ternational understandings arc gone
and that covenants of peace must be
cached in the open. Briefly summarize
ed The other points were:
Absolute freedom of the seas in peace
IN war except as they may be closed
by International action: removal Of
eating themselves to maintain peace,
guarantees of The reduction Of arma-
ments to the lowest point consistent
with domestic safety; impartial adjust
menI Of colonial claims. based on the
principle that the peoples concerned
have equal rights with the govern
ments: evacuation of all Russian ter
rtory and opportunity for Russia's po-
Htjcal DEVELOPMENT: evacuation of Boil
GUM: evacuation Of French territory
ana righting of the Alsace- Lorraine
wrong: reimbursement of Italy's from
tiers along recognizable lines Of nation
aiity: free opportunity for autonomous
development Of The peoples OF Austria :
Hungary: evacuation of ROumanLt,
Serbia and Montenegro and guarantees
for all the Balkan states: sovereignty
for Turkeys portion of the Ottoman
Empire and autonomy for other nation
alitics: an independent Poland with ac-
cess 10 the sea and general association
of nations for mutual guarantees OF
independcnce and territorial integrity
TO large and small states alike.
Sympathy with BoIsheviki
notable feature Of the address was
the sympathetic attitude of the President
toward the Russian representatives who
dealt with the Germans at the peace con-
ference-the Bolsheyiki, often eXecrated
tor their detection from the Entente ana
for permitting themselves 70 be drawn
into the Teutonic peace trap. The Rus
slams, he said, presenting a perfectly clear
statement Of the principles upon which
they would be willing TO conclude peace.
we're sincere and in earnest, and when
they found that the actual German terms
Of settlement came from the military Lead
ers, who had no thought but to keep what
they had taken, the negotiations were
broken off.
Upon the question OF whether the Rus
SLAMS and the world are to listen to the
and imperialstic minority, which
So FAR has dominated the Teutonic policy,
or to the liberal leaders and parties who
speak the spirit and intentions of the
Russians adopted by the German Reich
stag last July. the President declared
must depend the peace Of the world. This
vas in line with his previous declaration
that the world Of the present rulers %
Germany could not be taken for any
thing worth while. but he took care to
lGclaim any intention TO suggest 4
change in German institutions.
Called Great Address
Everywhere in Washington 1t was
agreed that the President had made a
great address and had given expression
!" the views Of the American people as a
hole The difference Of opinion was to
< whether it was peace or a war
peecn. Some members Of both houses Of
'on2ress professed to believe that the
iermans might find the terms laid down
.ccep,abie ss basis Of negotiations ana
-" home That bona fide offer might re
ult
IN most quarters, however there was
% such optimism and the speech was
o"ked uppl as a great war document /
tearing the atmosphere for the govern |
nents and peoples fighting Germany,