Evening journal., 1918-01-08


I4-A league os nations to
TO realize this embodiment Of 'jus-
iice 10 an peoples and nationalities'
That they live on equal terms liberis
and safety with one enother.' ih,
4 President said the American people
win devote their lives and honor"
Unless this principle be made 10,
/ foundation, no part Of structure Of in
/ ternational justice can stand, the
/ President concluded
Attention was called TO the fact ano
/ its signihc9nce-iba The President did
not include the fi0honzOleyn dynasty
as a war aim lel he laid down iht
necessity Of an agreements and treaties
being made in the open
The Presidents address. followinq
closely on The heels of Lloyd George 5
statement of England's war aims, con-
veys the unqueslionlble thought that
he believes peace may be drawing
nearer.
Regarding the Russo Germany peace
parlours at Bresf-Lilvosk. the incident
Is full Of significance and perpleXity.
But IL was not answer TO German re-
sponse 10 the thrilling and more
compelling voice of the Russian peo-
pie. that The President laid down his
basis for international security TO-DAY
II was % direct appeal t0 Russia and
his tribute Go the Russian people
stands out as a confirmation 0f his
ayowed determination 10 help. them.
regardless of their position IN the wai.
They are PROSTATE and all but help
less" he said. before the grim powcr
of Germany which has hitherto known
no releniing and no pity the Presi-
dent said Their power apparently is
shattered and yet their soul is not sub
seryieni They win not WELD either In
principle or i'm action. Now they call
go us to say what is that desire, 10
what if anything. our purposes and
our spirit differs from theirs ] believe
that the people of the United states
would wish me 90 respond with utter
simplicity and frankness.
The President emphasized that no
German intrigue or propaganda could
alter the Allies or separate them in
their common effort TO a common end.
For the covenants he outlined, the Pres
Ident said. we are willing TO tight and
10 continue 90 nsht until they are
achieved"
The Presidents address was cabled
tcXtually 10 all The principal capitals OF
the world for distribution
The President said;
Gentlemen OF the Congress
once more. as repeatedly before. the
spOkesmen OF the Central Empires have
.I..
iccls OF the war and the possible basis
of a general peace. parleys have been
in progress at Brest-Litovsk between
Russian representatives and repre-
seniatiyes Of ihc Central Powers
20 which The attention Of all the bel
lieercnls has been invited for the pur-
pose of osccrtaining whether Il may be
possible t0 extend these parleys into a
general conference with regard 10 terms
of peace aud settlement The Russian
representatives. presented not only a
perfectly definite statement of the prin-
ciples upon which they would be will
ing 90 conclude peace, but also the
equally definite program of the con-
rreto application of those principles
The representatives Of the Central
Powers on their part presented an out
line of settlement, which. II much less
definite. seemed susceptible Of liberal
Interpretation until their specific pro
gram OF practical terms was added
That program proposed no concessions
az on, either 10 the soNeigniy of Rus
sia or i0 the preferences of the ponu-
lations with whose fortunes 10 dealt.
but meant, in a word That the Central
Empires were 10 keep every foot of ter
ril0ry their armed forces had occupied
even province, every city, every point
OF vautage-as a permanent addition 10
their territories and their power.
"lt is reasonable conjecture that the
general principles of settlement which
they at FIRST suggested originated with
The more liberia statesmen Of Ger
many and Austria ihc mon who have
begun 90 feel the force of the peoples
thought and purpose while The CON
crete terms of actual settlement came
from the military leaders who have no
thought but 90 keep what they have
gotten The negotiations have been
broken on The Russian representa-
tives were sincere and ia earnest. They
cannot entertain such proposals of
conquest and domination
The whole incident is fun Of sig
ni0cance 10 IS also fun of perplexity
With whom are me Russian represen-
talivos dealing? For whom are The rep
resentatives of The Central Empires
speaking? Are they speaking for the
majoritics Of their respective parlia-
ments or for the minority parties. that
military and imperialislic minority
which has SO far dominated their whole
policy and controlled the affairs of
Turkey and the Balkan states, which
have felt Obliged to become their as
sociaies in this war? The Russian
representatives have insisted very just
ly. very wisely. and I'm the true spirit
of modern democracy. that the CON
ferences they have been holding with
the reutOnic and Turkish statesmen
should be held within open, not closed
doors. and an the world as an audi
ence desired. To whom have we been
listening ihen2 To those who speak
the spirit and intention of the resolu-
iions Of the German Reichslag Of the
ninth of July last. The spirit and in-
tention Of the Liberal leaders and par
Ties of Germany, or TO those who re-
sist and defy that spirit and intention
and insist upon conquest and subiu-
gation? or are we listening, in fact,
90 both. unrecoucled and in open and
hopeless contradiction These are very
serious and pregnant questions. Upon
the answer 30 them depends the peace
of the world.
"Bt;, whaieser tlie results of the par
lcys at Brest-IitOvsk, whatever the
confusions Of counsel and of purpose
Ia, fln ttfforaurpe nf ennkpCmpu nf Tho