Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-09
W.

sion to the riows of the American reo.
pie as a whole. The difference OF opin-
i Ion was rs TO whether it was a peace
.Sor a war speech. Some members OF
! both houses Of Congress protested to
believe that the Germans might find
the terms laid down acceptable as a
basis OF negotiation and 10 hope that a
bona fde offer might result.
In most quarters. however. there was
no such optimism. and the speech was
;, looked upon as a great war document
clearing the atmosphere for the gov
crnments and peoples lighting Ger.
many. hcartcning the d~isorsanizcd RUS
SLAMS and furnishing a light for the
German peoples themselves when they
want to see it.
--BELIEyES PSYCHOLOGICAL.
MOMENT las ARRIVED
In response 10 the universal query
as TO the reasons which imrcilcd tho
sShicf executive 10 make his appearance
go unexpectedly before again
MO enunciatc the aims OF the United
Sta;ca and its co%belliscrcn,s, it was
stated author;tativcly that, in tho
opinion of President Wilson,, the psy-
q HIIINSu "lCn
1t vas absolutely necessary to make a
strong effort TO countcract the evil e.
fects of German dupiicity and double
dealing upon the Russians who had
been charged to meet the trained Ger
man nesotiators. 1t is felt that no
cIort should be spared TO prevent a
resumption OF the Brest Litoysk ne
EQUATIONS by the Russians without
earnest. but kindly, adnonition by the
aires and America of tho terrible
dangers to which She is exposed.
The President assumed in his message
70 Congress that these negotiations
have been broken off. Yet il is fell,
in Official circles here that. alarmed
At the irritating effect upon their own
people OF the sudden withdrawal of the
lonGcd-for peace with their ncSt-door
~neighbcr. from whom they had conf
IDENTIFY expected to draw vast supplies
OF food and raw material with which,
10 relieve their sufferinss. the rma
VIII make a supreme effort to entice
the Russians to resume the confer
enceS by abatinE their first extreme
demands or by presenting them In
fresh and specious language calculated
to cover their real meaning.
Another reason for to-dsy's address
- louilu III IlC necessity OF making
some reply to tho request Of Leon
Trotzky, the Eolshevik Foreign Minis
ter. that America and the entente allies
join the peace conferences, Germany
having made it a condition Of any
peace agreement that Russia should
bring her cohelliSercnts into the nc
rotiat.ons. Not having recognized the
Rolshovik regime as tho Russian gov
eminent, the only feasible way OF COM
munication with it appeared to he
through a public enunciation or Amer
lean war aims, following tho example
OF Lloyd George. 1t Will he necessary
to the success Of this purpose that cir
culatton of President Wilson's address
shall be effected in Russia, TO which
end the full text OF the speech was
sent by cable and wireless to all the
principal capitals OF the world for
Geographic distribution.
Probably. In spite of tho drastic CEN
sorship rules, designed to keep the Ger+
man people in ignorance of the truth.
the substance OF the address will leak
across the German frontiers from ncu-
trail neishborins states, and thu
strengthen tho hands OF the German
Socialistic party in its struggle with
the Pan-Gcrmans and tho military
There arr intimations. though no Of
fetal admissions, that President Wilson
and the British Premier spoke with a
full understanding as to what was to
be said. and that tho President. who
said to-day there is 40 confusion OF
counsel among the adversaries of the
central powers made his address sup
Elementary TO that OF the British Ere
-mler.
The President presented the follow
ing as necessary elements Of world
peace:
i. Open covenants Of peace without
private international UNDERSTANDINGS.
.. Absolute freedom of the seas in
peace or war except as they may be
closed by international action.
3. Removal or all economic barriers
and establishment OF equality OF trade
conditions, anops nations conserving
to peace and aesociatinG themselves for
tits maintenance.
4. Guarantees for the reduction OF
national ornaments to the lowest point
consistent with domestic safety.
~ S. Impartial adjustment of all CO.
aonlal claims based upon the principle
that the peoples concerned have all
weight with the interest OF the gov
eminent.
- 6. Evacuation OF all Russian terri
tory and opportunity for Russia's po-
litical development.
- 2. Evacuation OF Belgium without any
attempt TO limit her sovereignty.
RI 8. All French territory 10 be freed
and restored. and reparation for Tho
taking OF Alsace-Lorrainc.
: 8. Readjustment OF l,aly's frontiers
= and on clearly recognizable lines oil
nationality.
10. Freest opportunity for autono-
nous development OF the peoples OF
Austro-HunEary.
II. Evacuation OF Eouman;a. Serbia
and Montenegro. with access 10 the sea
for Serbia and international guarantees
OF economic and political independence
tsand territory integrity of the Balkan
states.
IL. Secure sovereignty for Turkeys
portion OF the Ottoman empire, but with
..ptaer Municipalities under Turkish rule
Cur eer,~Fby ~ wa -rt s,-