The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-01-12

arrived at, after which there shall be
no private international understand
ings of any kind, but diplomacy shall
proceed always frankly and in the
public view
2. Absolute freedom of navigation
upon the seas, outside territorial wa
ters. alike in peace and in war, except
as the seas may be closed in whole or
i'm part by international action for thu
enforcement of international cove
nants.
3. The removal, as far as possible
Of all economic barriers and the es-
tablishment of an equality of trade
conditions among all the nations con-
sentng to the peace and associating
themselves for its maintenance.
4. Adequate guarantees given and
taken that national armaments will
be reduced to the lowest point con-
sistent with domestic safety.
lutely impartial adjustment of all CO.
lonial claims, based upon q strict OBJ
Gervance of the principle that in de
termining all such questions Of SOW.
ereignty the interests Of the popula
tions concerned must have equa
weight with the equitable claims o.
the government whose title is to bt
determined.
6. The evacuation of all Russian
territory and such a settlement of al
questions affecting Russia as will Sc
cure the best and freest cooperation ot
the other nations of the world in OBJ
tanning for her an unhampered ant
unembarrassed opportunity for the in
dependent determination of her owr
political development and national pol
icy and assure her of q sincere wei
come into the society of free nation.
under institutions of her own choos
ing; and more than a welcome, assist
ance also Of every kind that she may
need and may herself desire. Th,
treatment accorded Russia by her sis
ter nations in the months to come will
be the acid test of their good will, o.
their comprehension of her needs a.
distinguished from their own interests
and of their Intelligent and unsclfisf
sympathy.
Z. Belgium, the whole world will
agree, must be evacuated and restored
without any attempt to limit the SOW.
ereignty which she enjoys in common
with all other free nations. No other
single act will serve as this will serve
&c restore confidence among the ma,
tons in the laws which they have
themselves set and determined for tn,
government Of their relations with one
another. Without this healing act the
whole structure and validity Of inter.
national law is forever impaired.
8. All French territory should he
freed and the invaded portions re-
stored, and the wrong done to France
by Prussia in 1871 in the matter OF
Alsace-Lorraine, which has unsettled
the peace of the world for nearly fifty
years. should be righted, in order that
peace may once more be made secure
IL the interest of all.
3. readjustmcnt Of the frontiers
OF Italy should be effected along clear.
~ recognizable lines of nationality.
10 The peoples Of Austria Hun
gary, whose place among the nations
we wish to see safeguarded and assur-
ed. should be accorded the freest ON.
portunity of autonomous develon.
ment
IL. Rumania, Serbia and Nonteno
gro should be evacuated. occupied tar
rltories restored, Serbia accorded free
and secure access to the sea and tho
relations Of the several Balkans States
to be one another determined nv
friendly. counsel along historically es-
tablished lines of allegiance and ma
Iionality and international guarantees
OF the political and economic inde-
pendence and territorial integrity Of
tho several Balkan States should no
entered into.
II. The Turkish portions of the
present Ottoman Empire should be
assured secure sovereignty, but tho
'ther nationalities which are now un-
Ter Turkish rule should be assured
IN undoubted security of life and an
absolutely unmolestcd opportunity of
autonomous development, and the
should be permanently
'pened as free passage to ships and
commerce of all nations under inter.
iational guarantees.