South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-06

independence and that the present
rulers OF Russia had entered into
/ separate peace negotiations, the
/ premier said:
Il am INDUCING in no reproaches.
l I am stating facts 10 make il clear
4 why Britain cannot be held account
able for decisions taken in her alb
sencc and concerning which was not
| consulted. or her aid invoked.
/ Nobody who knows Prussia and
/ her designs toward Russia can
doubt her ultimate intention What
/ ever phrases she uses TO deIude
Russia, she does not mean 10 sur
/ render any Of the Russian provinces
I and cities now occupied. Under
one name or another they will
/ henceforth be part OF the Prussian
dominions, ruled by the Prussian
sword. and the rest Of the Russians
VIII be enticed or bullied into com
plete economic and ultimate politi-
cal enslavement.
Democracy in this country will
stand to the last by the democracies
] of France and Italy We should be
proud TO, fight 20 the end side by
side with the new Russian democra-
cy. So would America, France and
Italy But If the present rulers of
| Russia act independently we have
no means TO arrest the catastrophe.
Russia can only be saved by her
own people
An Independent Poland, com
prising all genuinely Polish ele-
ments who desire TO participate. is
an urgent necessity for the stabil-
| ity Of western Europe.
AustrO- Hungarian Rights.
Though we agree with Pres't
/ Wilson that the breaking up Of
| Austria Hungary is no part OF our
war aims. we feel that unless gem
uine self-government on true demo-
cratic principles is granted those
Austro- Hungarian nationalities. who
have long desired it, it is impossi-
| bic to hope for the removal Of those
causes of unrest in that part Of Eu-
rope which have so long threatened
| its general peace.
con the same grounds we regard
as vital the legitimate claims Of the
/ Italians for union with those of
their own race and tongue. We
/ also mean 20 press that justice be
done TO the men Of Roumanian
blood and speech in their legitimate
aspirations. If these conditions
were fulfilled Austria Hungary
would become a power whose
strength would conduce to the per
manent peace and freedom Of Eu-
4 9
pernicious Prussian military au-
tocracy.
Outside of Europe we believe
that the same principles should be
applied
While we do not challenge the
maintenance Of the Turkish empire
in the homelands of the Turkish
race. with its capital complete, the
| passage between the Mediterranean
and Black sea being international
lied and neutralized, Arabia, Arme-
MIA, Mesopotamia. Syria and Pales-
tine are, in our judgment, entitled
to recognition Of their separate ma
tional conditions What the exact
form of that recognition should he,
need not be here discussed be
yond stating that it viii be impos-
sible TO restore 10 their former SOW
ereignty the territories TO which I
have referred.
Much has been said about the
arrangements we have made with
our allies on this and other sub
jects / can only say that as new
circumstances, such as the Russian
collapse and the separate Russian
negotiations have changed the con-
ditions in which the arrangements
were made. we are always ready to
discuss them with our allies.
German Colonies up to Conference.
Respecting the. German colonies,
they are held at the disposal of d
conference whose decision must
have primary regard to the wishes
and interests of their native inhabi-
tants. The governing consideration
iI all these cases must be that the
inha hitants shall be placed under
control. of an administration accept
able to themselves, one of whose
main purposes viii be TO prevent
their exploitation for the benefit Of
European capitalists or govern
ments."
The chiefs and councils, said the
I premier, We're competent TO consult
With and speak for their tribes. and
thus. to separate their wishes and
. interests regarding their disposal.
Finally" continued the premier,
Y there must be reparation for in
T juries done i'm violation Of interna-
F tional law The peace conference
must not forget our seamen and the
T services they have rendered and the
I Outrages they have suffered for the
common cause of freedom.
zone regrettable omission we no
I uCed in the central powers propos-
ais. We believed that a great at
7 tempt must be made 10 establish a
/ great international organization as
I a means of settling international dis
putes War is a relic Of barbarism
/ and as law has succeeded violence
/ in the settlement OF individuals dis
I putes so il is destined TO settle ma
7 tional controversies.
we are lighting for a just and
lasting peace" declared the pre-
mier i'm conclusion. Three condi-
tions must be fulfilled: Firstly. the