Evening star., 1918-01-08

stored. without any attempt to Limit
the sovereignty which she enjoys in
common with all other free nations.
No other single act will serve as
this will serve to restore confidence
among the nations in the laws which
they have themselves set and de-
termined for the government OF
their relations with one another.
without this healing act the whole
structure and validity of interna-
tiOnal law is forever impaired.
VIII. All French territory should
be freed and the invaded portions
restored, and the wrong done to
France by Prussia in 1871 in the
matter of Alsace-Lorraine, which
hns unsettled the peace of the world
for nearly fifty years. should be
righted,in order that peace may
once more be made secure in the In
terest of all.
IX. rendjustment of the 'front.'
iers of Italy should he effected
along clearly recognizable lines of
nationality.
N The peoples Of Austria-Hun-
gary, whose place among the ma
tiOns we wish to see safeSuarIed
and assured, should be accorded the
frcext opportunity of autonomous
development.
NJ. Rumania, Serbia and Monte
negro should be evacuated; occu-
pied territories restored; Serbia ac-
corded free and secure access to the
sen: and the relations of the several
Balkan states to one another de-
termined by friendly counsel along
historically established lines of al
Iegiance and nationality; and inter-
national guarantees of the political
and economic independence and ter
ritorial integrity of the several Bal
kan states should be entered into.
Mi. The Turkish portions of the
present Ottoman empire should be
assured n secure sovereignty. hut
the other nationalities which are
now under Turkish rule should be
assured nm undOubted security of
life and an absolutely unmOlested
opportunity of autonomous develop
ment, and the Dardane1les should be
permanently opened as free pas
snge to the ships and commerce of
NIL nations under international guar
antees.
Independence for Poland.
XIII. An Independent Polish state
should be erected which should in
SnI tnH Inv
fndisputabIy Polish populations.
which should he assured n free and
secure access to the sea, and whose
political and economic independence
and territorial integrity should be
guaranteed by international cove
nant.
XIV. general association of ma
tioEs must be formed under specific
covenants for the purpose of afford
ing mutual guarantees of political
independence and territorial intes-
rity to great and small states alike.
In regard to these essential rectifi-
cations OF wrong and assertions of
right we feel ourselves to be inti-
mate partners of all the govern
ments and peoples associated to-
gether against the imperialists. We
cannot be separated in interest or di-
vided in purpose. We stand together
until the end.
For such arrangements and cove
nants we are willing to fight and to
continue to fight until they are
achieved; but only because we wish
the right to prevail and desire just
and stable peace, such as can be Sc
cured only by removing the chief
provocations to war, which this pro-
gram does remove. We have no
jealousy of German greatness and
there is nothing in this program that
impairs it.
We grudge her no achievement or
distinction of learning or of pacific
enterprise such as have made her
record very bright and very envia-
BILE. We do not wish to injure her
or to block in any way her legiti-
mate influence or power. We do not
wish to fight her either with arms
or with hostile arrangements of
trade If she is willing to associate
herself with us and the other peace
loving nations of tho world in cove
nants of justice and law and fair
dealing. We wish her only to accept