Meade County news., 1918-01-17

the peGce Of the world for nearly i.iy,
years. should be righted, in order thai
peace once more be made secure in
the interest of all.
9. A readjustment of the frontiers
Of Italy should be effected along clear.
ly reasonable lines Of nationality.
10. The peoples of Austria-Hun.
gary, whose place among the nations
we wish to be safeguarded and as
sured, should be accorded the freest
opportunity OF autonomous develop.
ment.
Balkans to be Re-Established.
II. Rumania, Serbia and Montene.
gro should be evacuated, occupied ter
ritories restored, Serbia accorded free
and secure access to the seas, and the
relations Of the several Balkan states
to one another be determined by
friendly counsel along historically es-
tablished lines of allegiance and ma
tionality, and international guarantees
of the political and economic indepen-
dence and territorial integrity of the
several Balkan states should be en-
tered into.
II. The Turkish portions of the
present Ottoman empire should be as
sured of a secure sovereignty, but
the other nationalities which are now
under Turkish rule should be assured
an undoubted security of life and an
absolutely unmolested opportunity of
autonomous development, and the Dar.
danelles should be permanently open
ed as free passage to the ships and
commerce Of all nations under inter
national guarantees.
For Free Poland.
10. An Independent Polish state
should be erected which should induce
the territories inhabited by indisput-
ably Polish populations, which should
be assured a free and secure access
to the sea, and whose. political and
economic independence and territor-
ial integrity should be guaranteed by
international covenant.
IA. A general association of nations
must be formed under specific cove
nants for the purpose of affording
mutual guarantees of political inde-
pendence and territorial integrity to
great and small states alike.
"United We Stand"
I'm regard to- these essential rectifi-
cations of wrong and assertions of
right we feel ourselves to be intimate
partners of all the governments and
peoples associated together against
the imperialists.
1--WE cannot be separated in inter-
est or divided 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 ach-
ieved; but only because we wish the
right to prevail and desire just and
stable peace, such as can be secured
only by removing the chief provoca-
tions to war, which this program does
remove.
Germans Equal, but Not Masters.
I'VE 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 enviable.
1--WE do not wish to injure her or
to block in any way her legitimate in
fluence Of 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
the world in covenants of justice and
law and fair dealing. ~
I'VE wish Germany only to accept a
place of equality among the peoples
of the world-the new world in which
we now live-instead of a place of
mastery. .o,.'.
Neither do we presume to suggest
to her any alteration or modification
If her institutions. But 1t is neces-
sary, we must frankly say, and neces-
sary as a preliminary to any intelli-
gent dealings with her on our part,
that we should know for whom her
spokesmen speak when they speak to
us, whether for the Reichstag major
ity or for the military party, and the
men whose creed is imperial domina-
ton.
'These Terms Can't Be Mlsunder-
stood"
1--WE have spoken now, surely, in
terms tUp concrete to admit of any
further dolbt or question.
"An evident principle runs through
the whole program l have outlined.
1t is the principle of justice to all peo-
pies and nationalitles, and their right
to live on equal terms of liberty and
safety with one another, whether they
be strong or weak.
"Unless this principle be made it's
foundation, no part of the structure Of
international justice can stand.
THE people of the United States
could act upon no other principle, and
to the vindication Of this principle
thnu raoIy To daunto thair IiunC