Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-09-28

They are the issues Of it; and they
must be settled-by no arrangement
or compromise or adjustment Of in
terests. but definitely and once for
all and with a full and unequivocal
interest Of the weakest is as sacred
as the interest Of the strongest.
This is what we mean when we
spak of a permanent peace, il we
speak sincerely, intelligently ana
with a cal knowledge and compre-
hension of the matter we deal with.
|. We are all agreed that there can
be no peace obtained BY any kind
of bargain or compromise with the
because we have dealt with them al
ready and have seen them deal with
other governments that were parties
to this struggle, at Brest-Litovsk
and Bucharest. They nave con-
WINGED us that they are without
honor and do not intend justice. They
observe no covenants, accept no
principle out force and their w in
terest. We cannot come to terms
with them. They have made it i'm
possible. The German people must
by this time be fully aware that we
cannot accept the word of those
who forced this war upon us. We
do, not think the same thoughts or
speak the same language Of agree
ment.
1t, is of capital Importance that we
should also be explicitly agreed that
nc peace shall be obtained by any
kind of compromise or abatement of
the principles we have avowed as
the principles for which we are
fighting. There should exist no
doubt about that. I am, therefore,
going to take the liberty of speak
ing with the utmost frankness about
involved in 1t.
If it be in deed and in truth the
common object of the governments
associated against Germany and of
the nations whom they govern, as 1
believe it to be, to achieve by the
coming settlements a secure and
lasting peace, it will be necessary
table shall come ready and willing
to pay the price, the only price that
will procure 1t; and ready and willing
also, to create IN some virile fashion
the only instrumentality by which il
can be made certain that the agree
ments Of the peace will be honored
and fulfilled.
That price is impartial justice in
every item Of the settlement, no mat
only impartial Justice but also the
satisfaction Of the several peoples
whose fortunes are dealt with. That
indispensable instrumentality is a
league Of nations formed under
covenants that will be emcacious.
Without such an instrumentality, by
which the peace of the world can be
upon the word Of outlaws and only
upon that word. For Germany will
have to redeem her character, not
by what happens at the a table,
but by what follows.
And, as 1 see it, the constitution
Of that league of nations and the
clear definition Of it's objects must
be a part, in a sense the most es-
sential part Of the peace settlement
itself. 1t canont be formed now. If
formed now it would be merely a
new alliance confined to the nations
associated against a common enemy.
1t is not likely that it could b.
formed after the settlement. It is
necessary to guarantee the peace:
and the peace cannot be guaranteed
as an a~fter-thought. The reason, to
speak in plain terms again why it
must be guaranteed. is that there
will be parties to the peace whose
promises have proved un~trustworthy
and can must be found in connec-
ton with the peace settlement itself
to remove that source of insecurity.
1t would be folly to leave the guar
antee to the subsequent voluntary
action of the governments we have
seen destroy Russia and deceive
Rumania.
But these general terms do not
disclose the whole matter. Some de-
tails are needed to make them sound
less like a thesis and more like a
practical program. These, then are
some of the particulars, and I state
them with the greater confidence be-
cause I can state them authoritat-
lively as representing this govern
ment's Interpretation Of its own duty
with regard to peace:
First. The impartial Justice
melted out must involve no dis
elimination to those to whom we
wish to be just and those TO
whom we do not wish to he just.
1t u be q justice that plays
no favorftes and knows no
standard but the equal rights OF
the several peoples concerned.
Second. No special or separA
W. ~AJ AAHAo
or any group of nations can be
made the basis OF any part Of
the settlement which is not con.
sistent with the common inter.
ests of all.
Third. There can be no
leagues or alliances or special
covenants n understandings
with the general and common
family of the league Of nations,
Fourth. And more specific.
selfish economic combinations
within the league and NO en-
plOyment OF any form Of SEQ
nomic boycott or exclusion ex-
cept as the power of economic
penalty by exclusion from the
markets of the world may be
vested in the LEAGUE Of nations
itself as q means Of discipline
Fifth. All international agree
memts n treaties Of every
I must be made known in
their entirety to the rest OF the
world.
Special alliances and economic
rivalrtes and hostilities have been
the prolific curse in the modern
worldsof the plans and passions. that
sincere az we'll as an insecure peace
that did not exclude them In definite
land binding terms
The confidence with which I ven-
lture TO speak for our people IN these
matters does not spring from our
traditions merely and the vel
known principles Of international &c.
ton which We hGve aiways confes.
SD and foiioyed. A the same ssn.