Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-01-11
PRESIDENT WILSON NAMES AMERICAS
WAR AIMS AND TERMS OF PEACE

candor and in admirable spirit for
the people and government of Great
Britain. There is no confusion of coun-
sci among the adversaries of the cen
trail powers. no uncertainty of prin-
chile. no vagueness of detail. The only
secrecy of council, the only lack of
fearless frankness, the only failure 70
make definite statement of the objects
of the war, lies with Germany and her
allies. The issues of life and death
han@ upon these definitions. No states
man Who has the least conception of
his responsibility ought for a moment
to permit himself to continue this
tragical and appalling outpouring Of
blood and treasure unless he is sure
beyond peradventure that the objects
Of the vital sacrifice are part and par
eel of the very life of society and that
I the people for whom he speaks think
them right and imperative as he does.
Voice of Russian People Calling.
There is, moreover, a voice calling
for these definitions of principle and
of purpose, which is, it seems to me.
more thrilling and more compelling
! than any of the many moving voices
with which the troubled air of the
world is filled. 1t is the voice of the
Russian people. They are PROSTATE
and all but helpless. it would seem. be-
fore the grim power of Germany, which
has hitherto known no relenting and
no pity.
Their power. apparently, is shat
tered. And yet their soul is not sub
servient. They will not yield either in
principle or in action. Their concep-
ton of what is right. of what is hui
name and honorable for them to ac-
cept has been stated with frank
ness. Il largeness of view. IL generosity
of spirit and Il universal human SYM
pathy which must challenge the adj
miratiOn of every friend of mankind.
and they fhave refused to compound
their ideals or desert others that they
themselves rlay he safe. They call
on us to say what it is that we desire
in what. if anything. our purpose and
our spirit differ from theirs.
Hope to Assist Russia.
"And l believe that the people of
the United States would wish me TO
respond with utter simplicity AMI
frankness. Whether their present
leaders believe it or not, it is our
heartfelt desire that some way may he
opened whereby we may be privileged
to assist the people of Russia to attain
their utmost hope of liberty and peace
1t will be our wish and purpose thai
the processes of peace. when they ar,
begun, shall be absolutely open and
that they shall involve and l.ermit |
henceforth no secret understandings a.
any kind The day of conquest and |
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT is gone by; so is also |
the day of secret covenants entered !
into in the interest of particular gov
ernmentS and likely at some unlocked |
for moment to upset the peace of the |
world. 1t is this happy fact now clear
to the view of every public man whose
thoughts do not still linger in an age
that is dead and gone which makes it
possible for every nation whose pur-
poses are consistent with justice and
the peace of the world TO avow now
or at any other time the objects it
has in view.
Why We Entered War
1--WE entered this war because vio-
lations of right had occurred which
touched us to the quick and made the
life of our own people impossible I'M
less they were corrected and the world
secured once for all against their re-
currence. What we demand in this
war, therefore. is nothing peculiar to
ourselves. 1t is that the world be !
made fit and safe to live in; and par
-icuarly that it be made safe for every
nation which. like our
)wn, wishes to live its own life, de- ;
ermine its own institutions. be as !
'ured of justice and fair dealing by the /
,ther peoples of the world as againsT |
orce and selfish aggression All the '
peoples of the world are in effect part L
lers in this interest, and for our own d
,art we see very clearly that unless !
Justice be done to others. it will not !.
'e done to us. +
World Peace Program. o
THE program of the worlds peace, il
therefore,, is our program and that f
rogram, the only possible program, as c
re see it, is this: p
I. Open covenants of peace, openly y
rived at. after which there shall be =
o private international understand
igs of any kind, but diplomacy shall :,
roceed always frankly and in the pub q
c view. :,
2 Absolute freedom Of navigation 5;
pom the seas, outside territorial z,
alters. alike in peace and in war, ex- Il
ept as the seas may be closed in whole s.
r in part by international action for -
lie enforcement of international cove ~
ants. -.
3. The removal, so far as possible
all economic barriers and the estab- te
hment of an equality of trade con fu
lions among all the nations consent pI
q TO flp Deace and aSSOciating II