Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-01-10

d6Icc' HuSt W evacuated anu ioSSO~
without any attempt to limit the SOW
eregnty 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 determined for the government
OF their relations with one another.
Without this healing act the whole
structure and validity Of international
law Is forever impaired.
8. All French territory should be freed
and the invaded portions restored ana
the wrong done to France by Prussia IN
1871 in the matter of Alsace-Lorraine.
which has unsettled the peace Of the world
for nearly so years, should be righted' IN
order that peace may once more be mace
secure in the interest of all.
g. A readjustment Of the frontiers or
Italy should be effected along clearly rec
ognizable lines of nationality.
10. The peoples Of Austria Hungary.
whose place among the nations we wish
to see safe-guarded and assured; should
be accorded the freest opportunity OF au
tonomous development.
ii. Roumania, Serbia and Montenegro
should be evacuated; occupied territories
| restored: Serbia accorded free and secure
access to the sea and the relations OF the
several Balkan States to one another de-
| term ned by friendly counsel along histori-
| caly established lines Of alleg ance and
nationality; and the international guar
| antees Of the political and economic in
dependence and territorial integrity OF the
| several Balkan States should be entered
| INTO.
r. The Turkish portions of the present
| Ottoman empire should be assured Sc
cure sovereignty but the other rationale
] tAc hiefN
| should be given an undoubted security OF
| life and an absolutely unmo ested oppor-
tunity Of autonomous development and the
| Dardanelles should be permanently opened
as a free passage to the ships and COM
merce Of all nations under international
guarantees
10 An independent Poland state should
be erected which should include the
territories inhabited by indisputably Polish
populations which should be assured a
free and secure access to the sea and
whose political and economic independence
and territorial integrity should be guar
anteed by the international covenant.
IA. general association of nations
must be formed under specific covenants
for the purpose of affording mutual
guarantees of political independence and
territorial integrity to great and small
states alike.
In regard to these essential notifications
Of wrong and assertions of right. we feel
ourselves to be immediate partners Of all
the governments and peoples associated
together against the imperialists. We can
not be separated in interest or divided In
purpose. We stand together until the
end.
NO MALICE TOWARD GERMANY.
we are willing to fight and continue to
fight until they are accepted; but only be-
cause we wish the right to prevail and
desire just and stable peace such as
can be secured only by removing the chief
provocations to war. which this program
does remove. We have no jealousy OF
German greatness and there Is nothing
, in this program that causes 1t. We could
gather no achievement or distinction OF
learning or Of pacific enterprise such al
have made her record very bright and
, very enviable. We do no wish to injure
, her or to block in any way her legitimate
right of power. We do not wish to fight
her either with arms or with hostile arms
of trade IL she is willing to associate her
z self with us and the other peace loving
nations Of the world in covenants Of JUS
tce and law and fair dealing. We wish hel
!, oIiIy u accept peace Oh equality among
the peoples of the world-the new worlt
in which we now live-instead Of a plac,
. of mastery.
! KNOW WHERE WE STAND NOW.
t Neither do we presume to suggest Il
her any alteration or modification Of hel
institutions. But 1t Is necessary. We
l must frankly say and necessary as 9
3 preliminary to any intelligent dealing.
l with her on our part that we should
= known whom her spokesman speak fol
I, when they speak to US whether for the
Reichstag majority or for the militar,
. party and the men whose creed Is i'm.
perial domination.
We have spoken now, surely, in termi
too concrete to admit of any further
E doubt or question. An evident principl,
3 runs through the whole program / have
3 outlined. 1t is the principle Of justice
to all peoples and nationalities and
t their right to live on equal terms Of
: liberty and safety with one another
= whether they be stronger or weaker
Q Unless this principle be made Its foun'
8 dalton. no part Of the structure Of in.
q ternationl justice can stand. The PEG.
i pie OF the United States could act upor
= no other principle: and to the vindica'
ton OF this principle they are ready tc
Y devote their lives. their honor and ev.
o erything they possess The moral eli.
d max Of this. the eliminating and hna
r war for human liberty. has come and
n they are ready to put their owr
d strength. their own integrity and devo,
ton to the test