The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-12-04
STAND BY ALLIES,
SAYS ROOSEVELT
Colonel Vigorously Elk
presses Duty to Those
Who Fought for Us
(By Associated Press.l

New York, Dec. 4.-Assertinp tha,
the United States had not done near
iy as much as the British navy and
the British, French and Italian ar
mics to bring about the downfall ot
Germany. Theodore Roosevelt de-
ciared in statement here last night
that 1t IS our business to stand by
our allies at the peace conference"
He declared 1t sheer nonsense m
say the American was fighting for
PRESIDENT Wilson's fourteen points -
ne made the assertion, that there
was not one American soldier in ev-
cry thousand who ever heard OF
them" VI
British Need Navy.
The British empire imperatiyeIv
needs the greatest navy in the world
ana this we should instantly con-
cede, said the colonel.
Our need for a great navy comes
next TO hers, and we should have the
second navy in the world. Similarly
france needs greater military
strength than we do, but we should
nave all our young men trained to
arms on the general lines OF the
SWISS system,
The Freedom Of the seas is a
phrase that may mean anything or
nothing. If 1T is to be interpreted
as Germany interprets it, it is thor
oughly mischieveous. There must, he
no Interpretation that would prevent
the English navy in the event OF fu-
lure war from repeating the tremen-
dous service 1t has rendered in this
war.
The British must Of course keep
the colonies they have conquered.
Must Preserve Monroe Doctrine,
AS for this nation, it must keep
It's absolute economic independence
ana raise or lower its economic bar
riers as its interest demand, for we
have to look after the welfare Of our
own workingman. We must insist on
the preservation Of the Monroe. doc
trine. We must keep the right to
close the Panama canal to our en-
emies in wartime and we must not
undertake to interfere in European.
Asiatic or African matters with which
we ought to have properly no con-
Germ"
Wilson Responsible.
Declaring president Wilson has
not given the slightest explanation of
what his views are or why he is
going abroad" the colonel asserted.
he is himself responsible for any
division among the American people
as regards the peace conference at
this time.
He has never permitted the Amer
lean people to pass on his peace pro-
posals. nor has he ever made those
proposals clear and straight forward.
AS for the fourteen points. so for as
the American people have expressed
any opinion upon them, it was on
November 9Th, when they rejected
them" he continued, adding, that the
American army was fighting to
smash Germany" and "the American
people wanted Germany smashed"
Allies Have Not Accepted.
THE allies have never accepted
the fourteen points" he continued.
THE United States has never accept
ed them. Germany and Austria en-
Enthusiastically accepted them. Here
certain individuals, including Presi-
dent Wilson, Mr.. Hearst, Mr.. Vie
rock, and as l understand it. a num-
Der Of ro-Germans and pacifists and
international Socialists, have accep-
ted them but neither the American
people nor the American congress
has accepted them
Not An Umpire.
"Tnasmuch as Mr.. Wilson is going
over, it is earnestly to be hoped it is
his business not to try and be an
umpire between our allies and our
enemies. but to act Loyalty as one Of
the allies" said the colonel
Must Stand BY Allies.
I'VE have not suffered anything
like as much, and we have not rem
dered as much service as the leading
allies. It is the British navy and the
French, British and Italian armies
that have done the most to bring
about the downfall of Germany and
therefore the safety of the United
States. It is our business to stand
by our allies"