Le MeschaceÌbeÌ. [volume] ([Lucy] La.) 1853-1942, 1918-01-19

and purpose before the world. not IL
general terms only, but each time with
sufficient definition to make 1t clear
what sort OF definftiye terms of settle
ment must necessarily spring out oi
them. Within the last week Mr.. Lloyd
George has spoken with admirable
eandor and in admirable spirit for the
people and government { Great Brit
ain.
No Confusion of Counsel.
There is no confusion among the
adversaries of the central powers, nc
uncertainty of principles, no vague
ness of detail. The only secrecy Of
counsel, the only lack of fearless
frankness, the only failure to make
definite statement of the objects Of
the war, lies with Germany and her al
lies. The issues of life and death
hang upon these definitions. No states
man who has the least conception OF
his responsibility ought for moment
to permit himself to continue this
tragica1 and appalling outpouring Of
blood and treasure unless he is sure
beyond q peradventure that the OBJ
jects Of the vital sacrifices are part
and parcel of the very life Of society,
and that the people for. whom he
speaks think them right and impera-
tive as he does.
There is, moreover, voice calling
for these definitions of principles 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 It is the voice of the
Russian people. They are prostrate
and all but helpless. it would seem,
before the grim power of Germany
which has hitherto known no relentinS
and no pity: Their power apparently
is shattered, and yet their soul is not
subseryient: They will not yield either
in principle or In action The copcept
tion of what is right, of what is hut
name and honorable for them TO ac
cept, has been stated with d franknesS
a ,largeness of view, a generosity OF
spirit and universal human sym
pathy which must, challenge the adj
miration of every friend of mankind
and they have refused to compound
their ideals or desert others that they
themselves may be safe, They call to
us to say what it is we desire, in what!
If IN anything, our purpose and cur
spirit differs from. theirs; and | be-
lieve that the people of the United
States. would wish me to respond with
utter simplicity and .frankness. Whethi
er their present leaders believe it or
not, it is our heartfelt desire and hope
tnat some way may be opened where
by we may. be privileged to assist the
people of Russia. to attain their ut.
most hope of liberty and ordered
peace. - - 49, --svss.
1T. viii be- our wish and purpose
that the processes of peace, when they
are begun, shall be absolutely open
and that they shall involve. and per-
NIT henceforth no secret understand
ings of any kind. The day of con-
quest and aggrandizement is gone by,
so is also the day of secret covenants
entered into in the. interest of partfcu-
lar governments and lik Iy; at some
unlooked-tor moment to upset the
peade of the world Iti 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 ma
tion whose purposes are consistent;
with justice and the peace Of the world
to avow now or at any other time the
objects it has in view.
World Peoples Partners.
eve, entered this war because Vfo-
lations of right had occurred which
touched us to. the quick and made the
life of our own people. impossible un-
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
ticularly that 1t be made safe for every
peaee-loving nation which, like our
own, wishes to live its own life, de-
termine its own institutions, be as
sured Of justice and fair dealing by
the other peoples of the world against
force and selfish aggression. All the
peoples of the world are in effect part
ners n. this interest, and for our own
part we see very clearly that unless
Justice cam be done to others it will
not be done to us. The program Of the
worlds peace, therefore, is our pro
gram, and that program, the only pos
sible program, as we see 1t. is this.
81. Open covenants of peace, open
Iy arrived at, after which there shall
be no private international under
of any kind, but diplomacy
shall proceed always frankly and for
the public view
''2. Absolute freedom If navigation
upon the seas, outside territorial
waters, alike in peace and in. war; ex-
ceptg as the seas may. be closed in
whole Or IN part by international ac
tion for the. enforcement OF irterna+
tiunal covenants.
at3 The removal; so far ag possible,
Of all economic barriers and the estab-
lishment of an equality of trade, con-
dftions among all the nations consent
Ing to the peace and associating them
selves for its maintenance.
~. Adequate guarantees given and
taken that national ornaments will be
reduced to the lowest point consistent
with domestic safety
IS. A free, open-minded and .abso4 1
Iutely impartial, adjustment of all CO
Ioniai claims. based upon a strict OBJ
serrance Of the. principle that Id de- |
lermining all ssnch questions. Of SOW
sreignty the interests of the popular
llons concerned must have, equal
weight with the equitable claims OF
he k6yefnment whose title is to be de-
- Il