Republican farmer., 1918-10-04

VI OA tAAC SCAt1 al 4AAlAPAAOSS M cause we have dealt with them al ready and have seen them deal with other governments that were party to this struggle, at Brest-Litovsk and Bucharest. They have convinced us that they are without honor and do not Intend Justice. They observe no covenants, accept no principle but force and their own interest. We cannot come to terms with them. They have made 1t impossible. The German people must ky 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 agreement.
 It Is of capital importance that we should be explicitly agreed that no 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 speaking with the ut most frankness about the practical implications that are involved in it.
 If 1t be indeed and in truth the common object of the governments associated against Germany and of the nations whom they govern, as believe 1t to be, to achieve by the coming settlements a secure and last ing peace, it will be necessary that all who sit down at the peace table shall come ready and willing to pay the price, the only price that will pro- cure it; and ready and willing, also, to create in some viriIe fashion the only instrumentality by which it can be made certain that the agreements of the peace will be honored and full filled.
 That price is impartial justice in every item of settlement, no matter whose interest is crossed; not only inn partial 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 eff1ca cious.
 Without such instrumentality, by which the peace of the world can be guaranteed, peace will rest in part upon the word of outlaws and only | upon that word. For Germany will have to redeem her character, not only by what happens at the peace table but what follows
 And, as see it, the constitution of that league of nations, and the clear definition of the objects must be a i part, is in a sense the most essential part, of the peace settlement itself It cannot be formed now. If formed now, 1t would be merely a new alli- ance confined to the nations associated against a common enemy.
 1 It Is not likely that 1t could be formed after that settlement. It is necessary to guarantee the peace; and the peace cannot be guaranteed as an afterthought. The reason, to speak in plain terms again, why it must be guaranteed is that there will be part les to the peace. whose promises have proved untrustworthy, and means must be found in connection with the peace settlement itself to remove that source of insecurity.
 It would be folly to leave the guar antee to the subsequent voluntary &C., tton of the governments we have seen | ]SNSoAc1 e1llN OSCSlNS 1lOuman1d,
 But these general terms do not dis close the whole matter Some details are needed to make them sound less like thesis and more like a practi- cal programme. These, then, are some or the particulars, and I state them with the greater confidence be- i cause l can state them authoritativelv as representing this Governments in. depreciation of it's own dutv with re- gard to peace.
 Flrst-The impartial justice metef out must involve no discrimination between those to whom we wish tr be just and those to whom we dr not wish to be just. It must he 2 Jusuce that plays no favorites and knows no standard but the euua, rights of the several peoples. | Second-No special or separate in. terest of any single nation or an, group of nations can be made the basis of any part of the settlement which is not consistent with the com. mon interest of all.
 Th1rd-There can be no leagues O, alliances or special convenants anG understandings within the general anf common family of the League of Ma, tions.
 Fourth-And more specifically there can be no special selfish econ. omic combinations within the IeaFu, and no employment of any force ot economic boycott for exclusion ex. cept as the power of economic nen. alty by exclusion from the market, of the world may be vested in the League of Nations itself as a mean. of discipline and control
 Fifth-An international agree ments and treaties of every kint must be made known in their en- tirety to the rest of the world Special alliances and economic ri valries and hostilities have been the prolific source in the modern world of the plans and passions that pro. duce war. It would be an insincere as well as insecure peace that di6 not exclude them in definite ant binding terms.
 The confidence with which I ven ture to speak fer our people in these matters does not spring from our tra ditions merely and the well knowr principles of international actior which we have always professed anC followed. In the same sentence ir which I Jay that the United State will enter into no special arrange ments and understandings with par ticular nations, let me say also tha hn -nfk %o4o s-