Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-09


ment 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 sim linScr in an age
that is dead and gone. which makes it
possible for every nation whose pur-
poses arc consistent with justice ana
the peace OF tho world to avow now or
at any other time tho objects it has I'm
view.
ENTERED WAR BECAUSE
OF VIOLATIONS OF RIGHT
We entered this war because viola
tionS OF right had occurred which
touched US to the quick and made tho
itr OF our own people impossible un-
less they were corrected and tho
world secured once for all against their
recurrence. What VIC demand in this
war. therefore. IL nothing peculiar to
ourselves. II is that the world be made
FIT and safe to live in; and particularly
that it be made safe for every peace.
loving nation which. like our own.
wishes to live it's own life. determine
It's own institutions, be assured Of JUS
tlcc and fair dealing by tho other peo-
pies Of tho world as against force and
selfish aggression, MI the peoples OF
the world arc in effect partners in this
interest. and for our own part we see
very clearly that unless justice be done
II others 1t Will not be done to us. The
program OF tho worlds peace, therefore,,
Is our pregnant: and that program. tho
only possible program. as NC sec it. is
this:
!. Open covenants Of peace. openly
arrived at. after which there shall, he
no private international undertakings
of n kind. but diplomacy shall pro.
coed always frankly and in the public
view.
>. Absolute freedom of navigation
upon the seas, outside territorial
waters. alike In peace and in war. ex-
ccpt as the seas may be closed in whole
or in part by intcrnational action for
the enforcement of international cove
nants.
.. The removal. as far As possible. OF
all economic barriers and tho cStab-
lishment of an equality of trade con-
ditions among all the nations consent
Ing TO the peace and associatins them
selves for it's maintenance.
4. Adequate guarantee given and
taken that national ornaments will be
reduced TO the lowest point consistent
with domestic safety.
8. a free, opcn-mindcd and absolute
~ impartial adjustment of all colonial
claims. based upon a strict observance
Of the principle that in determining all
such questions of Sovcrcisnty the in
~tercsts of tho populations concerned
must have equal weight with the
equitable claims OF the government
whose title is to be determined.
EVACUATION OF ALI.
RUSSIAN TERRITORY
3. The evacuation OF all Russian ter
ritory, and such d settlement of all
questions affecting Russia, az will Sc
cure the best and frcest cooperation
or tho other nations of the world in
obtaining for her an unhampcred and
unemharrassed opportunity for the in
dependent determination OF her own
political development and national poll
icy. and assure her of a sincere well
Como into tho society Of free nations
under institutions Of her own choosing:
and moro than Il welcome, assistance
also OF every Kind that she may need
and may herself desire. The treat
mcnt accorded Russia by her sister ma
lions in the months to come. will be tho
acid test OF their good will. OF their
comprehension Of her needs as dis
tinguiShed from their own interests.
and of their Intelligent and unsclhsh
sympathy.
I. Belgium. the whole world will
agree, must be evacuated and restored.
without any attempt TO limit the SOW
ereiSnty which She enjoys In common
with all other free nations. No o.hcr
single act viii serve as this Will serve
to restore confidence among the ma
tons. 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 Inter-
national law is forever impaired.
S. All French territory shou!d be
freed and the invaded portions restored,
and the wrong done to France by Prus-
STA in 1871 in the matter of -Alsacc-
Lorraine. which has unsettled the peace
Of the world for nearly fifty years,
should be r!ghted. in order that peace
may once more DC made secure in the
interest OF all.
.. 4 reimbursement of the frontiers Of
Italy should be effected along clearly
recosnizables lines of nationality.
10. The peoples OF Austria Hungary.
whose place among the nations we
wish TO see s~afcEuarded and assured,
should be accorded the freest oppor-
tunity of development.
IL. Roumania. Serbia. ana monte
negro should De evacuated, occupied
territories restored: Serbia accorded
free and secure access to the sea. and
the relations OF the several Balkan
states to one another determined by
friendly counsel along historically es-
ia blished lines of allegiance and nation
atty. and International guarantees OF
the political and economic independ-
enc and territorial integrity OF the sew
eral Balkan states should be entered
into.
IL. The Turkish portions OF the pres
ent ottoman empire should he assured