The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-01-19

| 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.
Must Free France.
8. All French territory should
be freed and the invaded portions re-
stored and the wrong done to France
by Prussia in 1871 in the matter Of Al
| sace-LOrraine, which has unsettled the
peace of the world for nearly fifty
years, should be righted in order that
peace may once more be made secure
in the interest of all.
/ g. a readjustment of all frontiers
Of Italy should be effected along clear
ly recognizable lines of nationality.
10. The peoples of Austria-Hungary,
whose place among the nations we
| wish to see safeguarded and assured,
should be accorded the freest OppOrtu-
/ nifty of autonomous development.
EVacuate Balkans.
| II. Roumania, Serbia and Monte
negro should be evacuated; occupied
! territories restored; Serbia accorded
/ free and secure access to the sea and
states to one another determined by
| friendly counsel along historically es-
/ tablished lines of allegiance and ma
| tiOnality; and international guarantees
| of the political and economic indepen-
! dence and territorial integrity OF the
| several Balkan states should be en-
| tered into.
II. The Turkish portions of the
present Ottoman Empire should be as
sured a secure sovereignty, but the
other nationalities which are now IN
der Turkish rule should be assured an
undOubted security of life and an alb
sOlutely unmolested opportunity of au-
tOnomOus development, and the Darda-
nelles should be permanently opened
as a free passage to the ships and
commerce of all nations under inter
national guarantees.
10. An Independent Polish state
should be erected which should include
the territories inhabited by indisput-
able Polish populations, which should
! be assured a free and secure access to
! the sea and whose political and eco
nOmic independence and territorial in
tegrity should be guaranteed by inter
national covenant.
IA. A general association of ma
! tons must be formed under specific
! covenants for the purpose of affOrding
mutual guarantees of political indepen-
dence and territorial integrity to great
and small states alike.
"In regard to these essential rectffi-
| cations of wrong and assertions OF
right we feel ourselves to be intimate
partners of all the governments and
peoples associated together against the
! imperialists- We cannot be separated
in interest or divided in purpose. We
stand together until the end.
For such arrangements and COW
enants we are willing to fight and to
continue to fight until they are achiev-
! ed but only because we wish the right
/ to prevail and desire a just and stable
| peace such as can be secured only by
removing the chief provocatiOns to
war, which this program does remove.
Not Jealous of Germany.
1--WE have no jealousy of German
greatness and there is nothing in this
program that impairs it. We grUdge
her no achievement or distinction Of
! learning or of pacific enterprise such
as have made her record very bright
and very enviable.
"We do not wish TO injure her or
TO block in any way her legitimate in
| fiuence or power. We do not wish to
| fight her either with arms or with hos
tile arrangements Of trade, if she is
willing to associate herself with US
and the other peace-lOving nations of
| the, world in covenants of justice and
law and fair dealing.
1--WE wish her only to accept a place
of equality among the peoples of the
world-the new world in which we
now nve-instead of a place of mas
terry.
Neither do we presume to suggest
to her any alteration or modification of
her institutions. But it is necessary,
we must frankly say, and necessary as
preliminary to any intelligent deal
ings with her on our part, that we
should know whom her spokesman
| speak for when they speak to us,
whether for the reichstag majority or
for the military party, and the men
whose creed is imperial dominion.
1--WE have spoken now, surely, in
| terms too concrete to admit of any fur
ther doubt or question. An evident
principle runs through the whole pro-
gram 1 have outlined.
cit is the principle of justice to all
peoples and natiOnalities, and their
right to live on equal terms of liberty
and safety with one another. whether
they be strong or weak. Unless this
principle be made its foundation no
part of the structure of international
| justice can stand. The people of the
United States could act upon no other
principle, and to the vindication Of
this principle they are ready to de-
vote their lives, their honor and every
thing that they posses.
1.-The moral climax of this. the cul-
minating and final war for human lib
erty has come, and they are ready to
put their strength, their own highest
purpose, their own integrity and devo-
ton to the test
! been in as much danger at the actual
oO5ahafoDfc ubiIo raIox-ipor 70 oroo,,-