Evening star., 1918-01-08
Fourteen Propositions Cover
Aims of World in the
Present War.
OPEN COVENANTS WITHOUT
PRIVATE UNDERSTANDING
For Absolute Freedom of Seas in
Peace or War and Removal of
Economic Barriers.

President Wilson. addressing
joint meeting of the two houses
Congress, unexpectedly summone
at 1890 today, set forth what h
said was the worlds program c
peace, therefore the program c
the United States, and the onl
possible program as this countr
sees it.
The President laid down four
teen propositions covering thi
program and said that for such ar
rangement and covenant thi
country is willing to fight and t.
continue to fight until they ar
achieved.
Evacuation of Russia
They are:
1. Open covenants of peace with
ont private international UNDER
standfnEs.
2. Absolute freedom of the seas in
peace or war, except as they may be
closed by International action.
;. Removal of all economic bar
riers and establishment of equality
Of trade conditions. among nations
conseHtinE to peace and ASSOCIATE
ing themselves for its maintenance.
4. Guarantees for the reduction of
national armaments to the lowest
point consistent with domestic
safety.
5. Impartial adjustment of all CO.
pal that the peoples concerned have
equal weight with the interest of the
government.
g. Evacuation OF all Russian terri
tory and opportunity for Russia's
political development.
:. Evacuat:on Of Belgium without
amy attempt to limit her sover-
eighty.
8. All French territory to be freed
and restored and reparatiOn for the
rnkfns OF AIsace-Lorraine.
o. Readjustment of Italy's 'front.'
iers along clearly recognizable lines
Of nationality.
10. Freest opportunity for auton-
omous development of the peoples
of Austria.fIunxnry.
III. Evacuation Of Rumania, Serbia
and Montenegro. with access to the
Euarayfees Of economic and political
independence and territorial fntes-
rify of the Balkan states.
II. Secure sovereignty for Turkeys
portion Of the Ottoman empire. but
with other nati0nnlities under Turk
ish rule assured security of life and
opportunity for autonomous develop
mcnf. with the Dardanelles perma-
nenfly opened to all nations.
II. Establishment or an independ-
ent Polish state, including terri
tories Inhabited by indisputably
Polish populations. with free ac-
cess to the sea and political and eco
n0mic Independence and territorial
integrity guaranteed by Gnterna-
&sOAAaA CONeu0nas
Association of Nations.
II. General association of ma
lions under specific covenants for
mutual guarantees of political inde-
pendence md territorial integrity
to large and small states nike.
For such arrangements and covenants,
said the President, I'VE are willing t
fight and continue to fight until they ar
Ii
right to prevail and desire just an
stable peace.
He said there was no wish to injur
Germany and that it is only required this
Germany shall accept the place of equa
ity among the peoples of the new worl
in which we now live instead of a plac
of mastery.
But it is necessary as preiiminar
Ito any intelligent dealings with her o
our part that we should know fo
whom her spokesmen speak when the
speak to us, whether for the reishsta
majority or for the military party an
the men whose creed is the imperis
dominatio
The President said that an evider
principle rups through the whole pre-
gram he had outlined. 1t is principl
OF justice to all people and nationalitie ie
and their rights to live on equal tern,
Of liberty and safety with one anothe
whether they be strong or weak.
The normal climax of this, the en-
minating and final war for human lit
erty has come" said the Presiden
"and the people of the United Satte
are ready to put their own strengt]
their own highest purpose, their ow
integrity and devotion to the test"
Reviewed Recent Negotiations.
The President reviewed at SON
length the recent negotiations betwee
the central empires and the Russia
representa- tives at Brest- -Litovsk. The.
negotiations, he said, had been broke
off, the Russian Representatives wei
sincere and in earnest: they cannot Ell
tertain such proposals of conquest ar
domination.
He said that the central empires ha,
again attempted to acquaint the wor
with their objects in eh war and ha'
again challenged their adversaries to So
& what their objects are and what sort
settlement they would deem satisfactor
There is no good reason why that cha
lenge should not be responded to and r
sponded to with the utmost candor
The President said thatit will be O.
wish and purpose that the processes
peace when they are begun shall be a
solutely open and that they shall i
volve and permit henceforth no seer
understanding OF any kind. The d;
OF conquest and ACKNOWLEDGMENT h
gone bys 50 is also the day of seer
. covepance entered nto in the interes
some for moment to upset Il
- f,ff ha rvnrld