The Washington herald., 1918-01-09
COMPLETE TEXT OF THE
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Gentleman Of the Congress:
Once more, as repeatedly before. the
spokesmen OF the central powers have
indicated their desire to discuss the
objects Of the war and the possible
basis Of q general peace.
ParIeys have been In progress
at Brest-Litovsk between Russian
representatives and. representatives
Of the central powers to which
the attention of all the bel
llgerents has been invited for
the purpose OF ascertaining wheth-
er Il may be possible to extend the
parieys into a general conference with
regard to terms Of peace and settle
ment.
Russian Program Definite.
The Russian representatives pre-
sented not only q perfectly definite
statement Of the principles upon
which they would be willing to con-
elude peace. but also an equally defi-
mite program Of the concrete applica-
ton of those principles.
The representatives OF the central
powers on their part, presented an
outline Of settlement. which. II much
less definite, seemed susceptible OF
liberal Interpretation until their spe-
ciic program of practical terms was
added.
That program proposed no conces-
sions at all either to the sovereignty
OF Russia. or to the reference of the
populations with whose fortunes II
dealt. but meant, in a word. that the
central empires were to keep every
foot of territory their armed forces
had occupied-every province, every
city. every point Of vantage-as per
manent addition to their territories
and their power.
Suggestion Was Teuton's.
1t is a reasonable conjecture that
the general principles Of settlement
which they at first suggested origin
ated with the more liberal statesmen
Of Germany and Austria, the men
who have begun to feel the force
Of their own peoples thought and
purpose, while the concrete terms OF
actual settlement came from the mil
itary leaders who have no thought
bot to keep what they have got
The negotiations have been broken
on. The Russian representatives
were sincere and in earnest They
conquest and domination.
Incident Significant.
The whole incident Is full OF sig
nificance. Il Is also full of perplex-
ity With whom are the Russian rep
resentatives dealing? For whom are
the representatives OF the central
empires speaking? Are they speak
ing for the majorities OF their re-
spective parliaments or for the mi
nority parties. that military and i'm
periallstic minority party which has
so far dominated their whole policy
and controlled the affairs of Turkey
and OF the Balkan states which have
felt obliged to become their asso-
ciates in this war?
Demanded Open Door.
The Russian representatives have
insisted. very justly, very wisely, and
in the true spirit OF modern de-
mocracy. that the conferences they
have been holding with the Teutonic
end Turkish statesmen should be
held with open, not closed, door, and
with the whole world as an audi
ence was desired.
To whom have we been listening
those who speak the spirit and in
AEAANAOh VI lIC. EcSClullOflS Ino NTET-
man Reichstas of the 9Th of July
last, the spirit and intention Of the
liberal leaders and parties of Ger
many. or to those who resist and defy
that spirit and intention, and insist
upon conquest and subjugation?
Or are we listening, in fact, to both,
unreconciled and in open and hope
less contradiction? These are very Sc
rious and pregnant questions. Upon
the answer to them depends the peace
Of the world.
Challenge to Make Statement.
But. whatever the results of the par
leys at Brest Iitovsk, whatever the
confusions Of counsel and of purpose
in the utterances of the spokesmen
Of the central empires. they have again
attempted to acquaint the world with
their objects in the war and have
again challenged their adversaries to
say what their objects are and what
sort Of settlement they would deem
just and satisfactory.
There IS no good reason why that
challenge should not be responded to,
and responded to with the utmost can
dor. We did not wait for it. Not
Cnce, but again and again. We have
laid our whole thought and purpose
before the world. not in general terms
only. but each time with sufficient de-
finition to make it clear what sort
of definitive terms Of settlement must
necessarily spring out of theTu-
Within the last week Mr.. Lloyd
George has spoken with admirable
candor and in admirable spirit for
the people and government Of Great
Britain There is no confusion of
counsel among the adversaries of the
central powers. no uncertainty of prin-
ciple. no vagueness OF detail.
Foes Are secretIye.
The only secrecy of counsel, the
only lack Of fearless frankness. the
only failure to make definite state
ment Of the objects of the war, lies
with Germany and her allies. The
issues Of life and death hang upon
these, definitions
No statesman who has the least
conception Of his responsibility ought