South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-06


not fghung for. We are not fight
ing a war of aggression against the
German people Their leaders have
persuaded them that they are fight
ing a war OF self-defeuse against a
league of rival nations bent on the
destruction OF Germany. The de-
struction or disruption Of Germany
has never been a war aim with us.
Most reluctantly and quite UMPIRE
pared we were forced 10 join In this
war IN self-defense, in defense of
violated law in Europe
The British people have never
aimed at the breaking up Of the
German peoples or the disintegra-
ton Of their state Our wish is not
70 destroy Germany's great position
in the world. but to turn her aside
from schemes Of military domino
ton TO devote her strength to the
benedcent tasks Of the world.
we are not fighting to destroy
Austria-Hungary or 10 deprive TUr-
key Of it's capital or the rich lands
II Asia Minor and Thrace, which
are predominately Turkish.
I'VE are not fighting 20 destroy
the German constitution, although
we consider "a military. autocratic
constitution 6 dangerous anacrOn-
ism our viewpoint is that the
adoption Of a democratic cOnstitu-
ton by Germany would be the most
convincing evidence that her old
spirit Of military domination had
indeed died i'm this war. and il would
J bake 10 much easier for US TO con-
/cmde "a broad. democratic peace
with her. But that is a question
for the German people to decide.
TcutOns Refuse 20 State Aims.
ut is more than a year since the
president Of the United States ad-
vised the belHgereuts by suggestion
that each side should state clearly
the aims for which they were fight
ing We replied, the central pow
efs did not. and they have main
t9ined complete silence as TO the
objects for which they are fighting
Even on so crucial a matter as their
intention regarding Belgium they
have declined 10 give any trust
worthy Indication"
Referring to the announcement
10y 0N0l4N N-hti man, tlAt AAtt0AA u II lAll-
garian foreign minister, at the
Brest-LitOvsk peace conference on
Dec. . 5. that il was not the inten-
ton of the central powers to ap-
prorriate forcibly any occupied ter
ritories or rob of its independence
any nation which lost its political
independence during the war. Lloyd
George said IL was obvious that any
scheme of conquest ana annexation
could be perpetrated within the lit
eral Interpretation OF such q pledge.
I'VE must know what is meant"
said the premier. for equality Of
right amongst nations small as we'll
as great. is one of the fundamental
issues this country and her allies are
fighting 20 establish"
Refused All ReparatiOn.
Reparation for Belgian towns and
villages and their inhabitants, he
asserted had been repudiated en-
phat,cally by the central powers,
and the rest of their so-called Of
fers were almost entirely a refusal
of an concessions. on one point
only were they clear. Under no cir
cumstances would Germany's de-
maud for the restoration or the
whole of her colonies DE departed
from. All the principles of seIf-de-
termination here vanish.
1T is impossible 10 believe that
any permanent peace can be erect
ed on such a foundation" said the
premier. Mere lip service TO the
formula OF no annexation. no in
demuity and self-determiuation is
useless.
THE days OF the treaty OF Vienna
are LONG past We can no longer
submit the future of European civ
Hization 20 the arbitrary decision OF
"a few uceotiators striving to secure
by chiC8uery or persuasion the in
terests of this or that dynasty or
nation. Therefore government with
the consent OF the governed must
be the basis Of any territorial set
tiement For that reason also. un-
less treaties be upheld, IL is obvious
that no treaty Of peace can be
worth the paper on which it IS writ
ten
THE first requirements always
made by the British and their allies
have been the complete restoration.
political. territorial and economic.
of the independence of Belgium and
such reparation as can be made for
the devastation of it's towns and
provinces. 10 is no demand for war
Indemnity. but insistence that be-
fore there can DO any hope OF stable
peace this great breach of public
law in Europe must he repudiated
and. So far as is possible repaired.
Preparation means recognition.
Unless international risht As recog-
nized hy insistence ON payment for
injury done In defiance of its can
ons. IL can never be q reality
Next comes the restoration OF
Serbia, Montenegro and the occu-
pied parts OF France Italy and
Roumania, the complete withdrawal
Of alien armies and PREPARATION for
injustice done in the fundamental
condition OF permanent peace.
Will Stand by France
I'VE mean 20 stand by the French
democracy 90 the death In the de-
mand they make for a reconsider
alton OF the great v-r0nr- Of ~