The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-01-11
WORLD JUSTICE
WAR AIM OF US.
WILSON OUTLINES AMERICAS
PEACE TERMS NATION TO
FIGHT TILL WORLD SAFE.
LEAGUE TO BAN|SH war
PRESIDENT LAYS DOWN SPECi-
FIG CONDITIONS THAT MUST BE
MET BEFORE WAR CAN END.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Washington, Jan. 9.-President Will
son yesterday, addressing Congress
delivered restatement of war aims
in agreement with the recent declara-
ton by the British premier, David
Lloyd George. The President present
ed definite program for world peace
containing fourteen specific considera-
tions.
Text of Presidents Address.
The President spoke as follows.
Gentlemen of the Congress-:
Once more, as repeatedly before,
have Indicated their desire to discuss
the objects of the war and the possible
basis of a general peace. Parleys have
been in progress at Brest- LitoHsk be
tween Russian representative and
Representatives of the central powers
to which the attention of all the bel
ligerents has been invited for the pur-
pose of ascertaining whether it may
be possible to extend these parleys into
a general conference with regard to
terms of peace and settlement.
The Russian representatives, pre-
sented not only a perfectly definite
statement of the principles upon which
peace, but also an equally definite pro-
gram of the concrete application of
those principles.
The representatives of the central
powers. on their part, presented an
outline of settlement which # much
less definite, seemed susceptible of
liberal Interpretation until their spe-
cific program of practical terms was
added. That program proposed no con.
cessions at all either to sovereignty of
Russia or the preferences of the popu-
lation with those. whose fortunes it
dealt but meant in a word that the
foot of territory their armed forces
had occupied-every province, every
city. every point of vantage-as a per
and their power.
1T is a reasonable conjecture that
the general principles of settlement
which they at first suggested, origi-
mated with the more liberal statesmen
of Germany and Austria, the men who
have begun to feel the force of their
while the concrete terms of actual set
tlement came from the military leaders
who have no thought but to keep
have been broken off. The Russian
representatives were sincere and in
earnest. They cannot entertain such
proposals of conquest and dominion.
The whole incident is full of sig
nificance. 1t is also full of perplexity.
tatives dealing? For whom are the
Representatives of the central empires
speaking? Are they speaking for the
ments or for the minority parties. that
military. and imperialistic minority
which has SO far dominated their
of Turkey and of the Balkan, states
which have felt obliged to become
their associates In this war?
The Russian representatives. have
insisted, very justly, very wisely and
In the true spirit of democracy that
the conferences they have been hold
statesmen should be held within open.
not closed doors. and all the world has
been audience as was desired To
To those who speak the spirit and in
tention of the resolutions of the Ger
man Reichstag of the 9Th Of July last,
leaders and parties of Germany. or to
those who resist and defy that spirit
and intention and insist upon conquest
in fact to both unreconciled and in
open and hopeless contradiction?
These are very serious Gus and preg e.
But whatever the results of the
panIteys pants at Bfesthtoyss Whatever "a the
in the utterances Of the spokesman Of
the central empires they have again
attempted to acquaint the world with
again challenged their adversaries to
say what their objects are and what
just and satisfactory.
Lloyd George Praised for Candor.
There is no good reason why that
challenge should not be responded to
with the utmost candor. We did not
wait for It, Not once. 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 definition to make 1t clear
what sort of definitive terms of set
t1ement must necessarily spring out of
them.
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 ad-
uncertainty of principle. no vagueness
Of detail.
The only secrecy of counsel, the
only lack of fearless frankness. the
ment Of the objects Of the war lies
with Germany and her allies. The is
sues of life and death hang upon these
definitions.
conception of his responsibility ought
for a moment to permit himself to
continue this tragical and appalling
outp9purins p OF blood hooana ana treasure ur
that the objects of the vital sacrifice
are part and parcel of the very life of
society and thai. that the people for whom
perative as he does.
There is, moreover, voice calling
for these definitions of principle and
Of purpose which is it seems to me,
than any of the many. moving voices
with which the troubled air OF. the
world Is filled. 1t is the voice Of the
s' ana al bnt pep phelple.s it A Would Pa's seem,
before the grim power of Germany,