Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-01-11
Americas Peace Terms.

Aeeds no Interpretation Its frankness its simple
y and its greatness speak for themselves and
carry conviction throughout the world to people OF
humane and unclouded minds. All that he asserts
in behalf of America and her Allies rests upon
single principle that is basic and incontestaole;
The principle of justice to all peoples and nation
aHties and their right to live on equal terms OF
liberty and safety with one another, whether theS
II be strong or weak"
That il the fundamental faith of our Re
public restatement of the truth that "all men
re created equal and are endowed by their Gre
tor with certain unaIienable Rights" There
puld have been no United States of America
the settlers OF these free shores had not taken
arms nearly 9 century and half ago in de-
Sc Of the principle of Justice to all peoples and
ktdonaIfties and their right to live equal terms
liberty and safety, whether they be strong or
ak" Nor could the United States any other
lion of freeman now hope to survive IL that ideal,
constituting as it does the Hfe-breath and life
blood of democracy were left unvindicated at this
fatefuI time. There can be peace soon as Ger
many is willing to subscribe and conform to this
plain principle of national rights and human
rights But until then, the American people will
fight on unflinchingly by the side of their code
tenders of freedom realizing, the President de-
clares that unless justice be done to others, it
will not be done to us"
Each OF the fourteen terms In President VII
sons concrete and unequivocal program of peace
springs naturally. indeed inevitably, from its foun-
Ton principle open covenants, openly arrived
+ instead OF the secret and crooked diplomacy
intriguing rulers, essential to liberty
nd safety among nations as they are to good
II and durable peace. So also are the absolute
edom OF the seas the removal OF economic bar
IS and 1.-The establishment Of equality of trade
ditions among nations consenting to peace and
Iciating themselves for its maintenance" e 1t
almost without saying that there must be guar
Is for the reduction of national ornaments il
peoples OF the earth to escape the burden
blight of despotic miIitarism and be left free
Dor together for the common needs and COM
glory of mankind And in order that the
ction OF national ornaments may be practicable
truly expedient, there must be what the Presi-
nt terms "a general association of nations I'M
wder specific covenants mutual guarantees of
1ft5caI independence and territorial integrity to
largo and small States alike.
The remaining items OF his peace program are
more specific In their application of the principle
OF equality OF freedom and justice Belgium must
be evacuated and restored, without any attempt
TO limit her sovereignty. without this healing
act" says the President striking to the heart OF the
entire issue ~the whole structure and validity of
international law Is forever impaired For vir-
tuaTy the same reasons that Belgium should be re-
stored, the invaded portions Of France should be
evacuated and restored and ''the wrong done to
France by Prussia in 1871 in the matter of Alsaee-
Adrraine should be rghted in order that peace
once more may be made secure in the interest Of
an" This declaration brings from the American
people and friends Of liberty IN every land the
same thunders OF applause to which It stirred the
ssssmbled Congress- Justice and lasting peace re-
uuire moreover that Russia's invaded territory be
eyacuated and her way left free for untranmeHed
development both in matters economic and in her
political ideals The evacuation OF Rumania and Of
Serbia who shall be given to the sea, the
establishment of an independent Polish State the
retention of Turkeys sovereignty in those portions
of the Ottoman Empire which raciaIly Turkish
but the Of safety and of free autonomous
DEVELOPMENT for other nationalites hitherto under
Ottoman sway, the opening of the DardaneIles per-
manentIy to all nations, the readjustment OF Italys
frontiers ION clearly recognizable Zines Of nation
aIity" and 'the freest opportunity sof autonomous
development" for the peoples of Australian gary
all these conditions part and parcel OF the prin-
chile of Justice to peoples and nationalities.
The Presidents object in making this full and
explicit statement of Americas aims, which
are the aims of all The Allies. is to meet and thwart
the chicanery OF the German rulers so-caIled
peace" maneuvers Particularly seasonable and
effective ares his references to Russia whom the
ffohenzoIlern ntriguers are seeking to decoy into
a separate peace and TO as their base for a
diplomatic drive against the morale of all the AL
lied peoples. By his generous and heartening
words to the Russian democracy, words which
spring straight from profound sympathy and I'M
derstanding. President Wilson has treasured and
undoubtedly strengthened that troubled nation In
deed. there is reason believe that he has dealt
a death blow 10 Prussian designs in that quarter,
and so has broken up the entire scheme by which
the Kaiser hoped to foist a spurious and dishon-
orable peace upon the world. Furthermore, in
laying Americas and the Allies terms fully and
concretey before the world, the President has
sweFed Prussian craft with challenge Of naked