Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1918-01-19

not be done to us. The program OF the
worlds peace. therefore, is our pro
gram. and that program, the only pos
sible program, as We see it. is this:
l. Open covenants Of peace, openly
arrived at, after which there shall b
no private international understand
ings Of any kind. but diplomacy shall
proceed always frankly and in the pub
lie view. ....
2. Absolute freedom Of navigation
upon the seas, outside territorial
waters, alike in peace and in war, ex-
cept as the seas may be closed in whole
or in part by international action for
the enforcement Of international cove
nants.
3. The removal, so far as possible, Of
all economic barriers and the establish
ment of an equality of trade conditions
among all the nations consenting to
peace and associating themselves for it,
maintenance.
4. Adquate guar.ntees given and
taken that national ornaments Will be
reduced to the lowest point consistent
with domestic safety.
s. A free, open-minded, and absolute
ly impartial adjustment of all colonial
claims, based upon a strict observance
of the principle that in determining all
such questions of sovereignty the In
terests of the populations concerned
must have equal rights with the eQui-
table claims Of the government whose
title is to be determined.
6. The evacuation ct all Russian ter
ritory and such settlement OF all
questions affecting Russia as will Sc
cure the best and freest cooperation
of the other nations Of the world In
obtaining for her an unhampered and
unembarrassed opportunity for the IN
dependent determination Of her own po-
litical development and national pol
icy and assure her Of sincere vel
come into the society Of free nations
under institutions Of her own choos'
ing; and for the more than welcome
assistance also of every kind that she
may need and may herself desire.
The treatment accorded Russia oy
her sister nations in the months 10
come will be the acid test OF their gooo
will. of their comprehension OF her
needs as distinguished from their own
interests and Of their intelligent ano
unselfish sympathy.
Z. Belgium, the whole world Will
agree. must be evacuated and restored,
without any attempt to limit the SOW
ereignty which she enjoys in common
with all other free nations. No other
single act will serve as this will serve
to restore confidence among the nations
in the laws which they have themselves
set and determined for the government
of their relations with one another.
Without this healing act the whole
structure and validity Of international
law is forever impaired.
8. All French territory should be 1ree
and the invaded portions restored, ana
the wrong done to France by Prussia
in 1871 in the matter Of Alsace-Lor-
raine. which has unsettled the peace OF
the world for nearly so years, should
be righted, in order that peace may
once more be made secure in the inter
est Of all.
9. A readjustment Of the frontiers OF
Italv should be effected along clearly
recognizable lines of nationality.
10. The peoples Of Austria-Hungary,
whose place among the nations we wish
to see safeguarded and assured, should
be accorded the freest opportunity Of
autonomous development.
IL. Rumania, Serbia and Montenegro
should be evacuated: occupied terri
tories restored; Serbia accorded free
and secure access to the sea; and the
relations Of the several Balkan States
to one another determined by friendly
counsel along historically established
lines Of allegiance and nationality; and
International guarantees Of the politi
cal and economic independence and ter
ritorial integrity of the several Balkan
States should be entered into.
II. The Turkish portions of the pres
ent Ottoman Empire should be assured
a secure sovereignty, but the other ma
tionalities which are now under Tur
kish rule should be assured an undoubt
ed security Of life and an absolutely
unmolested opportunity Of autonomous
DEVELOPMENT, and the Dardanelles
should be permanently opened as fret
passage to the ships and commerce o.
all nations under international guar
antees.
13. An Independent Polish Stat
should be erected, which should INCLUDE
the territories inhabited by indisputab
lly Polish populations. which should b
assured a free and secure access to tn
sea. and whose political and economy
independence and territorial integrit!
should be guaranteed BY internationa
covenant.
II. A general association Of nation
must be formed under specific cove
nants for the purpose Of according mu
tual guarantees Of political indepeno
ence and territorial integrity to grea
and small States alike.
In regard to these essential rectinca
lions Of wrong and assertions Of RICH
we feel ourselves to be intimate par
ners OF all the Governments and pei
ples associated together against tn
imperialists. We cannot be separate
n interest or divided in purpose. w
stand together, until the end.
For such. arrangements and cove
nants we are willing to fight and to COZ
tinue to fight until they are achieve