Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-01-08

ons, il can never be reality.
Next comes the restoration OF
Serbia. Montenegro and the occu-
pied parts of France, Italy and Ru-
mania. the complete withdrawal of
alien armies and reparation for in
Justice done IS the fundamental
condition OF a permanent peace.
Stand by Democracy
Of French People
We mean to stand by the French
democracy to the death in the de-
mand they make for a reconsidera-
ton of the great wrong OF II.
when Alsace-LOrraine was torn
away. This sore has poisoned the
pores of Europe for half a century,
and until cured, healthy conditions
cannot be restored
The premier said he would not
attempt to deal with the question
of the Russian territories now in
German occupation. The Russian
poucy since the revolution has
passed through so many phases
that it was difficult to speak, with
out some suspension of judgment,
on what the situation would be
when the terms of European peace
come to be discussed. Referring to
the fact that the war was started
bv Russia's decision to protect
Serbian independence. and that the
present rulers OF Russia had enter
ed into separate peace negotiations
the premier said:
Il am indulging in no reproaches'
I am stating facts to make 1t clear
WHY Britain cannot be held account
able for decisions taken in her alb
sence and concerning which she was
not consulted, or her aid invoked.
Nobody who knows Prussia and
her designs toward Russia can
doubt her ultimate intention. What
ever phrases she uses to delude
Russia, she does not mean to sur
render any of the Russian provinces
and cities now occupied. Under one
name or another they Will hence
forth be part OF the Prussian do
minions, ruled by the Prussian
sword, and the rest Of the Rus
SLAMS will be enticed or bullled
into complete economic and ulti-
mate political enslavement
Democracy in this country will
stand to the last by the democra-
cies of France and Italy. We
should be proud to fight to the end
side by side with the new Russian
democracy. So would America
France and Italy. But if the pres
ent rulers of Russia act independ-
emily, we have no means to arrest
the catastrophe Russia can only
be saved by her own people.
Poland
Urgent Necessity
IAN independent Poland, COM
prising all genuinely Polish ele-
ments who desire to participate, is
an urgent necessity for the stability
of western Europe.
Though we agree with President
Wilson that the breaking up OF
Austria-Hungary is no part of our
war aims, we feel that unless gen.
uine self-goyernment on the demo-
cratic principles is granted those
Austro-Hungarian nationalities who
have long desired it, it is impossible
to hope for the removal OF those
causes of unrest in that part OF Eu-
rope which have so long. threatened
it's general peace.
ION the same grounds we regard
as vital the legitimate claims of the
Italians for union with those OF
their own race and tongue. We also
mean to press that justice be done
to the men of Rumanian blood and
speech in their legitimate asplra-
tions. If these conditions were full
filled, Austria-Hungary would be-
come a power whose strength would
conduce to the permanent peace and
freedom of Europe, instead of the
instrument Of a pernicious Prussian
military autocracy.
"Outside of Europe we believe
that the same principles should be
applied.
''Whiie we do not challenge the
maintenance of the Turkish empire
i'm the home lands of the Turkish
race, with it's capital at CONSTANT
nopIe-the passage between the
Mediterranean and the Black sea be-
ing internationalized and neutral
ized-Arabia, Armenia, Mesopota-
mia, Syria and Palestine are, in our
Judgment, entitled to recognition of
their separate national conditions.
What the exact form of that recog-
milton should be need not here be
discussed, beyond stating that 1t
will be impossible to restore to
their former sovereignty the terri
tories to which L have referred.
collapse OF Russia
Changes Conditions
Much has been said about the ar
rangements we have made with our
allies on this and other subjects.
1 can only say that as new circum-
stances, such as the Russian COL
lapse and the separate Russian ne
gotiations, have changed the condi-
tions in which the arrangements
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