The Southern herald., 1918-01-18
DEFINITE TERMS ENUMERATED
BY WHICH ENEMY CAN END
GREAT WORLD STRUGGLE.
ABSOLUTELY UP TO KAISER

unQeStlOnaDle, PRESIDENT WllSOH sup
Ulated before a joint session Of con-
gress, the aims for which America is
now fighting. This country, he said,
will continue the struggle until these
are achieved.
1t was the compelling voice OF
the Russian people," asking a defini-
tion of Americas principles and pur-
pose" that prompted the president to
go before congress. 1t was largely to
Russia that his speech was directed.
He struck out at the sinister ac
tivities of the German rulers, de-
manded the light on all future nego-
tiations and treaties, and held RESP
Lutte to his stand for territorial ad-
iustments that will insure peace.
Immediate attention was called to
the fact-and its significance-that
the president did not include elimina-
tion of the Hohenzollern dynasty as
a war aim. But he laid down en-
phatically the necessity, Of all future
treaties and agreements being made
In the open.
The presidents address, following
closely on the heels Of Lloyd Georges
statement of England's war aims, con-
Veys the unquestionable thought that
he believes peace may be drawing
nearer
He outlined IA terms--and each
was met by prolonged applause from
the legislators.
To realize this embodiment of Gus
tice to all peoples and nationalities"
that may '1ive on equal terms Of lib
erty and safety with one another,
whether they be strong or weak" the
president said the American people
will devote their lives and honor"
Unless this principle be made its
foundation, no part of the structure
OF international justice can stand"
the president concluded.
The presidents message follows:
Gentlemen of the Congress:
once more, as repeatedly before, the
spokesmen OF the central empires have
indicated their desire to discuss the OBJ
Jects OF the, war and the possible basis
OF general peace.
Parleys have been in progress at Brest
IitoVsk between Russian representa-
tves and representatives Of the central
powers to which the attention OF all the
belllgerents have been invited for the
purpose Of ascertaining whether 1t may
be possible to extend the parleys into
a general conference with regard to
terms Of peace and settlement The
Russian representatives presented not
only perfectly definite statement Of
the principles upon which they would
be willing to conclude peace, but also
an equally definite program OF the con-
crete application of those principles, The
representatives. of the central powers, on
their part, presented an outline OF set
tlement, which, II much less definite
seemed susceptible OF liberal interpreta-
tlon until their specific program OF prac-
tical terms was added
No Concessions at All.
That program proposed no concessions
at all, either to the sovereignty OF Rus
sia or to the reference Of the popula-
tions with whose fortunes 1t dealt, but
meant, in word, that the central en-
pires were to keep every foot OF terri
tory their armed forces had occupied
every province, every city, every point
OF vantage-as a permanent addition TO
their territories and their power. II Is
reasonable conjecture that the gem
eral principles OF settlement which they
at first suggested originated with the
more liberal statesmen Of Germany and
austria, the men who have begun to feel
the force OF their own peoples thought
and purpose, while the concrete terms Of
actual settlement came from the mill
tary leaders who have no thought but
to keep what they have got. The ne
sotiatiOns have been broken off. Inc
Russian representatives were sincere
and In earnest. They cannot entertain
such proposals Of conquest and domn-
alton.
The whole incident is full of slgnifi
canoe. It is also full Of perplexity. With
whom are the Russian representatives
dealing? For whom. are the representa-
ttves Of the central empires speaking?
Are they speaking for the majorities Of
their respective parliaments or for the
minority parties, that military and i'm
perialistic minority party which has so
far designated their whole policy and
controlled the affairs Of Turkey and of
Obliged TO become their associates in
this war?
The Russian representatives have in
sisted, very justly, very wisely, and in
the true spirit Of modern democracy,
that the conferences they have been
holding with the Teutonic and Turkish
statesmen should be held with open, not
closed doors, and with the whole world
as an audience was desired.
10 whom have we been listening
those who speak the spirit and lnten-
ton OF the resolutions Of the German
reichstag of the 9Th Of July, last, the
spirit and intention Of the liberal lead
ers and parties OF Germany or to those
wiz ioosSl anu ubiy tldl SplTlL and In
tentipn and insist upon conquest and
subjugatiOn? Or are we listening. in
fact. to both, unreconciled and in omen
and hopeless contradiction? THESE are
very serious and pregnant uestions. IJpon
the answer. to them depends the peace
Of the world.
But, whatever the results Of thu mar.
leys at Brest Litovsk, whatever the con-
fusions Of counsel and of purpose In The
utterances of the spolSesmen of the cen.
tral empires, they have again attempted
to acquaint the world with their objects
in the war, and have again CHALLENGED
their adversaries to say what sort Of SET
tlement they would deem just and satIs-
factory. There is no good reason why
that challenge should not be responded
10, and responded to with the utmost
candor. We did not wait for It.
Have Told Purposes.
Not once. but again and again. have
we laid our whole thought and purpose
before the world, not in general terms
only. but each time with sufficient dsfi-
milton to make II clear what sort OF
deflnitive terms Of settlement must nee
ssariy spring out OF them. Within tine
[ week Mr.. Lloyd George has spoken
aAs fwaH aIars. 4.