New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-02-15

agreement anu guarantee, but he can
not expect that to be conceded him il
the other matters to be determined by
the articles OF peace are not handled
in the same way as items in the final
accounting. He cannot ask the bene
fit of common agreement In the one
field without according il in the other.
| take 1t for granted that he sees
that separate and selfish cOmpacts
with regard to trade and the essential
materials of manufacture would afford
no foundation for peace. Neither, he
may rest assured, will separate and
selfish cOmpacts with regard to prov
inces and people.
Count CZernin seems to see the fun
damental elements of peace with clear
eyes and does not seek TO obscure
them. He ees that an independent
Poland, made up of all the indisput-
ably Polish peoples who lie contiguous
to one another, is a matter of Euro
pean concern and must of course be
conceded: that Belgium must be evac-
uated and restored, ne matter what
sacrifices and CONCESSIONS that may
involve: and that national aspirations
must be satisfied, even within his own
empire, in the common interest of Eu-
rope and mankind.
If he is silent about questions which
touch the interest and purpose of his
allies more nearly than they touch
those of Austria only, it must, of
course, be because he feels con
strained, | suppose, to defer to Ger
many and Turkey in the circum-
stances. Seeing and conceding. as he
does, the essential principles involved
and the necessity of candidly applying
item, he naturally feels that Austria
can respond to the purpose of peace as
expressed by the United States with
less embarrassment than could Ger
many. H.. would probably have gone
much farther had it not been for the
embarrassments of Austria's alliances
and of her dependence on Germany.
Simple Tests Easily Applied.
After all, the test of whether it is
possible for either government to go
any further in this comparison of
views is simple and obvious. The prin-
ciples to be applied are these:
First, that each part of the final set
Element must be based upon the es-
sential justice of hat particular cause
and upon such adjustments as are
most likely to bring a peace that will
be permanent.
Second, that peoples and provinces
are not to be bartered about from
sovereignty to sovereignty as if they
were mere chattels and pawns in a
game, even the great game, now for
ever discredited, of the balance of
power; but that,
Third, every territorial settlement
involved in this war must be made in
the interest and for the benefit of the
populations concerned and not as a
part Of any mere adjustment or com
promise Of claims amongst rival
states; and,
Fourth, that all well-defined nation
al aspirations shall be accorded the
satisfaction that can be ac-
corded them without introducing new
or perpetuating old elements of dis
cord and antagonism that would be
likely in time TO break the peace of
Europe and consequently of the world.
A general peace erected on such
foundations can be discussed. Until
such a peace IA be secured W. have
no cnOlce but 10 go on.
So far as we a judge these prin-
ciples that we regard as fundamental
are already everywhere accepted as
except among the spokes-
of the military and annexation
list party in Germany. If they have
anywhere else been rejected, the OBJ
~jectors have not been sufficiently
or influential to make their
voices audible. The tragical circum-
stance is that this one party in Ger
many is apparently willing and able to
send millions OF men to their death to
prevent what all the world now sees
to be just.
America Must Never Turn Back.
| would not be a true spokesman of
the people of the United States If !
did not say one more that we entered
this war upon no small occasion and
that We never can turn back from a
course chosen upon principle. Our re-
sources are In part modified now and
we shall not pause until they are mo-
bilized in their entirety.
Our armies are rapidly going to the
fighting front and will 60 more and
more rapidly. Our whole strength will
be put into this war of emancipation
emancipation from the threat and
attempted mastery of selfish groups of
.autocratic rulers-whatever the diff
culties and present partial delays. We
are indomitable in u power Of inde-
pendent action and can in no circum-
stances consent to live in a world
governed by intrigue and force.
We believe that our own desire for
a new international order under which
and justice and the common
interests of mankind shall prevail is
the desire Of enlightened men every
where. Without that new order the
world will be without peace and hui
nan life will lack tolerable conditions
Of existence and development. Having
set our hand to the task of achieving
1t we shall not turn back.
l hope that it is not necessary for
to add that no word of what I
have said is intended as a threat.
That is not the temper of our people.
! have spoken them only that the
whole world may know the true spirit
OF America-that men everywhere
may know that our passion for justice
and for self-government is no mere
passion of words but a passion which
set in action must be satisfied.
The power of the United States is a
menace to no nation or people. 1t
will v be used in aggression or
for the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of any selfish
interest OF our own. 1t springs out Of
freedom and is for the service of free
dom.
with the Central empires. The author
ity of this government seems virtual