The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-01-16
Other Mems Views
An Editorial That May or May Not
Square With The Forums
Opinions,

The New York World: President
Wilson's address to congress is the
most definite and comprehensive
statement Of peace terms yet made
by any responsible head Of any
government engaged in this war.
Although in its main propositions
it is so closely in accord with Lloyo
Georges speech Saturday to this
British worlEingmen as to indicate
a complete understanding between
Washington and London as to wal
aims and war objects, in certain re-
spects the President has gone much
further than the prime minister. Mr.
Wilson has reduced the terms OF
peace to fourteen distinct PROPOSE
tons, beginning with the abolition Of
secret diplomacy and ending with a
general association Of nations under
mutual covenants to guarantee the
political independence and terri
toriaI independence of all states
alike, great and small.
In one notable respect the Presi-
dents address is at variance with the
prime minister's speech. Lloyd
George washed his hand Of Russia
and declared that Russia can be saw
ed only by her own people" President
Wilson, who rightly believes that the
future peace of the world depends
in no small measure upon the ultt-
mate fate Of Russia, refuses to aban-
don the Russian people to German
intrigue and German manipulation.
SEEKING upon the opportunity offered
by German duplicity in demanding
four Russian provinces, the Presi-
dent makes the cause Of Russian
democracy one of the articles Of his
peace plan.
He takes pains to emphasize the
desire Of the American people that
the Russian people attain their ut
most hope OF liberty and ordered
peace" To that end he insists up
on the evacuation Of all Russian ter
ritory and such a settlement OF all
questions affecting Russia as will
secure the best cooperation of 9TH
err nations in obtaining for Russia
the independent determination of
her own political development and
national policy.
1t is apparent that the Presidents
program is addressed in particular
to the Russian people, who have
been shamefully tricked by the Ger
man government and perhaps by
their own BolsheVik rulers. and to
the German socialists who are again
inCensed by the duplicity OF the
German autocracy in handling the
peace negotiations with the Rus
slams. If there is any strength or
virility in German socialism its op-I
pOrtunity has come to deal with its
own government, which has cyni-
cally repudiated the peace principles
Of the reichstag and again affirmed
its policy Of imperialistic agrees !
sion.
A durable peace for the world |
does not depend upon the acceptanceI
Of the Presidents program without
the changing Of a word, without the |
dOtting OF an Il" or the crossing of
a 't"; but it does depend upon un-
adherence to the principles
Of justice and right that he has en-
lnciated in defining these terms. |
What he demands Is the peace of /!
the peace Of gov
ernments and chancelleries, but the /
peace OF the peoples, and his pro-
gram carries as great a measure OF
advantage to the German masses as
10 those of every other country that
Is spending its blood and treasure
IN this conflict