The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1918-02-21

~ ~
peace are not handled In the same
way as items In the final accounting.
He cannot ask the benefit of common
agreement in the one field without
according it In the other.
81 take it for granted that he sees
that separate peace and selfish COM
pacts with regard to trade and the
essential materials OF manufacture
would afford no foundation for peace.
Neither, he may rest assured, VIII
separate and selfish compacts with
regard to provinces and peoples.
cxernin Sees Clearly.
"Count CZernin seems to e the
fundamental elements Of peace with
clear eyes and does not seek to OBJ
scure them. He sees that an indie
pendent Poland, made up of all the
indisputable Polish peoples who lie
contiguous to one another, is a matter
of general concern, and. Of course.
must be conceded; that Belgium must
be evacuated and restored no matter
what sacrifices and concessions that
may involve. and that national aspi-
rations must be satisfied, ven with
in his own empire, in the common in
terest of Europe 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 1t must
of course be because he feels con-
strained, l suppose, to defer to Ger
many and Turkey in the circum-
stances. . Seeing and %conceding, AS he
does, the essential principles In
volved and the necessity of candidly
applying them, he naturally feels that
Austria can respond to the purpose OF
peace as expressed by, the United
States with less embarrassment than
could Germany. He would probably
been for the embarrassments OF Aus
dercy upon Germany.
After all, the test OF whether 1t
Is possible for either government to
go any further in this comparison OF
views Is simple and obvious. The
principles to be applied are these:
First, that each part of the final
settlement must be based upon the
essential justice Of that particular
east 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 IL they
we're mere chattels and pawns in a
game, even the great game, now for
ever discredited, of balance of pow
err; but that,
Third, every territorial settlement
involved In this war must be made
670-SPECIAL-THREE II A
in the interest and for the benefit
of the populations concerned, and
not as a part of any mere adjust
ment or compromise OF claims
amongst rival states, and,
Fourth, that all we~ll-defined ma
tional aspirations shall be accorded
the utmost satisfaction that can be
accorded them without introducing
new or perpetuating old elements OF
discord and antagonism that would
be likely in time to break the peace
Of Europe and consequently Of the
world.
Foundation for Peace.
"a general peace erected upon
such foundations can be discussed.
Until such d peace can De secured we
udNe uO CuOICe Dut W 81 Oh. 0o a
as we can Judge, these principles
that We regard as fundamental are
already everywhere accepted as i'm
perative except among the spokes-
men of the military and annexationist
party in Germany. IL they have any
where else been rejected, the objec.
tors have not been sufficiently numer-
Gus or influential to make their voices
audible. The tragical circumstance is
that this one party in Germany is
apparently willing and able to send
millions of men to their death to pre-
vent what all the world now sees to
be just.
War Of Emancipation.
"I would not be a true spokesman
of the people of the United States IL
/ did not say once more that we en-
tered their war upon no small occa-
sion, and that we can never turn back
from a course chosen upon principle.
Our are in part modified
now, and we shall not pause until
they are modified in their entirety.
Our armies are rapidly going to the
fighting front and will go more and
more rapidly. Our whole strength
will be put into this war Of emancipa-
tion-emancipation from the threat
and attempted mastery Of selfish
groups of autocratic rulers-what-
ever the difficulties and present par.
tial delays.
we are indomitabie in u power
Of independent action, and in no cir
eumstances consent to live In a world
governed by intrigue and force. We
believe that III own desire for a
new international order under which
reason 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.
man life will lack tolerable conditions
of existence and development. Hay.
ing set our hand to the task OF
achieving it, we shall not turn back,
81 hope that II is not necessary
for me to add that no word OF what
have said is intended as a threat
That Is not the temper Of our people.
I have spoken thus only that the
whole world may know the true spirit
Of A~merica-that men everywhere
may know that our passion for jus
tice and for selfgovernment is nd
mere nassion of words. hat a mas.