Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-18
CONCORD OF PRINCIPLES
MUST BIND THE NATIONS
Basis of an Enduring Peace Transcends
in Import Any Program Of Details

livery ONE knows that the war was
not fought in all quarters of the globe
by millions Of men and with passionate
intensity because Vienna threatened Bel
grade or Russia modified perhaps too
soon or because the Germans marched
into Belgium or because they promised
security to but one American merchant
man week plying between New York
and Falmouth.
General principles-a duel of them re-
spectively representative of democracy
and espotism-fanned and sustained the
flames of conflict.
General principles-a concord of them,
since the foe will play no constructive
role in the Paris conference-must there
fore logically form the fabric of peace.
Emphasis on this point is manifested
today in all nations to be represented at
the memorable convention. Conflicting
claims on specific issues, antagonistic
purposes with regard to numerous highly
important details will inevitably be pre-
sented. Adjudication of interests, the
DdldlCliS VI practical Values are pdtI VI
the entirely legitimate functions of such
a meeting. But the promise of results
would be meager indeed without the car
dinal tie, the broad concept of orderly
freedom which has held the Allies to-
gether throughout the war and is the
antidote for chaos at the peace table.
The dynamic force of such an ideal
gives the clear ring of sincerity to the
recorded fervor evoked by President Will
and British press. Since the landing at
Brest the Paris populace, whose cheers
for the American chief executive ring
through the boulevards, have received no
clue to his opinions concerning the dis
cussed eastward expansion of France,
the size of the indemnity or the rules for
sea rights.
1t is not even known that the Presi-
dent himself has definitely formulated
any, while there is weight of significans
evidence to suggest that tabulated pro-
gram of preconceived demands" is the
last thing with which he would confront
our International associates. Even the
fourteen points, which served we'll their
purpose in clarifying the German mind,
have subtly taken a secondary place.
They are meaningless unless informed
by the harmonizing principle pervading
the thought of statesmen and their con-
stituents in all the Allied nations, and
they are even susceptible without incon-
sistency of radical alteration when sus-
tanned by such spiritual force.
Hence, when Mr.. Lloyd George at the
climax of political campaign espouses
unlimited expansion of the British navy,
that declaration, though prophetic of
argument at the session, is overshadowed
as a valid augury of results by his
affirmation Of belief in the general pur-
poses of democracy. The former conten-
tion is subject for judicial inquiry. On
the latter the whole existence of the
court and it's chances of accomplishment
depend.
"Our object" said Mr.. Wilson in his
congressional address of April 2, 1918,
asking for the declaration of war against
Germany, SIS to vindicdte the principles
of peace and justice in the life of the
aUorld as against selfish and dutocrdtic
po1Oer and to set up amongst the really
free and self-governing peoples of the
aVorld such a concert of purpose and
action as CiU henceforth insure the
observance Of these principles"
Since arriving in Europe the Presi-
dents whole attitude, which has won
such favor that the detail-mongers have
questioned the authenticity of approval,
has simply been in line with those prin-
ciples. A more specific platform would
necessarily undergo revision as the
President visited the scenes of devasta-
tion, as he gained new light through per-
sonal contact with high national spokes-
men on innumerable problems of race,
boundary and economics.
At this early juncture it is not only
wise but honorably so to rely on the
passionate desire in all the nations to
restore civilization on reasonable basis
of equity. 1t is that primal motive which
make many discords in the conferences
to be sounded in relatively minor key.
Without it the meetings would be
anarchic, and this the whole world will
never sanction and would eternally re-
| sent.
With the unifyfng principle estab-
lished II is possible to conceive Of a. vast
amount otquid pro quo claims and sur.