The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-09-28

IlaI no peace snail DC W
any kind OF compromise or abatement
of the principles we have avowed as
the principles for which we arc
fighting. There should exist nc
doubt about that 1 am, therefore
going to take. the liberty of speak
ing with the utmost frankness about
the practical Implications that are in
volved in 1t.
II II be in deed and in truth the
common object OF the governments
l associated against Germany and Of
! the nations whom they govern, as /
believe it to be, to achieve by the COM
ing settlement a secure and lasting
] peace, ii will be necessary that all
| who sit down at the peace table shall
come ready and willing to pay the
price, the only price, that will procure
it: and ready and willing also to Gre
ate in some vlrile fashion the only in
strumentality by which 1t can be made
| certain that the agreements OF the
peace will be honored and fulfilled.
League OF Nations Essential
That price is impartial justice in
every item of the settlement, no mat
ter whose interest is crossed, and not
only impartial justice, but also the
satisfaction OF the several peoples
whose fortunes are dealt with. That
| indispensable fundamentally Is q
league OF nations formed under coven-
ants that will be efficacious. without
| such an instrumentality, by which the
peace OF the world can be guaranteed,
/ peace will rest in part upon the word
! of outlaws and only upon that word.
For Germany will have to redeem her
character, not by what happens at the
peace table. but by what follows.
And, as l see il, the constitution OF
that league Of nations and the clear
definition of its objects must be a
i part is in a sense the most essential
part, Of the peace settlement itself. II
cannot be formed now. II formed
now, IL would be merely a new
alliance confined to the nations asso-
ciated against a common enemy. 1t is
not likely that 1t could be formed
after the settlement 1t is necessary
! to guarantee the peace; and the peace
cannot be guaranteed as an after
thought. The reason, to speak in
plain terms again, why 1t must be
guaranteed Is that there will be
parties to the peace whose promises
have proved Enthusiastically, and
means must be found in connection
with the peace settlement itself to re-
move that source OF insecurity. It
would be folly to leave the guarantee
to the subsequent voluntary action of
| the governments we have seen destroy
Russia and deceive Roumania.
Basis for League of Nations.
But these general terms do not dis
close the whole matter. Some details
are needed to make them sound less
like n thesis and more like n practl-
cal program. These. then, are some
OF the particulars, and 1 state them
with the greater confidence because I
can state them authoritatlvely as rep
resenting this Governments interpre-
tation OF its own duty with regard
to peace:
u First-The impartial justice
melted out must involve no dis
elimination between those to
whom we wish to be just and =
those TO whom we do not wish to I
be just 1t must be a justice thA
plays no favorites and knows no
standard but the equal rights OF
the several peoples concerned.
Second-No special or separate
interest OF any single nation or
any group of nations can be made
the basis OF any part of the set
Ileme0I WnlCn Is not consistent
with the common interest Of all.
Third-There can be no leagues
or alliances or special covenants
and understandings within the
general and common family OF the
league of nations.
Fourth-And more specifically,
there can be no special, selfish.
economic combinations within the
league and no employment or any
form OF economic boycott or ex-
clusion except as the power of
economic penalty by exclusion
from the markets Of the world
may be vested in the league OF
nations itself as a means of disci-
pline and control.
Fifth-AI international agree
ments and treaties of every kind
must be made known in their en-
tirety TO the rest Of the world.
No Economic Warfare.
Special alliances and economic riv-
alries and hostilities have been the
prolific source in the modern world
OF the plans and passions that pro-
duce war. 1t would be an insincere
as well as Insecure peace that did not
exclude them in definite and binding
terms.
The confidence with which I VEN
ture to speak for our people in these
matters does not spring from our
traditions merely, and the well-known
principles Of international action
which we have always professed and
followed.
In the same sentence in which l
say that the United States will enter
into no special arrangements or I'M
derstandings with particular nations.
let me say also that the United States
is prepared TO assume its full share
OF responsibility for the maintenance
of the common covenants and under
standing upon which peace must
hencefOrth rest. We still read Wash
ington's immortal warning against
"entangling alliances" with full COM
prehension and an answering purpose.
But only special and limited alliances
entangle, and we recognize and ac-
cept the duty Of a new day in which
We are permitted to hope for a gen
eral alliance which will avoid en-
tanglements and clear the air OF the
world for common understandings
and the maintenance OF common
rights.
Plain SOenkinH Needed