The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-09

! other determined by friendly
counsel along historically cstab.
/ Iished lines of allegiance and ma
donaIity; and International guar
antees OF the political and eco
! nomic Independence and tcrrito~
rial integrity of the several Bal
kan states should be entered into.
f2. Turkish portions of the
! present OTTOMAN empire should
be assured secure sovereignty,
but the other nationa1ities which
are now uInier Turkish rule should
be assured undoubted security OF
life and an absolutely unmolested
opport unity OF autonomous deyet-
opment. and the DardaDeiles
should be permanently opened as
free passage TO the ships and
commerce OF NIL nations under In
ternationni guarantees.
IS. independent Polish states
erected. which should include the
territories inha bited by indisputa-
bly, Polish populations, which
should be assured q free and Sc
cure access to the sesi and whose
political and economic ind,pen-
dencc and territorial integrity
should be guaranteed by inferna-
tiona1 covenant.
tons must he formed under spe.
cific covenants for the purpose OF
affording mutual guarantees of
political Independence and terri
toriaI integrity to great and small
states alike.
In regard to these essential recti'
fications Of wrong and assertions OF
right we feel ourselves TO be intimate
partners OF all the governments and
peoples associated together against
the tGperialists We cannot be
serarated IN interest or divided ir
purpose. We stand together until ths
end
Only Desire Right to Prevail.
For such arrangements and COW
enantH. we are willing to fleht and
continue to night until they are
achieved, but onl, because we wish
the right to prevail and desire a JUS
and stable peace such as can be Sc
cured only by removing the chief pro.
vocations to war, which this program
dees remove. We have no jealousy OF
German greatness and there IL moth
ing In this program that irnpairs II
we ErudCe her no achievemasNt or dis
tinction OF learning or Of pacific enter.
prise such as have made her record
to iniure her or to block In any way
her legitimate influence or power
We do not wish to nRht her either
with arms or with hostile arran ge-
rnents Of trade II she is willing to as-
soCiate herself with us and the other
peace loving nations OF the world ir
covenants of Justice and law and fair
dealing We wish her onlv to accept
place OF equality among the peopiee
OF the world--the new world in which
we now live-instead OF a place oil
mastery.
Neither do we presume to suggest
to her any alteration or modification
Of her Institutions. But ii is necessar,
we must frankly say and necessary AZ
a preliminary to any intelligent deal
ings with her on our part, that we
should know whom her spok esm or
sreak for when they sneak to us
whether reichstag majority or for Tn
military party and the men whose
creed is imperial domination.
We have sfoken now, surely, ir
terms too concrete TO admit OF an,
further doubt or question. An eviden
principle runs through the whole pro
gram have outlined II Ia the prin
cipie OF Justice 70 all peoples and ma
tional,ties and their right 70 live or
equal terms of liberty and safety witt
one another whether he be strong OF
weak Unless this principle be made
it's foundation no part OF the structure
Of international Justice can stand. Thu
people of the United States could &C
upon no other principle and TO tbs
vindicstion of this principle they are
readv to devote their lives, their honor
AMI everything that they possess TIL
moral climax OF this, the culminatins
nd final war for human liberty hal
come. and they are ready to put theil
Own strength, their own highest pur
pose. their integrity and devotion I,
the test.