Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1918-01-19
PRESIDENT
REs7ATEs
WAR AIMS
Names "a Conditions Under
Which Peace is Possible.
PREPARATION FOR FRANCE
Absolute Freedom of Seas in
Peace or War.
ALL TREATIES TO Be OPEN

Germany Must Right Wrong Of Taking
Alsace-L orraine Complete Evaeua-
Aion Of BeIaium-RemovaI Of Al Eco
nomic ENTHUSIASTICALLY in Trade.
Washington, .aL. 8. - With new
statement Of war aims, approving the
recent declarations Of the British Pre-
snaer, Lloyd George, President wilson
today presented to Congress and the
world a specific declaration Of theterm
on which it would be possible to make
peace with the German military au-
tocrocy.
The Presidents program is composed
of IA separate articles and provides for
restoration and reparation. guarantees
Tor territory and national life, free
dom of the seas and access to them,
reductions of ornaments and guaran-
tees for the sanctity CT agreements be-
tween nations.
In a word. the President said, the
program removes the chief provoca-
lions to war.
But in order that his pronouncement
should be definitely understood as one
Of war aims rather than peace aims,
kLe President declared:
For such arrangements and cove
nants we are willing to fight and to con-
tinue to fight until they are achieved.
This he followed with restatement
that the world wars only upon Ger
many crazed by war, not upon Ger
many of peaceful pursuits, no matter
however great they may be.
I'VE wish her only to accept place
ct equality among the peoples OF the
world" said the President, "the new
world in which we now live-instead
Of a place Of mastery"
These aims, the President declared,
shared by the co-belligerents, were the
aims and principles Of the people OF
the United States for which they are
willing to sacrifice everything.
1.-THE moral climax Of this. the cul-
minating and final war for human lib
erty, has come" said the President in
conclusion, land they (the people Of
the United States) are ready to put
their own strength, their own highest
purpose, their own integrity and devo-
ton to the test"
The President spoke as follows:
Gentlemen Of the Congress-:
Once more, as repeatedly before, the
spokesmen of the Central Empires have
indicated their desire to discuss the
objects Of the war and possible bases
Of a general peace.
Parleys have been in progress at
Brest-Litovsk between Russian repre-
sentatives Of the Central Powers to
which the attention of all the belliger-
-. ents has been invited for the purpose
Of ascertaining whether it may be pos
sible to extend these parleys into a
general conference with regard to
terms Of peace and settlement.
The Russian representatives present
ed not only a perfectly definite state
.ment of the PRINCIPLES upon which they
would be willing to conclude peace but
also an equally definite program OF tie
.concrete application of those principles
The representatives Of the Central
Powers, on their part, presented an out
line of settlement which, if much less
definite, seemed susceptible Of liberal
Interpretation until their specific pro
gram Of practical terms was added
That program proposed no concessions
ct all either to sovereignty Of Russia
or to the preferences Of the population
With whose fortunes 1t dealt, but meant
in a word, that the Central Empires
were to keep every foot Of territory
their armed forces had occupied-ever,
province, every city, every point Of van
tage-as q permanent addition to theil
territories and their power.
It Is a reasonable conjecture that thu
general principles of settlement whicl
they at first suggested originated will
the more liberal statesmen Of German.
and Austria, the men who have begu1
TO feel the force Of their own people
thought and purpose, while the cor
crete terms Of actual settlement cam
from the military leaders who have n
thought but to keep what they hav
rot. The negotiations have been brt
ken of. The Russian representative
were sincere and in earnest. The
cannot entertain such proposals Of COZ
quest and domination.
The whole incident is full Of signif
canoe. It is also full Of perplexit!
With whom are the Russian represe1
tatives dealing? For whom are tn
representatives of the Central Empire
speaking? Are they speaking for tn
majorities Of their respective parli;
ments or for the minority parties, ths
military and imperalistic minorit
which has so far dominated their Who'll
policy and contf oiled the affairs Of Tu
BRINGS DOWN GERMAN PLANE