Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-05-16

presidents fourteen points. The assumption is that the
United States: and its associates tricked the Germans into
an armistice by pledging themselves that they would con-
clude a permanent peace on the basis of the fourteen
points: used the interval to render their victim physically
and economically helpless; and now propose to her a
peace in which the principles on which Germany relied
have no part, but which is a peace of conquest, of re-
vense. and of practical annihilation.
Let us see. Without going into the precise language
of the fourteen points at this moment, they may be de-
scribed as follows:
L. Relates to open covenants.
2. Refers to freedom of navigation.
J. Provides 80 far as possible for the remov-
al of economic barriers.
4. Relates to the reduction of armament.
s. Colonial claims. Provides that in arrang-
ing for the future of colonies the interests of the
populations affected shall have equal weight with
the claims of the government whose title is to be de-
termined.
6. Provides for the evacuation of Russian ter
ritory and declares that the other nations must aid
Russia in the work Of rehabilitation.
{. Declares for the independence and complete
sovereignty of Belgium.
s. Provides for the evacuation of French terri
tory, the restoration of Alsace-Lorrainc and the
righting of the wrong done to France.
9. Relates to Italian frontiers. Declares that
these frontiers must be fixed on the basi, of nation-
atty.
10. Provides for the freedom of the peoples in
the empire of Austria-Hungary to enjoy autonomous
development.
II. Relates to the independence of the Balkan
states.
IL. Deals with Turkey and declares for the
opening of the Dardanelles.
Is. Provides for an independent Polish state,
with free and secure access to the sea-"
IA. Declares for a League Of Nations. :
There we have enumerated the fourteen points
which were presented as the essential program of peace,
But the democracies of the world were fighting, not for
a program. but for a principle. That principle has been
stated repeatedly, and in various forms, by the statesmen
of our own nation and its associates, and while the lam
guase was varied, there has always been entire agree
ment as to the substance. In the very speech in which
he listed his fourteen points President Wilson set forth
that principle in, these words:
What we demand in this war, therefore, is moth
ing peculiar to ourselves. It is that the world be
made fit and safe to live in; and particularly that it
be made safe for every peace-loving nation which.
like our own, wishes to live its own life, determine
its own institutions, be assured Of justice and fair
dealing by the other peoples of the world as against
Z. force and selfish aggression.
That is the principle for which we and our friends
fought, and for which the Germans had ample notice
we fought. The fourteen points were, as they pur-
ported to be, essential terms of a program by means of
which this principle should be given effect. If the prin-
ciple be accepted such additions to the program must be
made as may be necessary to carry out the purpose.
Before the armistice was signed, even before it's
terms had been prepared, President Wilson served notice
on Germany that no conditions would be considered that
would in any way impair the military advantage possess
ed by the Allies. The fourteen points do not cover that,
and the Germans were at lihertv n ci1n =. 80 =. .;~.
as they saw fit. Yet the Germans signed, with their eyes
open, and accepted terms which not onlv did not
but which vastly increased the military advan-
of the Allies. They knew the full purpose and effect
OF the armistice terms, and they accepted them.
Let the reader glance over the list of fourteen points
gwen above and determine with which of them the peace
recently presented are at variance. The position
the Germans seems to be (and they have the concur
renee of their North Dakota newspaper supporters, that
wish to constitute the fourteen points az a full and
peace treaty. They are willing to accept-or
say they are-every specific item listed in the four
points, but nothing that is not included in Thorn,
That would be charming-for Germany. In that case
there would be no return Of loot, no compensation for
destroyed property, no trial of men responsible
TOR outrases. no assumption by the Germans of any por-
ton of the war costs thus far borne by Germany. Vic.
tins, and, above all, no assurance that Germany would
not Immediately begin effective preparations for another
war Of conquest.?
We must HAYS : peace which gives full effect to the
enunciated by the president in introducing the
fourteen points. But We will not have a peace in which
that particular list Of items. intended largely al a basi.
for the conduct Of respected and respectable nations to-
ward each other. is used in order to defeat the very
which Is sought to be established.
whatsver the terms Of the Austrian treaty are. the
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