The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-02-04
(By Associated Press.)

(By Associated Press.)
New York, Feb. 3.--An appeal to
the Christian public of Great Britain
to support the principle Of self-goy'
eminent of all peoples qualified for
It has been sent from this city to the
leading newspapers Of Great Britain
and Ireland by the National commit
tee on the churches and the Moral
| Aims Of the War. This committee has
been conducting campaign through
| the American churches in support of
President Wilson's policies in prose-
cutting the war, international justice
and league Of nations. 1t compris'
es representatives Of the Church
Peace Union, the League to Enforce
Peace, the Federal Council of the
Churches of Christ in America and
the Worlds Alliance for international
friendship through the churches.
| The appeal is signed by former
President William H. Taft, Alton B.
Parker, Hamilton Holt. the Rev.
Charles s. mcfarland, and the Rev.
Sidney L. Gulick and others.
| They assert in their appea. that
foremost among the moral aims of
the American church is "the princi-
pie of self-government, self-determin-
alton and, in the due and fit end, in;
dependence for all peoples with ref
erence to their development, their
training in self-government and their
final and complete self-direction.
I'VE believe" continues the appeal
that this policy should be applied 70
all the acquisitions Of any of the AL.
lies. Lands, islands and peoples, no;
yet advanced in social organization
government, or a capacity for the ar
ticulate expression Of their desires
may require control, direction ant
education. Such should be kept IL
! tutelage until they are able to speal
for themselves and act on their owl
account; but this should be dom
solely for them, for their develop
ment, and for their free and self-gov
erning future, and not under pretex
whatever to provide the world will
} their products and furnish a prof
for others.
What is true Of savage lands il
i, equally true of empires, once grea
and powerful, but now smitten will
disagreement and massacre, dis
order anarchy and pillage. Thes'
should be governed by an interna
! tional agency, representing free ant
] self governing powers, united in {
League of Free Nations, as agenc!
under no temptation toprolong de
| pendence, profit by authority or mag
Nifty the national aims and nationa
! prestige Of suzerain administration
however wise and efficient.
"a "In reorganizing, reuniting ant
" raising from long oppression and d!
vision, lands and peoples, the same
principle should be followed. Land'
enjoying an autonomous independence,
in the past should not lose this hered
''+--v privilege to round a frontier OF
to- "a greater power. NJ
provide for some ..~ ~ ia
treaties, secret or open, ne, -.
no pet colonial ambitions and no IL
ditional claim or policy, no CONNER
| cial desires and no colonial plans
must be permitted to bring any liant
or people under any flag or rule saw
| for its own development and its ult'
| mate independence, pledged by 1t
colonial rulers.
"This is now our own settled ma
national policy, recognized by all pc
J litical parties. We confidently appes
+ to the conscience Of our fellow =, -,
! tians and to each s~s ~ 90 tho
u churches and communions to adopt,
3 ;s;anport and to urge this principI
& this practice and this policy"