The Cordova daily times., 1919-02-11
APPEAL MADE
 IN BEHALF OF
 WEAK NATIONS

NEW YORK, Feb. II (by Associat- | ed Press) ).-An appeal to the Cnrls l tian public of Great Britain to sup | port the principle of selfgovernment of all peoples qualified for it has been sent from this city to the leading newspapers of Great Britain and Ire land by the National Committee on the Churches and the Moral Aims Of the War. This committee has been conducting a campaign through the American churches in support of Pres ident Wilson's policies in prosecuting the war, international justice and league of nations. It comprises rep resentatives of the Church Peace Union, the League to Enforce Peace, the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America and the World 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 appeal that foremost among the moral aims of the American church is "the principle Of self-government, self determination and, in the due and fit end, indepen- dence for all peoples with reference to their development, their training in elf-government and their final and complete self-direction.
 We believe" continues the appeal, that this policy should be applied to all the acquisitions of any of the al. lies. Lands, islands and peoples not yet advanced in social organization, government, or a capacity for the ar ticulate expression of their desire may require control, direction and educa- tion. Such should be kept in tute- lage until they are able to speak for themselves and act on their own ac- count; but this should be done solely for them, for their development, and 1 ture, and not under pretext to provide the world with their products and fur nish profit for others.
 What is true of savage lands is equally true of empires, once great and powerful, but now smitten with misgovernment and massacre, disor- der, anarchy and pillage. These should be governed by an. interna- tional agency representing free and self-governing powers, united in | league of free nations, as agency un- der no temptation to prolong depend ] ence, profit by authority or magnify the national aims and national pres tige of suzerain administration, however wise and efficient.
 "In recognizing, reuniting and raising from long oppression and di- vision lands and peoples, the same principle should be followed. Lands enjoying an autonomous indepen- dence in the past should not lost this hereditary privilege to round a from tier or provide for some greater power. No treaties, secret or open, new or old, no pet colonial ambitions and no traditional claim or policy, no commercial desires and no colonial plans must be permitted to bring any land or people under any flag or rule save for it's own development and its ultimate independence, pledged by it's colonial rulers.
 'This is now our own settled na- tional policy, recognized by all politi- cal parties. We confidently appeal to the conscience of our fellow Chris tians and to each and all of their l churches and communions to adopt, to support and to urge this principle, this practice and this policy"