Washington Journal., 1923-08-03
A Word TO the American
People on the World Crisis

"fN
World War, as we'll as the most dan
gerous, is the peace which was in
tended to end it. The judgment Of the
world will doubtless absolve the
American people from any guilty par
ticlpation in the origin or cause of this
war. but history will. with almost
equal certainty, and with emphasis,
place upon our nation a heavy share
of the responsibility for the peace OF
Versailles. This circumstance is our
excuse, if there be need OF such, for
endeavoring to bring to the attention
OF the American public the present
and immediate need and duty Of Amer
ica's Intervention in the affairs Of Cen
trial Europe, to the end that an immi-
nent catastrophe be avoided. In the
opinion of the best informed and
qualified statesmen of both hemi-
spheres we stand before another
calamity, equal in horror, il not
greater, than the one just passed. In
the face OF such a crisis we deem it fit
to present these following facts. and
we feel it a duty to Il country and
to mankind t. add what we may to All
effort to salvage what is still left OF
good will among men and Of the civil
ization of the races kindred TO us OH
the continent OF Europe. For such "a
purpose we must overlook the differ
ences and passions of the past period,
SO that we can concentrate on this
effort. We must forget the malevol
ences of the wartime and seek 10
translate the humanitarian phrases OF
the leadership of that memorable
period into deeds and accomplish
ments. We must discard the conclu-
sions of impulse for those of evidence.
Only upon the true appraisement OF
facts, the facts Of both sides, can we
find justice, only upon justice can We
build that peace which will endure
Such a peace cannot be brought about
without the abolition of the treaty OF
Versailles and the contamination Of a
compact among the nations upon the
only honorable basis possible, namely
on the pledge given by the President
of the United States and accepted by
both sides before the armistice. These
pledges are in the main recorded in
the Presidents speech on the condi
ton of peace February IL, 1913, from
which We quote: There shall be no
tive damages" and in the Fourteen
Points of the Presidents peace plat
form, which declare for equal trade
conditions among all nations to the
peace conference, for reductions OF
ornaments to the lowest point consist
ent with domestic safety, for impartial
adjustment of colonial claims, for
self-determination OF the peoples, and
other settlements, all OF which have
been violated by the signatories to the
pact Of Versailles.
AS citizens of the Republic we
assert and now exercise the right to
present this brief for the consideration
and judgment of our fellow-citizens
and that of the civilized world. As
Americans we share equally in the fate
and fortune which befalls our country
in the event of another war, and in
any event. War is possible in Europe
at any time, and a wal consequent on
a peace treaty to which we, as a ma
ton, have been a party, though we
recoiled from signing it. America is
the only power in the world today
which can lead, and il necessary force
a retracing of the negotiations to that
point where we and our companions
in arms left the path, to which our
word was pledged and lead the way to
peace Of reconstruction. The leader
ship of America is not merely a va
cant information OF national pride, il is
a position which we have ourselves
acclaimed, n that with our eyes open
to the responsibility assumed. The
time to step forward and lay hold OF
this work is now, the time when ii
may be forever too late is not far off.
A public opinion first informed, then
aroused to action and to the desire to
do that which is right would save the
world. To this public opinion we adj
dress this writing. Fully conscious OF
the magnitude of our task we ask for
the cooperation of all agencies for
the peace of the world, and for the
searching investigation and criticism
Of our position by those who dissent
from these statements.
THE FOURTEEN POINTS