PEACE TALK.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 January 1917, Page 5

PEACE TALK.

WILSON'S ADDRESS TO THE SENATE. SOME REJIARKABLE STATEMENTS. Washington, .Tan. 21. President Wilson, addre.^si iifr the Senate, nilvocatcd il League of Peace lift','!' tin 1 Avar, founded on an equality of 1 '••!•<> based op nil independent, lin'ifti , ruiionomous plan, with full ireedora l'oi. (ovelopmcnt amongst small nations lie also advocated tlio I'roedom of the tike limitation of armament., neither recognising nor implying dilie," cm e* between small and great nation^. The United States must be willing to pii'i otner nations in guaranteeing jieaco ami justice throughout tho Avorid. Ah 'l:e nations most have a direct outlet on the great higliAvay of the seas. Mr. Vi ilson summed np tlie idea as an intension of t!ie Monroe doctrine to I'ie v.aole world, and the avoidance of entangling alliances, which drove nations into competition for power. Mr. Wilson declared that the. jieace llir.t must emne in Europe must 1:0 peace without a victory or the victors' tci'ins imposed on the. vanquished. Received -lan. 23, .).,j p.m. Washington. -Tan. 22. President Wilson said the essential condition of future peace Avas a united, independent, and autonomous Poland. 'There is i:ot necessarily any entangling alliances among the Powers, p.nd a settlement guaranteeing pone l and justice throughout the Avorid cannot be long postponed. lint tlie war ..iiist first be ended, and the way In which the Avar is ended will make a great difference to the United States Hatesmen of both groups of nations new arrayed against one another have .'aid it was no part of the purpose they I had in mind to crush their antagonists, but the implications of these assurance:way not be equally clear to all. and •iviy not be the same on both sides of ilie Avater. They imply, first of all, that it must bo a peace without victory. if not pleasant, to say this. I beg J may he permitted to put my own interpretations' upon it, and that it may be understood that no other interpretation was in my thoughts. I am seeking only to face realities, and to face then; without "oneenlment?. Victory would r.ii-iin peace, forced upon the loser—a victor's terms imposed upon 'the vanquished. It Avould lie accepted in humiliation and under duress at an intolerable sacrifice, and would leave a sting of resent mi nt, as Avell as a bitter memory upon which the terms of peace \ mild rest, and that would only be as upon quicksand Only a peace between equals can last. Only a peace the principle of which is equality and common r.artieipation in common benefit can mst." President Wilson's appearance is the Senate in person caused a tremendous sensation. The news lias not materially affected Die Stock Exchange. Officials and Congressmen are disinclined to comment yet, opinion being divideil as to the Avisdom. so far, of outlining the conditions. Some consider the speech justified by Mr. Balfour's Note; others that the utterance is premature. Then: is confusion us to whether "a united, independent, and autonomous Poland" in<hides Russo-German-Austrian Poland. It is considered that the phrase, ''lt must be peace without victory," is likely to be resented by the Allies. There is speculation us to whether the endorse iv.ont by all nations of the right to possess access to the sea means the. neutralisation of Constantinople and the Dardanelles, and whether this would be satisfactory to Russia. ROOSEVELT'S SPIRITED . REPLY. Received Jan. 23, 11.45 p.m, New York, .Tan. 23. Mr. Roosevelt says it is ridiculous for '.'resident Wilson to talk of Avorid peace when he is unable to enforce peace en Mexico. It is insincere to talk of vighteousness when America is not prepared to take emphatic action over Germany's hideous outrages in Belgium TRESS COMMENTS. Received Jan. 23, 11.35 p.m. New York, Jan. 23, The New York Times, commenting, en the address, says that by one stroke President Wilson removes many obstacles to a peace guaranteed by the world. The proposal of the universal adoption of the Monroe doctrine avmiM be a moral transformation. Will the Empires he content to stand still in their tracks? The proposal would bcF.t.ow immense benefits on mankind. The allusion to "peace without victory" is a matter of the most, extreme delicacy. President Wilson, unconsciously or intentionally, records an eloquest protes' a"ainst militarism The President s ideas as to limitation of armaments would leave no room for national maritime supremacy. The Noav York Herald says: If peace .vithont victory means anything, it means that President Wilson favors a [.'nee made in Prussia. The German-American press praises tho speech. The Republican leaders at Washington consider the speech ill-timed, and its contents as utterly impossible of aC 1 .lomplishment. A CRUSHING CRITICISM. The New York Sun says that President Wilson's ' administrative inefficiency failed to secure peace Avitli Mexico, yet he mounts the rostrum, Avliere it is not his business to be, and lectures the world on the terms of pease for Europe. President Wilson should be more modest in his view of his rcspon-i----bilities to munkind. The speech will recite amazement and irritation, mingled with amusement.