"WE HAVE THIS END IN VIEW."

Taranaki Daily News, 27 March 1917, Page 7

"WE HAVE THIS END IN VIEW."

ALLIES' DECLARATION. TO PRESIDENT WILSON, London, Jan. 27. President Wilson will no longer be able to say that he does not know for what the Allies are lighting. Here it is written for all time, and he who runs or sits "may read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest, and should outwardly approve or for ever hold his peace. The following is the complete text of the Allies' reply to President Wilson's note:' .1. The Allied Governments have received the note handed to them tm December W, 1916, by the Government of the United States. They have considered it with the care due both to then own keen sense of the gravity of the present time and to the sincere friendship which unites them to the American people. A LEAGUE OP NATIONS. 2. In a general,way, they desire to declare their respect for the lofty sentiments inspiring the American note and their whole-hearted agreement with the 1 posal'to create a league of nations vnich shall assure peace and justice throughout the civilised world. They recognise all the benefits which will accrue to the cause of humanity and civilisation from the institution of international arrangements designed to prevent violent conflicts between tlie nations, and so as to provide the sanctions necessary to their enforcement, lest an illusory security should serve merely to facilitate fresh" acts of aggression. BUT 3. But a discussion of future arrange-,i inents for assuring a durable peace pre- | supposes a satisfactory settlement of the present conflict. Th? Allies cherish a desire as deep as that of the Government of the United States to see on end put as soon as possible to the wur for which the Central Empires are responsible, and which inflicts such cruel suffering upon humanity. But in their judgment it is impossible to obtain at this moment such a peace as will not only secure to them reparation, the restitution, and the guarantees justly due to them by reason of the «t of aggression, the guilt of which is fixed upon the Central Powers, while the very principle from which it sprang was undermining the safety of Europe; and at the same time such a peace as will enable the future of the European nations to be established upon a sure foundation. The Allied nations are convinced that they are not fighting for selfish interests, but, above all, to provids safeguards for the independence of peoples, for law, and' for, humanity.

NOT RESPONSIBLE. 4. The Allies are fully conscious of the losses and suffering entailed by war on neutrals as well as on belligerents. They regret them, but cannot consider themselves in any way responsible for them, as they in'no way either desired or provoked this war; they are doing all in their power to reduce in every possible way the damage occasioned by it, so far as they can do so under the inexorable pressure of providing for their own defence against the enemy ana the devices of the enemy.

5. They note with satisfaction the declaration made to them that the American communication is not in any way connected in its origin with that of the Central Powers transmitted to them on December 18 by the Government of the United States. Indeed, they did not doubt the determination of that Government to avoid any appearance of giving even moral support to the responsible authors of the war.

A CHALLENGE. 8. The Allied Governments feel it their duty to challenge in tho most friendly but also in the clearest way the analogy drawn between the two groups of belligerents. This analogy, based upon the public declarations of the Central Powers, is in direct conflict with the evidence, both as regards responsibility for the past and guarantees for the future. President Wilson, in alluding to this analogy, did not, of course, intend to adopt it as his own. 7. If any fact of history is clearly established to-day it is the calculated policy of aggression by which Germany and Austria-Hungary sought to ensure their hegemony of Europe and their economic domination of the world. By her declaration of war, by the instant violation of the neutrality of Belgium and Luxemburg, and by her methods of warfare, Germany has proved that she systematically scorns every principle of humanity and all respect due to small States. More and more as the struggle has progressed has the attitude of the Con tral Powers and their Allies been a constant challenge to humanity and civilisation. REMEMBER THESE I Is it necessary to recail — The horrors that marked the invasion of Belgium, and Serbia. The atrocious treatment undergone by the invaded countries. The massacres of hundreds of thousands of inoffensive Armenians. The barbarities inflicted upon the peoples of Syria. Tho raids of Zeppelins upon open towns. The destruction by submarines of passenger liners and merchant vessels, even under neutral flags. The cruel treatment inflicted upon prisoners' of war. The judicial murders of Miss Cavoll and Captain Fryatt. The deportation and enslavement of civil population, etc.? The perpetration pf such a catalogue of crimes, regardless of the reprobation of mankind, will surely explain to President Wilson the protest which the Allies here make. 8. They consider that the note which they handed to the United States In reply to »the German note answers the question put by the American Government and constitutes in their own words an "avowal of their viewß as to the terms upon which the war might be concluded." But President Wilson expressed a further wish: he desires the belligerent Powers to state in the full light of day the aims they have set themsclvea in prosecuting the war. OUR TERMS. The Allies find no difficulty in meeting this request. Their aims in this ivar are well known, for they have lie«», xs-

tigsmat&y expressed by the heads of their several Governments. These aims can only be formulated .in detail, with all the just compensations and indemnities due for the losses suffered, when the .moment for negotiation arrives.

But the civilised world knows that include, primarily and of necessity, The restoration of Belgium, of Serbia, and of Montenegro, with the compensations due to them. The evacuation of the invaded territories in France, Russia and Ronmania with fitting reparation. The reorganisation of Europe, guaranteed by a stable settlement, based alike upon the principle of nationalities on the right which all peoples, small or great, have to the enjoyment of full security and free economic development, and also upon territorial agreements and international arrangements so framed as to guarantee land and sea frontiers against unjust attacks. The restitution of provinces or territories formerly torn from the Allies by force or contrary to the wishes of their inhabitants. The liberation of Italians, Slavs, Roumanians, Czechs, and Slovaks from foreign domination. The liberation of peoples who now lie beneath the murderous tyranny of the Turks; and The expulsion from Europe of the Ottoman Empire, which has proved itself so radically alien to Western civilisation.

9. The intentions of his Majesty the Emperor of Russia in regard to Poland have been clearly shown in the proclamation which he has just- addressed. to his .armies. OUR, DETERMINATION. 10. It is hardly necessary to add that, while it is the wish of the Allies to rescue Europe from the brutal encroachments of Prussian militarism, it has never been their intention, ns has been alleged, to seek the extermination of the political extinction of the Germanic peoples. The chief aim of the Allies is to assure peace on those principles of liberty, justice, and inviolable fidelity to international obligations which have never ceased to inspire the action of the United States. With this high end in view, the Allied Governments are each and all determined to put fortlytll their strengtli and to endure every sacrifice in order that they may press to a victorious close a conflict on which, they are convinced, de pend not only their own safety and prosperity, but also the very future of civilisation. .