UNITED STATES.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 July 1918, Page 6

UNITED STATES.

THE GLORIOUS FOURTH. PRESIDENT WILSON'S STATEMENT Washington, July 4. President Wilson, speaking at Mount Vernon (the home of Washington), at I the Celebration of Independence Day, gave America's conception of the great struggle in which she is engaged. "On the one hand stand the peoples of the world, and the peoples of stricken Russia are still among the rest, though they for the moment are unorganised and helpless. Opposed to them the masters of many armies stand in an isolated, friendless group. 'These are Governments who speak for no common purpose, but only for the selfish ambitions of their own, by which none can profit but themselves. Their people are fuel in their hands, and they dispose of the lives and fortunes of every people who feel their power. They are Governments clothed in the trappings and primitive authority of an age altogether alien to our own. "There can bo but one issue; the settlement must be final; there can be no compromise; no half-way decision would be tolerable; no half-way decision is conceivable.

THE END WE FIGHT FOR. "These arc the ends for which the associated peoples of the world are fighting, which must be conceded them before there can be peace. "First, the destruction of every arbitary power anywhere that can separately, secretly, and of its single choice disturb the peace of the world, or if it cannot be presently destroyed at least its reduction to virtual impotence. "Second, the settlement of every question, whether of territory, sovereignity, economic arrangement or political relationship upon the basis of the free acceptance of that settlement by the people immediately concerned, not upon the basis of the material interest or advantage of any other nation or people which may desire a different settlement for the sake of its own exterior influence or mastery. "Third, the consent of all nations to be governed in their conduct towards each other by the same principles of honor and respect for the common law of civilised society that govern the individual citizens of all modern States in their relations with one another, to the end that all promises and covenants may be sacredly observed, no private plots or conspiracies hatched, no selfish injuries wrought with impunity and a mutual trust established upon j the handsome foundation of mutual reI spect for right. "Fourth, the establishment and organisation of a peace which shall make certain that the combined power of the free nations will check every invasion j of right and serve to make peace and justice more secure by affording a definite tribunal of opinion to which all l must submit, by which every internat- ! ional readjustment that cannot be amicably agreed upon by the peoples directly concerned shall be sanctioned.

These great objects can be put in a single sentence: What we seek is a reign of law based upon the consent of the governed and sustained by the organised opinion of mankind."

AN IMPOSING PROCESSION. New York, July 4 Seventy-five thousand persons marched in the Independence Day celebration parade. They included 42 races and nationalities, 150 floats, and 123 bands. Two squadrons of battleplanes dropped a million copies of the "Star-Spangled Banner" on the paraders and sightseers.

Britain was represented by two floats in the parade for the first time in history One represented England, its colonies, Dominions, army and navy, the other illustrated the incident of the battle of Jutland, when John Travers Cornwell, 10 years old, served a gun alone on the Chester lmtil mortally wounded. The Allied nations had representatives on the reviewing stand. The parade marched up sth Avenue. Other celebrations were held throughout the United States in which citizens of the Allied nations and the subject nationalities of the Central Powers took part. The launchings to-day include the following: Eastern shipyards, 12; Pacific 54, comprising 24 steel and HO wooden ships; Chicago Lakes districts 14; Southern shipyards 22; other yards about 10. A feature of the San Francisco launchings was that eight destroyers were launched at 15-minntes intervals. The tonnage launched on the Pacific coast amounted to 250,000. The day was celebrated with tremendous enthusiasm by patriotic speeches and demonI ctrations throughout the country.—AusN.Z. Cable Assoc.

COURSE TOWARDS RUSSIA. Washington, July 4. The Tnt or-Allied Supreme War Council's recommendations regarding Russia will largely govern President Wilson's future course towards Russia. He is expected to make a definite statement soon. News reaching Washington says that Czecho-Slovaks control Vladivostok and the East Siberian railway ns the result of a battle with the Red Guards, and that large quantities of munitions 'and war material have been captured. Russian Embassy advices say that the Samara population welcomed the Czecho-Slovaks. Anti-Bolshevik demonstrations occurred at Mosk. Novonikalevsk and Penza, which are held by the Czecho-Slovaks. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Auei