US President’s vision
A plea for Germany to “end the sacrifices and sufferings inseparable from war” was made in the Observer of 100 years ago this week.
In an editorial, the paper said it was still not clear whether Germany would continue the conflict through “another winter of hopeless struggle” or opt for an early peace.
American President Woodrow Wilson had in a speech before a joint session of Congress in January,1918, set out a 14-point plan for what he hoped would be long-lasting peace in Europe.
It was to be used as a blueprint for peace in the subsequent negotiations between the two sides and demanded the evacuation and restoration of Belgium the liberation of France and return to France of AlsaceLorraine, establishment of an independent Poland and arms reduction.
The Observer said President Wilson had laid out the choices facing the people of Germany.
“They can stand for Kaiserism and fight the war to the finish or they can have peace negotiations on the basis of the 14 points, provided they accept the Allies’ conditions for Armistice which in any event will make it impossible PresidentWoodrowWilson’s 14-point plan to promote lasting peace in Europe was:
• Open covenants of peace, openly arrived at. • Freedom of the seas. • Removal so far as possible of all economic barriers.
• Reduction of national armaments to the lowest point consistent with domestic safety.
• Impartial adjustment of all colonial claims.
• Evacuation of all Russian territory.
• Evacuation and restoration of Belgium.
• Liberation of France and return to her of Alsace-Lorraine.
• Re-adjustment of the frontiers of Italy to conform to clearly recognisable lines of nationality.
• Peoples of AustriaHungary
for Germany to renew hostilities,” said the paper.
“Germany may hesitate about being disarmed before knowing her fate but if she is to have a negotiated peace she must purge herself of Kaiserism and all it stands for.”
President Wilson had said the world did not and could not trust those who had “hitherto been masters of German policy”. should be accorded the freest opportunity of autonomous development.
• Evacuation of occupation forces from Romania, Serbia and Montenegro; Serbia should be accorded free and secure access to the sea.
• Autonomous development for the non-Turkish peoples of the Ottoman empire; free passage of the Dardanelles to the ships and commerce of all nations.
• Independent Poland to be established, with free and secure access to the sea.
• General association of nations to be formed to guarantee to its members political independence and territorial integrity, which prompted the setting up of the League of Nations.
“In other words,” said the Observer. “The German people must say whether they will insist on negotiations to save the Fatherland from invasion and a dictated peace or whether they will fight on in an endeavour to save the throne and dynasty of the Hohenzollerns.”
The Observer was of the view that the German people were beginning to