President Wilson defined his demand for a general peace, based
on the satisfaction of all well-defined national aspirations in such a way as to promise a lasting settlement. He said that his principles were accepted by all except the German military party. " The tragical circumstance is that this one party in Germany is apparently willing and able to send millions of men to their death to prevent what all the world sees to be just." America, the Presi- dent concluded, would never turn back from a course chosen on principle. Her whole strength would be put into this war of emanci- pation from the threat and attempted mastery of selfish groups of autocratic rulers. The President's appeal to the German people to dissociate themselves from the military caste was direct and emphatic, and it may have its effect in due season.
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