"This is a people's war, not a statesmen's. Statesmen must
follow the clarified common thought or be broken." "It would be folly to leave the guarantee for the security of peace to the subsequent voluntary action of the Governments we have seen destroy Russia and deceive Rumania." These are two of the points made by President Wilson, speaking at New York on September 27th, before the opening of the fourth Liberty Loan. In the pawn settlement, he went on, without compromise or bargaining, the interest of the weakest must be as sacred as that of the strongest. We cannot "come to terms" with the Central Empires, for they "are without honour, and except no principle but their own interest." We must have a League of Nations, but it cannot be formed now. When the League is formed, we must treat justly "those to whom we wish to be unjust " ; special national interests must not offend the common interest ; there must be no covenants or alliances within the League of Nations, and no economic boycott, except such as the League may wield for discipline ; and all treaties must be made known in their entirety. Mr. Wilson invited the Allied Governments to speak as plainly as he had tried to speak, and to correct his views if necessary.
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