President Wilson’s Fourteen Points,
January 8, 1918
Once
more spokesmen of the Central Empires have indicated a desire to discuss the
possible basis of a general peace, but the Central Empires offer no concessions
and seem to want to keep every foot of territory that their armed forces have
occupied. The Russian representatives were sincere and in earnest, but
they cannot entertain such proposals of conquest and domination.
The
adversaries of the Central Powers are clear on the principle and details of a
general peace. Germany and her allies have failed to make such
definite statements.
The
United States wishes to help Russia attain their hope of liberty and ordered
peace.
It
is our will and purpose that the processes of peace, when begun, shall be open
and will not involve secret understandings of any kind.
The
only possible program, as the United States sees it, is this:
-
Diplomacy shall always proceed in the public view, with no private
understandings.
-
Free navigation upon the seas except when closed by international action
-
Removal of all economic barriers and equality of trade among all nations
-
National armaments reduced to support only domestic safety
-
Impartial adjustment of colonial claims which include the interests of the
populations concerned
-
Evacuation and restoration of all invaded territories (Russian, Belgium,
France, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro)
-
Readjustment of the frontiers of Italy along lines of nationality
-
The peoples of Austria-Hungary should be accorded autonomous development
-
The relations of several Balkan states to one another determined along
historically established lines of allegiance and nationality
-
Other nationalities under Turkish rule should be assured opportunity of
autonomous development
-
An independent Polish state should be erected
- A
general association of nations must be formed to assure political independence
and territorial integrity to all states
We
do not wish to injure Germany or block in any way her legitimate influence or
power. We wish her only to accept a place of equality among the peoples
of the world, instead of a place of mastery.
