Sunday, March 27, 2011

"The Idealistic View" by Woodrow Wilson

Wilson's thoughts from May 26, 1917 through January 25, 1919:
  • We are fighting in the War for the liberty of all peoples
  • Wrongs must be righted and safeguards must be put in place so that we may prevent wars in the future
  • No people should be forced to live in a country where they do not want to live
  • No territory may be acquired unless it is for liberty
  • No indemnities shall be asked for except for those truly wrong
  • No readjustments of power shall be made unless it benefits the people
  • There must be a league of nations to act as an international mediator
  • In the peace talks each decision must bring permanent peace
  • no people will change from country to country like chattel
  • Nationalities need to be grouped together in order to avoid future antagonism
  • We will be fair to Germany and we will not hold a grudge against it
  • We must reorganize the world and return it to its natural order without future wars
Excerpts from the Fourteen Points:
  • National armaments must be reduced
  • All colonial claims must be impartial
  • All French territory should be freed and restored. The wrong done to France by Prussia in 1871 must be settled
  • A readjustment of the frontiers of Italy should recognize lines of nationality
  • The people of Austria-Hungary shall be placed into nations according to their nationalities
  • The Ottoman Empire shall be partitioned and awarded autonomous development
  • An independent Polish state shall be erected
  • A League of Nations shall form

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