SIX PEACE PROGRAMS: A COMPARISON OF THE MAIN PROPOSALS From the Manchester Guardian, Monday, August 27, 1917 Austria-Hungary Turkey Alsace-Lorraine Poland Indemnities Not mentioned. Italians, Slavs, Rumanians, Czechs, and Slovaks to be "liberated from foreign domination." The subject peoples of Turkey to be liberated and the Ottoman Empire to be expelled from Europe. Provinces or territories formerly torn from the Allies by force or against the wishes of their inhabitants to be restored. The Allies accept the declaration of the Tsar that the war-aims of Russia include "the creation of a free Poland from all three of her now incomplete tribal districts." [Courtesy of the New York Times Current History Magazine] (From De Nieuwe Amsterdammer, Amsterdam.) A DIFFICULT PROBLEM PEACE ANGEL: "I don't see where I can ever get hold of it." Other Points Belgium Serbia and Monte negro Rumania, France and Russia (Invaded Territories) German Colonies Austria-Hungary Turkey Alsace-Lorraine Poland Indemnities "Whole-hearted agreement with the proposal to create a League of Nations." No intention to seek "the extermination or the political extinction of the Germanic peoples." THE POPE "The reciprocal restoration of territories which are now occupied" appears to cover all these, though specific mention is only made of Belgium ("total evacuation, with a guarantee of her full political, military, and economic independence against no matter what power"), the occupied parts of France and the German colonies. Territorial questions at issue between (1) Austria and Italy and (2) Germany and France to be examined "with a conciliatory disposition," taking into consideration the aspirations of the inhabitants "in the measure of the just and possible." Such questions as those of Armenia (and also the Balkan States) are to be dealt with "in the same spirit of equity and justice," as is recommended in the case of Italy's claims on Austria and those of France to Alsace-Lorraine. See under Austria-Hungary. "The territories forming part of the ancient kingdom of Poland" are to be dealt with according to the principles stated above. Generally speaking, no indemnities and no compensations. The States will recoup themselves by disarmament. If there are exceptions, these must be considered "with justice and equity." Other Points Restriction of armaments; compulsory arbi- true to be Belgium Serbia and Montenegro Rumania, France Austria-Hungary Turkey Alsace-Lorraine BRITISH LABOR PARTY August, 1917 " is the The "foremost condition of peace Restoration. The future of the Balkan States to be dealt with by a special conference of their representatives or by an international commission. These States to be free to settle their own destinies, irrespective of Austria, Turkish, or other Dominion. The general principle laid down in this program is " no annexations — leaving to each people the freedom to settle its own destinies." The Italians to be united to their mothercountry. Subject peoples freed from Turkey cannot be handed back. If the peoples freed cannot be left to settle their own destinies, they should be placed under commissions acting by the authority of the League of Nations. Constantinople should be made a free port, neutralized and placed, together with both shores of the Dardanelles, under a similar commission. Palestine to be made "by agreement among all the nations," a free Jewish State under international guarantee. Alsace and Lorraine to be allowed to satisfy their "inflexible desire" for restoration to France. |