On Dec. 7, 1917, the United States de clared war on Austria-Hungary. The resolution declaring that a state of war existed between the two countries was passed in the Senate by a unanimous vote and in the House by 363 to 1, the single negative vote being cast by a New York Socialist member. The joint reso lution, after declaring that the Im perial and Royal Austro-Hungarian Gov ernment had committed repeated acts of war against the Government and the people of the United States of America, followed closely in its phrasing the dec laration against Germany. The action was largely formal, for it merely stated what had been actually the fact for months, and involved no special changes in our naval or military preparations. As regards internal relations, the same policy was adopted toward resident Austrian aliens and their property and ships as had previously been pursued to ward Germans.
The question naturally arose why war was not declared at the same time on Turkey and Bulgaria, who were Allies of Austria and Germany. Several reasons for the omission were given semi-officially by Government spokesmen. It was stated that Turkish citizens and inter ests in the United States were so few as to be negligible, and that on the other hand American citizens were numerous in Turkey and had considerable business interests and property that might be en dangered by a war declaration. More over, the staunchness of Turkey's fidelity to the cause of the Central Powers was questioned, and it was thought that she might be induced to conclude a separate peace. In Bulgaria's case it was pointed out that her interest in the war was largely local, and that in defiance of Ger many's command she had refused to break off diplomatic relations with this country. Whatever action the Govern ment might take in the matter was after all academic. Germany was the real enemy, and if she were conquered, her allies would be compelled also to submit.
Perhaps the most important statement of war aims in the whole course of the conflict was that made by President Wil son in a memorable address to Congress, Jan. 8, 1918. It was in this that he stated the famous "Fourteen Points" about which discussion ranged from then until and after the close of the war. They are of such historic importance that they are here subjoined in full: "The program of the world's peace, therefore, is our program, and that pro gram, the only possible program, as we see it, is this: I. Open covenants of peace, openly arrived at, after which there shall be no private inter national understandings of any kind, but diplomacy shall proceed always frankly and in the public view.
II. Absolute freedom of navigation upon the seas, outside territorial waters, alike in peace and in war, except as the seas may be closed in whole or in part by international action for the enforcement of international covenants.
III. The removal, so far as possible, of all economic barriers and the establishment of an equality of trade conditions among all the nations consenting to the peace and associating themselves for its maintenance.
IV, Adequate guarantees given and taken that national armaments will be reduced to the lowest point consistent with domestic safety.
V. A free, open-minded, and absolutely im partial adjustment of all colonial claims, based upon a strict observance of the principle that in determining all such questions of sovereignty the interests of the populations concerned must have equal weight with the equitable claims of the Government whose title is to be determined.
VI. The evacuation of all Russian territory and such a settlement of all questions affect ing Russia as will secure the best and freest co-operation of the other nations of the world in obtaining for her an unhampered and un embarrassed opportunity for the independent determination of her own political develop ment and national policy and assure her of a sincere welcome into the society of free na tions under Institutions of her own choosing; .and, more than a welcome, assistance also of every kind that she may need and may herself desire. The treatment accorded Russia by her sister nations In the months to come will be the acid test of their good-will, of their com prehension of her needs as distinguished from their own Interests, and of their intelligent and unselfish sympathy.
VII. Belgium, the whole world will agree, must be evacuated and restored, without any attempt to limit the sovereignty which she en joys in common with all other free nations. No other single act will serve as this will serve to restore confidence among the nations in the laws which they have themselves set and de termined for the government of their relations with one another. Without this healing act the whole structure and validity of internation al law is forever impaired.
VIII. All French territory should be freed Viii. All French territory should be freed and the invaded portions restored, and the wrong done to France by Prussia in 1871 in the matter of Alsace-Lorraine, which has un settled the peace of the world for nearly fifty years, should be righted in order that peace may once more be made secure in the interest of all.
IX. A readjustment of the frontiers of Italy should be effected along clearly recognizable lines of nationality.
X. The peoples of Austria-Hungary whose place among the nations we wish to see safe guarded and assured, should be accorded the freest opportunity of autonomous develop ment.
XI. Rumania, Serbia, and Montenegro should be evacuated, occupied territories restored, Serbia accorded free and secure access to the sea, and the relations of the several Balkan states to one another_ determined by friendly counsel along historically established lines of allegiancs and nationality, and international guarantees of the political and economic inde pendence and territorial integrity of the several Balkan states should be entered into.
XII. The Turkish portions of the present Ottoman Empire should be assured a secure sovereignty, but the other nationalities which are now under Turkish rule should be assured an undoubted security of life and an absolutely unmolested opportunity of autonomous develop ment, and the Dardanelles should be perma nently opened as a free passage to the ships and commerce of all nations under internation al guarantees.
XIII. An independent Polish state should be Xiii. An independent Polish state should be erected which should include the territories in habited by indisputably Polish populations, which should be assured a free and secure access to the sea, and whose political and economic independence and territorial integrity should be guaranteed by international covenant.