The Speech

Published on Wednesday 7 January 2009 20:57

WOODROW WILSON, US president, 8 January, 1918

Once more, as repeatedly before, the spokesmen of the central empires have indicated their desire to discuss the objects of the war and the possible basis of a general peace…

Belgium, the whole world will agree, must be evacuated and restored, without any attempt to limit the sovereignty which she enjoys in common with all other free nations. Without this healing act, the whole structure and validity of international law is forever impaired…

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 should be righted. A readjustment of the frontiers of Italy should be effected along clearly recognisable lines of nationality…

A general association of nations must be formed under specific covenants for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike.