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January 9, 1918 - Wilson's Fourteen Points


[Author's Note: In response to some readers having had trouble finding earlier posts, click on three red lines at top right of blog, then click the down arrow by Archive to see the listing of all previous postings.] 

 Don Martin diary entry for Wednesday, January 9, 1918: Dictated a couple stories to Baird who is a prize bone head. Saw Gen. [Frederick] Maurice, [Director of Military Operations] of the [Imperial] General Staff. He reviewed Haig’s report and quite immodestly claims credit for everything that has been done on the Western front. 

General Frederick Maurice, knighted in January 1918    


Dinner at Simpson’s and then the Fleet St. office till midnight. Martin Green left for France tonight.
Wilson’s speech on war aims printed today in England.
Weather cold but fair.

    President Wilson declared on January 8, 1918 in a speech to the U.S. Congress fourteen points as the basis of enduring peace. In brief, these were:

I. Open covenants of peace ...
II. Freedom of navigation upon the seas ...
III. Equality of trade conditions ...
IV. National armaments reduced ...
V. Adjustment of all colonial claims ...
Territorial issues
VI. Evacuation of all Russian territory ...
VII. Belgium restored ...
VIII. French territory restored ...
IX. Readjustment of Italian frontiers ...
X. Autonomous development of the people of Austria-Hungary ...
XI. Romania, Serbia, and Montenegro evacuated ...
XII. Sovereignty of the Turkish portion of the Ottoman Empire, autonomous development of other nationalities under Turkish rule, and permanent opening of Dardanelles ...
XIII. Independent Polish state ...
League of Nations

XIV. 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.    

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