What, then, was the substance of this Contract to which the Allies had bound themselves?  An examination of the documents shows that, although a large part of the Addresses is concerned with spirit, purpose, and intention, and not with concrete solutions, and that many questions requiring a settlement in the Peace Treaty are not touched on, nevertheless, there are certain questions which they settle definitely.  It is true that within somewhat wide limits the Allies still had a free hand.  Further, it is difficult to apply on a contractual basis those passages which deal with spirit, purpose, and intention;—­every man must judge for himself whether, in view of them, deception or hypocrisy has been practised.  But there remain, as will be seen below, certain important issues on which the Contract is unequivocal.

In addition to the Fourteen Points of January 18, 1918, the Addresses of the President which form part of the material of the Contract are four in number,—­before the Congress on February 11; at Baltimore on April 6; at Mount Vernon on July 4; and at New York on September 27, the last of these being specially referred to in the Contract.  I venture to select from these Addresses those engagements of substance, avoiding repetitions, which are most relevant to the German Treaty.  The parts I omit add to, rather than detract from, those I quote; but they chiefly relate to intention, and are perhaps too vague and general to be interpreted contractually.[8]

The Fourteen Points.—­(3).  “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.” (4).  “Adequate guarantees given and taken that national armaments will be reduced to the lowest point consistent with domestic safety.” (5).  “A free, open-minded, and absolutely impartial adjustment of all colonial claims,” regard being had to the interests of the populations concerned. (6), (7), (8), and (11).  The evacuation and “restoration” of all invaded territory, especially of Belgium.  To this must be added the rider of the Allies, claiming compensation for all damage done to civilians and their property by land, by sea, and from the air (quoted in full above). (8).  The righting of “the wrong done to France by Prussia in 1871 in the matter of Alsace-Lorraine.” (13).  An independent Poland, including “the territories inhabited by indisputably Polish populations” and “assured a free and secure access to the sea.” (14).  The League of Nations.

Before the Congress, February 11.—­“There shall be no annexations, no contributions, no punitive damages....  Self-determination is not a mere phrase.  It is an imperative principle of action which statesmen will henceforth ignore at their peril....  Every territorial settlement involved in this war must be made in the interest and for the benefit of the populations concerned, and not as a part of any mere adjustment or compromise of claims amongst rival States.”