What is the significance of 14 points

The territory claimed is the valley of the Saar with its coalfields. No claim on grounds of nationality can be established, but the argument leans on the possibility of taking this territory in lieu of indemnity; it would seem to be a clear violation of the President's proposal. Attention is called also to the fact that no reference is made to status of Luxembourg. The best solution would seem to be a free choice by the [people of] Luxembourg themselves. A readjustment of the frontiers of Italy should be effected along clearly recognizable lines of nationality.

This proposal is less than the Italian claim; less, of course, than the territory allotted by the treaty of London; less than the arrangement made between the Italian government and the Yugoslav state. In the region of Trent the Italians claim a strategic rather than ethnic frontier. It should be noted in this connection that [Italy] and Germany will become neighbors if German Austria joins the German Empire. And if Italy obtains the best geographical frontier she will assume sovereignty over a large number of Germans.

This is a violation of principle. But it may be argued that by drawing a sharp line along the crest of the Alps, Italy's security will be enormously enhanced and the necessity of heavy armaments reduced. It might, therefore, be provided that Italy should have her claim in the Trentino, but that the northern part, inhabited by Germans, should be completely autonomous and that the population should not be liable to military service in the Italian Army.

Italy could thus occupy the uninhabited Alpine peaks for military purposes, but would not govern the cultural life of the alien population to the south of her frontier. The other problems of the frontier are questions between Italy and Yugoslavia, Italy and the Balkans, Italy and Greece.

The agreement reached with Yugoslavs may well be allowed to stand, although it should be insisted for [the protection of] the hinterland that both Trieste and Fiume be free ports. This is [essential] to Bohemia, German Austria, Hungary, as well as to prosperity of the cities themselves. Italy appears in Balkan politics through her claim to a protectorate over Albania and the possession of Valona. There is no serious objection raised to this [although the] terms of the protectorate need to be vigorously controlled.

If Italy is protector of Albania [the local] life of Albania should be guaranteed by the League of Nations. A conflict with Greece appears through the Greek claim to northern Epirus, or what is now southern Albania. This would bring Greece closer to Valona than Italy desires. A second conflict with Greece occurs over the Aegean Islands of the Dodecanese, but it is understood that a solution favorable to Greece is being worked out. The people of Austria-Hungary, whose place among the nations we wish to see safeguarded and assured, should be accorded the freest opportunity of autonomous development.

Its territories include at least a million Germans for whom some provision must be made. Western Galicia is clearly Polish. Eastern Galicia is in large measure Ukrainian or Ruthenian and does not of right belong to Poland. There also are several hundred thousand Ukrainians along the north and northeastern borders of Hungary and in parts of Bukovina which belonged to Austria.

This territory should of right be permitted to join Germany, but there is strong objection in [France] because of the increase of [population] involved. It faces the following problems: frontier questions with Italy in Istria and the Dalmatian coast; with Rumania in the Banat; an international problem arises out of the refusal of the Croats to accept the domination of the Serbs of the Serbian Kingdom; a problem of the Mohammedan Serbs of Bosnia who are said to be loyal to the Hapsburgs.

They constitute a little less than one-third of the population. Will undoubtedly join Rumania, but provision must be made for the protection of the Magyars, Szeklers, and Germans who constitute a large minority. Now independent and very democratic in form, but governed by Magyars whose aim is to prevent the detachment of territory of nationalities on the fringe. The United States is clearly committed to the program of national unity and independence.

It must stipulate, however, for the protection of national minorities, for freedom of access to the Adriatic and the Black Sea, and it supports a program aiming at a confederation of southeastern Europe. 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 allegiance and nationality; and international guarantees of the political and economic independence and territorial integrity of the several Balkan states should be entered into.

This proposal is also altered by events. Other principles in the 14 Points document remained in the Versailles Treaty approved by other nations. It also represented the American political philosophy of the Progressive movement on an international state.

Wilson would receive the Nobel Peace Prize in , partly due to the 14 Points document. But left unsettled at Versailles were issues that Wilson addressed that would become part of the lead up to a second World War a generation later.

Toggle navigation. Adjust colonial claims 6. Evacuation of all Central Powers from Russia and allow it to define its own independence 7. Belgium to be evacuated and restored 8.

Return of Alsace-Lorraine region and all French territories. Readjust Italian borders Sign up now to learn about This Day in History straight from your inbox. One of the most widely ridiculed and memorable gaffes in the history of the United States Presidency occurred in Japan on the evening of January 8, , when President George H.

Bush vomits on the Prime Minister of Japan. Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa was hosting a dinner for Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in the history of California, takes his place on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on January 8, The first and, for years, most visible openly gay politician in America, Milk was a longtime activist and pioneering Just two weeks after the signing of the Treaty of Ghent, U.

In September , an impressive American naval victory on Lake Champlain forced invading British forces On January 8, , Gabrielle Giffords, a U. Six people died in the attack and another 13, including Over 2, dignitaries, including President John F. Kennedy, came out that evening to view the famous painting. The next day, the Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei dies in Italy at age The first person to use a