Whatever we do or fail to do will influence the course of history.

It is because I believe that it is in the power of such nations to lead the world back into the paths of peace that I propose to devote myself to explaining what, in my opinion, can and should be done to banish the fear of war that hangs so heavily over the world.

As a first step there must be an offer to achieve equality of rights in disarmament by abolishing the weapons forbidden to the Central Powers by the Peace Treaties.

The question is, what are we to do in order to consolidate peace on a universal and durable foundation, and what are the essential elements of such a peace?

This is our world, and we must make the best of it.

One of the first essentials is a policy of unreserved political cooperation with all the nations of the world.

We had four years of world war which the peoples endured only because they were told that their sufferings would free humanity forever from the scourge of war.