What does this mean?

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5. A free, open-minded, and absolutely impartial adjustment of all colonial claims, based upon a strict observance of the principle that in determining all such questions of sovereignty the interests of the population concerned must have equal weight with the equitable claims of the government whose title is to be determined.

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Fourteen_Points_Speech

What does such mean? "free, open-minded and absolutely impartial"?

Also by government does the author mean "the government of colonizing countries"?

Avangi · Accepted Answer

free of preconceived opinions

There seem to be three entities: the colonial population, the colonial government, and the imperial government.

This seems to be about some kind of court which has been assembled to settle claims by the colonial goverment against the imperial government. These rules seem to have been set up by the imperial government, who will no doubt decide whose claims are considered "equitable." It sounds like a very crooked and circular rule (there's a contradiction for you!) It sounds like either government may bring claims before this body. The body will then decide if that government should be awarded title to the property in question (sovereignty), taking into account the interests of the effected population.

This is really a left-handed rule. It actually says the purpose is to settle colonial claims, but then goes on to say, "claims of the government whose title is to be determined." It preaches equity but actually rigs the whole thing. The "population" will no doubt be represented by the imperial government, or perhaps the court.

- A.

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