Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-04-21
WILSON DEFINES
NEUTRALITY IN
TALK TO EDITORS
President Says Real Duty and
Opportunity of America Will
Begin When the Fight
ing Ends.
MUST HELP ARRANGE TERMS
United States Only Country in World
that Can Give Disinterested
Advice and Assistance.
DOES NOT covET TERRITORY

NEW 1ORh, April O,--freslueht
Wilson, in an address at the annual
luncheon of the Associated Press
here this afternoon, gave definite
statement of his idea of true neutral
ity and of the duties that devolve
upon Americas connection with the
European war. The president de-
/ clared that the neutrality of the
United States was not petty desire
to keep out of trouble, because there
was something so much greater TO do
than fight. A great distinction, he
said, was coming to the United States
the distinction of a nation of self
control and self-mastery. lie said
such nation was bound to play an
important part in adjusting the af-
fairs Of the world once the fighting is
ended
I'VE have no expansion ambitions, he
declared. I'VE do not want foot OF
anybodys territory. Isn't such a nation
bound to be free to serve the other ma
tions7'
|
ident Frank B. Noyes of the Associated
Press and was greeted with cheers.
II am deeply gratified by the generous
reception you have accorded me-, he
said. 1T makes me look back with
touch OF regret 20 former occasions when
/ have stood in this place and enjoyed q
greater liberty than is granted me today.
There have been times when l stood In
this spot and said what ! really thought,
and / pray God those days OF indulgence
may be accorded me again. But have
come here today of course, somewhat
restrained by a sense of responsibility.
that 1 cannot escape. For / take the
Associated Press very seriously. know
the enormous part that you play In the
affairs. not only OF this country, hut OF
the world You deal In the raw material
OF opinion, and II my convictions have
any validity. opinion ultimately governs
the world
1t is therefore of very serious things
that think as face this body OF men.
do not think of you, however, as mem
bers Of the Associated Press do not
think Of you as men Of different parties
or OF different racial derivations, or OF
different religious denominations. |
want to talk to you asto my fellow citi-
zens OF the United states. For there
are serious things which as fellow cit-
zens. we ought 10 consider The times
behind us. gentlemen, have been difficult
enough; the times before use are likely
to be more difficult, because, whatever
may be said about the present condition
Of the worlds affairs, II is clear that
they are drawing rapidly to climax, and
at the climax, the test will come not only
, OF the nations engaged in the present
colossal struggle; 1t will come for them,
OF course; but the test will come to us
particularly. DO you realize that roughly
speaking, we are the only great nation
! at present dlsengaged I am not speak
ing, OF course. with disparagement OF
these great nations in Europe which are
not parties to the present war but ] am
thinking OF their close neighborhood TO II.
'T am thinking, however. their lives,
} much more than ours, touch the very
heart of the business; whereas. we have
rolling between us and those bitter days
across the water. 1900 miles OF cool and
silent ocean. Our atmosphere is not yet
charged with those disturbing elements
which must be felt and must permeate
every nation of Europe. Wherefore is II
not likely that the nations OF the world
will some day turn to us for the cooler
assessment OF the elements engaged?
; am not now thinking so prcposterous a
: thought as that we should sit in judgment
upon them. No nation is fit to sit In
judgment upon any ,ther nation, but
we shall some day have to assist in re.
constructing the processes OF peace.
Think of America First.
! "Our sources are untouched; we are
more and more becoming by the force ot
circumstances the mediating nation oi
, the world In respect of it's finance. We
must make up our minds what are tn,
best things to do and what are the best
ways to do them. We must put oui
money, our energy, our enthusiasm ant
our sympathy into these things. and W,
must have our judgments prepared ant
our spirits chastened against the comint
OF that day. So that I am not speaking
In selfish spirit when / say that ou
whole duty, for the present at any rate
Is summed up IN this motto. 'Americl
first Let us think of America befor,
we think OF Europe. In order that Amer
lea may be fit TO be Europe's friend whel
the day of tested friendship comes. Tn,
test OF friendship is not sympathy will
the one side or the other. but gettini
ready to help both sides when the strug
gle Is over
The basis OF neutrality. gentlemen. &