Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-04-22
PRESIDENT GIVES
REAL PRINCIPLES
OF NEUTRALITY
Says United States Must Pre-
serve Self Control During
World Strife and Be
Ready to Mediate.
NEED ABSOLUTE FAIRNESS
Silent Voice of People," Not
Racial Prejudice, Great Rock
Upon Which Chief Execu-
tive Builds His Faith.
NEED ABSOLUTE FAIRNESS

New York. April 21-President Will
son yesterday gave a definite and clear
statement of the neutrality which is
guiding his administration during the
war in Europe. He chose the occasion
OF the annual luncheon of the ASsoclat-
ed Press for what he said he regarded
es statement of gravest Importance
to the American people.
The influence of the newspaper in
moulding public opinion, MIR. Wilson
said prompted him to make clear his
ideas of true neutrality and in DONG
SO to impress upon his hearers the nm
partance of adhering strictly to truth
fulness and honesty in the dissemlna-
tion of news.
Mr.. Wilson seemed to weigh each
word he uttered. The Importance that
NE attached to his statement was re-
flected in request that no attempt
he made to paraphrase his speech or
to give it publicity until the OFFICIAL
White House stenographer had tram
Scribel it in full.
Must Use Self Control.
AS the only great nation not engaged
IN the war or suffering under the I'M
naed4ate influence of the war zone, MI.
Wilson declared that a great distiac-
tivn awaited the United States when
the hour of readjustment should come.
provided this nation should prove to
terry The past had been difficult, he
pointed out, but the future would be
more difficult.
America. the president said, never
would attempt to sit in Judgment upon
asaother nation. No nation was fit to
Do that he added But America. free
from hampering ambitions as world
pswar, free of a lust for territory, calm.
oS0l and without self interest, must be
appealed to to assist in the reconstruct
lag processes of peace.
Help For Both Sides.
The neutrality of the United States,
Mr.. Wilson said, had higher basis
than u petty desire to keep out OF
r tfsllble. fs,
There LIZ something SO much. greater
to do than fight" he said. Let us
think of America before we think OF
Europe in order that America may be
1t to be Europe's friend when the day
Of friendship is not sympathy with one
side or the other, but getting ready to
help both sides when the struggle is
ever
The president was greeted with cheers
when he appeared at the luncheon and
constantly was interrupted by applause
and expressions of approval.
II am deeply gratified by the gener-
Gus reception you have accorded me-
he said. 1T makes me look back with
touch of regret to former occasions
when I have stood IN this place and
enjoyed a greater liberty than is grant
ed me today. There have been times
when l stood in this spot and said what
really thought and / pray God those
days of indulgency may be accorded me
again. But 1 have come here today. of
course, somewhat restrained by sense
of responsibility that 1 cannot escape.
Takes Press Seriously.
Tv,y.T I fal- hn ASS tod
seriously. | know the enormous part
that you play in the affairs not only
of this country, but of the world. You
deal in the raw material OF opinion,
and, IL my convictions have any valid
ity, opinion ultimately governs the
world.
1T is, therefore. of very serious
things that think as face this body
of men. l do not think OF you, how
ever. as members of the Associated
Press. do not think of you as men
of different parties or of different racial
deriviations, or of different religious
denominations. l want to talk to you
as to my fellow citizens of the United
States. For there are serious things
which as fellow citizens we ought to
consider. The times behind US, gen
tlemen, have been difficult enough; the
times before us are likely to be more
difficult, because, whatever may be
said about the present condition of the
worlds affairs it is clear that they are
drawing rapidly to q 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 speak
ing, we are the only great nation at
present disengaged? l 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 neighbor-
Will Ask U. S. Aid.
Il am thinking. however their lives
much more than ours touch the very
heart and stuff of the business, where
as we have rolling between us and
those bitter days across the water. 5000
miles of cool and silent ocean. Our
atmosphere is not yet charged with
those disturbing elements which must
be felt and must permeate every ma :
ton of Europe. Therefore is 1t not
likely that the nations of the world
will some day turn to us for the cooler
assessment Of the elements engaged?
II am not now thinking SO prepos-
ferrous a thought as that we should sit
in judgment upon them. No nation is
fit to sit in judgment upon any other
nation; but that we shall some day
processes of peace. Our resources are
untouched; we are more and more be-
coming by the force of circumstances
the mediating nation of the world in
respect of its finance. We must make
up our minds what are the best things
to do and what are the best ways to
do them. We must put our money, our
energy. our enthusiasm, our sympathy.
into these things, and we must have
our judgments prepared and our spir--
its chastened against the coming of
that day. So that l am not speaking
in selfish spirit when say that our
whole duty. for the present. at any
rate, is summed UP In the motto:
America first
LET us think of America before we
think of Europe. in order that America
may be fit to be Europe's friend when
the day of tested friendship comes. The
test Of friendship is not now sympathy