The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-21
The President Gives Def mite Statement of Neu- trality Guiding His Ad- ministratiOn
SPEAKS AT ANNUAL LUNCHEON OF THE
 ASSOCIATED PRESS
Great Distinction Awaits
 the U. s. as Only Great SvsNeutral Power. When
 Time Comes, He Says
WOODROW WILSON

>@-'.N'f @&@ fss+f R
 New York, April 20.--rresident Will son today gave n definite aud ricnr statement of the neutrality guiding his administration during the war in Europe. He chose the occasion of the nnnual luncheon of inc sssoeistea Press for what he rennrded slate ment of sraVest lmnor,nnee to the American people.
 Tie iniuenee of the newspaper in ' moulding public opinion Me Wilson said prompted him to make eleaes his ideas of ' trn. neutrality and In doing so to in- press on his hearers thet lmportanee of adhering strictly to ruthanlness and honesty in the dissemination Of the news.
 MT. Wilson seemed to weigh each word he uttered. The importance he attached U lil statement was reflected In request that no attempt be made to naraphrase his speech or to give lt publicity until the official White House stenographer had transerlhed it in full
 As the only great nation not engaged in the war or suffering under the immedi- ate influence of the war zone, Mir Wilson declared that great distinction awaited the United States when the hour of re- adjustment should come, provided this nation should prove to the world it's self control and selfmasterp. The past had been difficult he pointed out but the future would be more difficult
 Not Sitting in Judgment
 America the President said, never would attempt to sit in judgment on an- other nation. No nation was fit to do that he added. But Ame1ea. Tree from l hempering ambitions AS world power. free Of lust for territory. calm. cool and without self-interest, must be ap- pealed to to assist in the reeonstructing process of peace.
 The neutrality of the United States. Mir. Wilson said, had n higher basis than a petty desire to keep out of trouble.
 There Is something so much greater U do than fight he said. Let us think of America before we think of Europe. in order that America may be fit to be Europes friend when the day of tested friendship comes. The test of friendship is not sympathy with one side or the other, but getting ready to help both sides when the struggle is over"
 The President was greeted with cheers when he appeared at the luncheon, and constantly was inUrrupted by applause and expressions of approval
 When the President was introduced by President Frank B. Moves of the Asso- elated Press he was greeted with cheers. He said:
 'I am deeply gratified by the gener- .ous reception you have accorded me 1t ms ( ma loolx hack with II t0,1eh o giet 10 former occasions when 1 have stood in this place and enjoyed a greater liberty than is granted mo today There have been times when | stood in this spot and said what ] really thought. and 1 pray God that those days of indulgence may be accorded again. But l have come here today, of course. somewhat restrained by sense of re- sI cnsibility that 1 cannot escape. For take the Associated Press very serious ly l know the enormous part that you deal in the raw material ot opinion, and Ii my convictions have any validity, opin- ion ultimately governs the world. Tt is therefore, of very serious things that l think as face this body of men. l do not think of you. however. as mem- bers of the Associated Press. l do not think of you men of different parties or of different racial derivations. of dif- ferent religious denominations. want to talk to you as my fellow citizens of the
 
 Serious Problem
 For there are serious things as fellow citizens we ought to consider The times behind us, gentlemen, have been diff ferent and difficult enough; the times before us are likely to be more difficult because whatever may he said about tbe present condition of the worlds affairs, 1t is clear that they drawing rapidly to u climax, and at the climax the test will come not only to the nations engaged in the present struggle--it will come for them of course-but the test will como to us particularly.
 ''Do you realize that. roughly speaking, we are the only great nation at present dsengaged? 1 am not speaking. of course. with disparagement of the greater of those nations in Europe which are not parties to the present war but l am thinking of their close neighborhood to it. 1 am not thinking their lives much more than ours touch the very heart and stuff of the business world, whereas 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 clements which must be felt and must permeate every nation of Europe. Therefore, Is 1t not likely that the nations Of the world will some day turn to us for the cooler as- sessment of the elements engaged? I am not thinking SD preposterous thought that we should sit In Judgment upon them. No nation is fit to sit in judgment upon them. No nation Is fit to sit in judgment upon any other nation, but that We shall some day have to assist in reconstructing tho processes of peace.
 Our resources are untouched; we ara more and more becoming by the force of circumstances the mediating nation of the world in respect of it's finances. We must make up our minds what are tha 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 spirits chastened against the coming ot that day.
 'so that I am not speaking in selfish tc..si-.ss .. P.s. r~.A