Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-28
Urges Common Force to Pre-.
serve Rights of the Weak
er Nations.
SPEECH BELIEVED FEELER
FOR A MEDIATION OFFER
Chief Executive Weighs His Words
and Leading Men of Nation Com.
mend His Utterances.

Prediction that the time is near when
the nations will have a common force to
maintain international justice and safe
guard the rights of weaker nations
against selfish aggression and in protec-
ton Of inviolable rights of peoples and
mankind was expressed by President VIII
force Peace last night
Suggestions for future peace in the maxi
ing of the terms of which he said he
hoped the United States will become a
partner were also stated. These, coming
at time when the capitals of the world
are agog with suggestions of peace over
lures and the intimation that President
Wilson may be a mediator for the termi-
nation of the titanic war in Europe, and
after the President had given most care
full preparation to his speech. are in
terpreted by many as "feeler'' to dis
cover how the belligerents would receive
peace overtures.
Significance of the Gathering.
The significance of the gathering in
the New Willard Hotel last evening
cannot be overestimated. There were
present many of the greatest men In
the nation, representing all phases of
the national life; men of every shade
of political feeling. leading churchmen.
practically every member of the cab
met, presidents of the largest uni
versities, men whose names are known
throughout the country for business
enterprise. 1t was the largest dinner
held in Washington for some time. And
all of these various leaders united in
indorsing the program of the League
to Enforce Peace, which was drafted
by former President Taft and Presi-
dent A. Lawrence Lowell of Harvard
University.
Enthusiasm was a feature of the
banquet. Every utterance regarding
the duties of nations toward each other.
their interdependence and new spirit
of internatioralsm that has come
each prayer for an early peace and
then cooperative effort by the nations
to curtail future warfare. was greeted
with prolonged applause.
Each sentence of President Wilson's
speech, uttered as automatic, deliber-
afefy so that 1t sank into the minds OF
all those gathered in the big banquet
hall. won prompt and prolonged APP
plause. When he had finished many
of those seated at the guest table
pressed forward and shook hands Wig
orously in congratulation and commen-
dation.
Notable Gathering of Great Men.
Considering that it was the most
notable gathering of great men of the
United States that has been held by
voluntary action in many years, and
considering the Importance that these
mon SaW in no ufferancoc of the On,
casion, officers of the league do not
hesitate to say that they consider the
assemblage epoch making in the his
tory of this country if not of the entire
world.
To preserve the peace of the world
against political ambition and selfish
hostility" in service of "a common or
der, common justice and a common
peace" the United States is ready TO
join in any association of nations. sale
Mr.. Wilson. Hope that the terms of
peace concluding the war will contain
some such arrangement was expressed
Provision for absolute freedom of the
seas for all nations was emphasized in
the suggestions he made for peace, and
with the suggestion that at the proper
time the United States might offer
them. This contention has been the
keynote of all diplomatic discussions
with Germany and Great Britain. and
this clause was given very marked ap-
antees for territorial integrity ana po-
litical independence We're also empha-
sized in these suggested proposals.
Text of Presidents Address.
In full, the President spoke as follows:
When the invitation to be here to-
night came to me l was glad to accept
it, not because it offered me an oppor-
tunity to discuss the program of the
you will. I am sure. not
expect of me-but because the desire of
the whole world now turns eagerly.
more and more eagerly, toward the
hope of peace. and there is just reason
why we should take our part in counsel
upon this great theme. 1t is right that
I. as spokesman of our government,
should attempt to give expression to
what 1 believe to be the thought and
purpose of the people of the United
States in this vital matter.
This great war that broke so sud
denly upon the world two years ago,
and which has swept within its flame
so great a part of the civilized world.
are not only at liberty. it is perhaps
our duty. to speak very frankly of It
and of the great interests of civiliza-
lion which it affects.
Wars Far-Reaching Results.
With it's causes and its objects we
ire not concerned. The obscure foun-
aims from which its stupendous food
las burst forth we are not interested
% search for or explore. But so great
food. spread far and wide to every
luarter of the globe, has of necessity
ngulfed many a fair province of right
hat lies very near to US. Our own
lights as a nation. the liberties, the
privileges and the property of our peo-
lie have been profoundly affected. We
re not mere disconnected lookers-on.
The longer the war lasts the more
Ieeply do we become concerned that 1t
hould be brought to an end and the
world be permitted to resume its nor
nal life and course again.
And when 1t does come to an end we
hall be as much concerned as the ma
Ions at war to see peace assume an as
ect Of permanenoe, give promise of
avs from which the anxiety of un-
ertainty shall be lifted, bring some as
trance that peace and war shall al
7ays hereafter be reckoned part of the
ommon interest Of mankind. We are
whether we would or not.
4 the life Of the world. The interests
( all nations are our own also. We are
artners with the rest. What affects
mankind is inevitably our affair as well
s the affair Of the nations OF Europe