The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-05-28
ADDRESS of President
To Peace League

when the invitation to be here
tonight came to me, was glad to
accept it--not because Il offered
me an opportunity to discuss the
program OF the leaeue--that you
will. 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 10 just
reason why we should take our
part In counsel upon this great
theme. II IL right that j, as
spokesman of our Government,
should attempt to give expression
to what believe to be the thought
and purpose Of the people of the
United States In this vital matter.
This great war that broke so
suddenly upon the world two years
ago. sand which has swept within
e ais ss World 80 srsf has p sfs 90 the
very profoundly. and We are not
only at liberty, II 10 perhaps our
duty. to speak very frankly of II
and of the great interests OF civil
ization which II affects.
With It's causes and its objects
we are not concerned. The obscure
fountains from which Its stipend
Gus flood has burst forth we are
not interested to scare: for or ex-
plore.. But SO great food.
spread far and wide to every quar-
engulfed many fair province Of
right that lies very near to us.
Our own rights as n nation. the
liberties. the privileges, and the
property Of our people have been
profoundly affected. We are not
The longer the war issts. the,
more deeply do we become con-
cerned that II should be brought
TO an end and the world be per-
mitted to resume. Its normal life
and course again. And when II
much concerned as the nations at
war to see peace assume an aspecs
Of permanence, give promise or
days from which the anxiety of
uncertainty shall be lifted, bring
some assurance that peace and
reckoned part Of the common In
terest of mankind. We are par
Elephants. whether we would or
not. In the life OF the world. The
interests of all nations are our
We are partners with the rest.
What affects mankind Ia inevitably
our affair as well as the affair OF
the nations of Europe and OF Asia.
One observation on the causes or
the. present war we are at liberty to
make. and to make It may throw
some light forward upon the future.
as well as backward upon the past.
II Is plain that this war could have
come only as II did. suddenly and out
Of secret counsels, without warning
to the world. without discussion.
without any Of the deliberate move
~ MI lob
would seem natural to approach so
stupendous a contest. II is probable
that IL 1t had been foreseen just
what would happen. just what alii-
snces would be formed. Just what
forces arrayed against one another.
stitute conference for force.
II we ourselves had been afforded
some opportunity to apprtse the bel
lieerents Of the attitude which 1t
would be our duty to take. Of the
we would feel bound to use all our
moral and economic strength. and
in certain circumstances even our
physical strength also, our own con-
tribution to the counsel which might
have averted the struggle would
have been considered worth weigh
And the lesson which the shock or
being taken by surprise In matter
so deeply vital to all the nations or
the world has made poignantly clear
is, that the peace of the world must
henceforth depend upon a new and
more wholesome diplomacy.
Only when the great nations or the
world have reached some sort or
agreement as to what they hold to
be fundamental to their common In
terest, and as to some feasible method
OF acting IN concert when any nation
or group OF nations seeks to dis
turb those fundamental things, can
we feel that civilization is at last
in a way OF Justifying its existence
and claiming to be finally estab-
lished. II is clear that nations must
in the futura.be governed by the
same high code Of honor that We
demand OF individuals.
We must, indeed, In the very same
breath with which we avow this
conviction admit that we have our
selves upon occasion In the past
been offenders against the law OF d.
plomacy which we thus forecast; but
our conviction Is not the less clear.
but rather the more clear. on that
account.
II this war has accomplished MOTH
ing else for the benefit Of the world.
AZ has at least disclosed a great