New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-29

nations who shall be the trust of
tire peace of the world.
at has been delightful in my con-
ferences with the leaders of your
government to find how our minds
moved along exactly the same line
and how our thought was always that
the key to the peace was the guar
antee of the peace, not the items OF
it; that the items would be worth
less unless there stood back of them
a permanent concert CT power for
their maintenance That is the most
reassuring thing that has ever hap
pened in the world
''Wher this war began the thought
. Of league of nations was indul-
gently considered as the interesting
thought of closeted Students 1t was
thought Of as one of those things
that it was right to characterize by
a name which, as university man.
have always resented. 1t was said
to be academic, as if that in itself
were a condemnation - something
that men could think about. but never
get. Now we find the practical lead
ing minds Of the world determined to
get it,
Eager to Get at Task
NO such sudden and potent union
Of purpose has ever been witnessed
in the world before. Do you wonder
therefore, gentlemen, that in com
mon with those who represent you
am eager to get at the business and
write the sentences down? And that
am particularly happy that the
ground is cleared and the founda-
tons laid--for we have already &C
cepted the same body of principles.
Those principles are clearly and
definitely enough stated to make
their application a matter which
should afford no fundamental diff
Guilty.
And back of us is that imperative
disturbing questions quieted, to have
all threats against peace silenced. to
have just men everywhere come to-
gether for common object The
peoples of the world want peace and
they want it now, not merely by CON
quest of arms but by agreement Of
mind
Duty TO Aid Cause
1T was this incomparably great
object shat brought me overseas. 1t
has never before been deemed ex-
cusablc for President Of the United
States to leave the territory OF the
United States, but know that have
the support of the judgment of my
colleagues in the government Of the
United States in saying that it was
my paramount duty to turn away
even from the imperative tasks at
home to lend such counsel and aid as
could to this great, may not say
final, enterprise OF humanity"
The Presidents speech at the Lor
Mayors luncheon follows:
"Mr Lord Mayor, Your Royal
Highness, Your Grace, ladies and
gentlemen You have again made
me feel. sir, the very wonderful and
generous welcome of this great city
and you have reminded me of what
has perhaps become one of the habits
of my life.
You have said that | have broken
all precedents in coming across the
ocean to join in the counsels of the
peace conference. but think those
who have been associated with me
IN Washington viii testify that that
is nothing surprising I said to the
members of the press in Washing
ton one evening that one Of the
things that had interested me most
since lived in Washington was that
every time | did anything perfectly
natural 1t was said 20 be unpree-
dented
at was perfectly natural to break
this precedent, natural because the de-
mand for intimate difference took
precedene over every other duty.
And, after all. the breaking Of prece-
dents, though tl.:s may sound
strange doctrine in England. is the
most sensible thng 10 do The har-
ness OF precedent is sometimes a
very sad and harassing trammel In
this case the breaking Of precedent
is sensible for reason that is very
prettily illustrated in a remark at
tributcd to Charles Lamb One even
ing in d company OF his friends thev
were discussing person who was
not present and Lamb said, in his
hesitating manner: i h-hate that
fellow Why Charles one of his
friends said, 4 did not know that
YOU knew him Oh he SAID L. /.
| ddont. | can't h-hate man |
know
And perhaps that simple and at
tractive remark may furnish secret
for cordial international relationshi
When we know one another we can
not hate one another.
II have been very much interested
before coming here to see what sort
Conf;,,,roI "a, ,,,,.f ,oo<,1