The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-12-02

date IL by waiting until the statutory
limit of time is reached i shall be
merely prolonging the period OF doubt
and uncertainty which is hurtful to
every interest concerned.
His Duty to Go to France.
I welcome this occasion to an
nounce to the congress my purpose
! to Join in Paris the representatives
of the governments with which we
have been associated in the war
against the central empires for the
purpose OF discussing with them the
main features Of the treaty Of peace.
realize the great inconvenience
that will attend my leaving the coun-
try, particularly at this time, but the
conclusion that it was my paramount
duty to go has been forced upon me
| by considerations which hope will
seem as conclusive to you as they
have seemed to me.
| The allied governments have &C
cepted the bases of peace which
outlined to the congress on the eighth
/ of January last as the central en-
pires also have, and very reasonably
desire my personal counsel in their
Interpretation and application, and 1t
| is highly desirable that I should give
! 1t in order that the sincere desire OF
our government to contribute without
selfish purpose of any kind to settle.
iments that will be of common benefit
J to all the nations concerned may be
made fully manifest.
| The peace settlements which are
now to be agreed upon are Of trans
cendent Importance both to us and to
the rest of the world, and know of
no business or interest which should
take precedence of them, the gallant
men Of our armed forces on land and
isea have consciously fought for the
ideals which they knew to be the
ideals of their country; l have sought
to express those ideals; they have
accepted my statements of them as
the substance Of their own thought
and purpose as the associated gov
ernments have accepted them; l owe
| 1t to them to see to 1t so far as IN
me lies that no false or mistaken In
terpretation is put upon them and NO
possible effort omitted to realize
them. 1t is now my duty to play my
| full part in making good what they
offered their life's blood to obtain.
can think of no call to service which
could transcend this.
viii Know All He Does.
| l shall be in close touch with you
and with affairs on this side OF the
water and you will know all that do.
/ At my request the French and English
governme have absolutely removed
the censorship of caDle news which
until within a fortnight they had main
tanned and there is now no censorship
whatever exercised at this end except
upon attempted trade communications
with enemy countries. 1t has been
necessary to keep an open wire con.
stantly available between Paris and
the department of state and another
between France and the department
of war. In order that this might be
done with the least possible interior
ence with the other uses Of the cables,
II have temporarily taken over the
lcontrol of both cables in order that
they may be used as single system.
/ did so at the advice Of the most ex-
lperienced cable officials and l hope
that the results will justify my hope
THAT the news of the next few months
may pass with the utmost freedom and
with the least possible delay from
leach side Of the sea to the other.
|
congress, that in the delicate tasks
shall have to perform on the other
side of the sea in my efforts truly
and faithfully to interpret the princi-
pies and purposes of the country we
love, I may have the announcement
and the added strength of your united
support? | realize the magnitude and
difficult duty and responsibilities. am
poignantly aware of its grave respon-
Isibilities. ] am the servant Of the ma
ton / can have no private thought or
purpose Of my own in performing
such an errand. I do so TO give the
best that is in me to the common set
Element which | must now assist in ar
irving at in conference in the other
working heads Of other associated
governments. l shall count upon your
friendly countenance and encourage
ment, shall not be inaccessibles.
The cables and wireless will render
me available for any counselor service
you may desire of me and l shall be
happy in the thought that | am con-
stantly in touch with the weighty mat
tiers of domestic policy with which we
shall have to deal | shall make my
absence as brief as possible and shall
hope to return with the happy assur-
ance that it has been possible to trans
late into action the great ideals for
which America has striven-
Dramatic Session.
by Robert ]. Bender, United Press
Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-President
Wilson's "readjustment' message to
congress today is his answer to crit
les of his peace trip and postwar
economic plans.
: Converting at noon for the short
session." members of the house and
senate were in such frame of mind
toward the chief executive as to