Republican farmer., 1918-12-06
little. but surely it cannot wisely De

little, but surely 1t cannot wisely be left as it was. I hope that the Con- gress will have a complete and inn partial study of the whole problem in- stituted at once and prosecuted as rapidly as possible. I stand ready and anxious to release the roads from the present control and I must do so at a very early date if 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.
 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 Expires for the purpose of discussing with them the main fea- lures of the treaty of peace. I realize the great inconvenience that will at- tend my leaving the country, partIcu- larly at this time, but the conc1usl"u that it was 11y paramount duty to 20 has been forced upon me by consider ati0ns which I hope will seem as con- elusive to you as they have seemed to me.
 Promises to Keep in Touch.
 The Allied governments have ac. cepted the bases of peace which I outlined to the Congress on the eighth of January last, as the Central Elm pires also have, and very reasonably desiZe my personal counsel in their interpretation and application, and it Is highly desirable that 1 should give It in order that the sincere desire of our government to contribute without selfish purpose of any kind to settle ments that will be of common benefit to all the nations concerned may be made fully manifest. The peace set i dement's which are now to be agreed upon are of transcendent importance both to us and to the rest of the world, and I know of no business or interest which should take precedence of them. The gallant men of our armed forces on land and sea have | consciously fought for the ideals which they knew to be the ideals of their country; have sought to eX- i press those ideals; they have accepted :, my statements of them as the sub | stance of their own thought and pur- l pose, as the associated governments
 have accepted them; owe it to them | to see to it, so far as in me lies, that
 no false or mistaken interpretation is l put upon them, and no possible effort omitted to realize them. It is now
 my duty to play my full part in mak-
 ing good what hey offered their ltfe's blood to obtaia. I can think of no i call to service which could transcend
 this.
 Explains Cable Seizure.
 I shall be in close touch with you and with affairs on this side of the
 water, and you will know all that I do. At my request the French and English governments have absolutely removed the censorship of cable news which until within a fortnight they had maintained and there is now no censorship whatever exercised at this
 end except upon attempted trade com munications with enemy countries. It has been necessary to keep an open wire constantly available between Paris and the Deparament of State and another between France and the Department of War. In order that this might be done with the least pos
 slble interference with the other uses
 of the cables, I have temporarily taker
 over the control of both cables in pr.
 der that they may be used as a single
 system. I did so at the advice of the
 most experienced cable officials, ant
 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 each side of the sea to the
 other.
 Calls for United Support.
 May I not hope, gentlemen of the Congress, that in the delicate tasks , shall have to perform on the other
 side of the sea, iY my efforts truly and faithfully to interpret the prin- ; ciples and purposes of the country we love, I may have the encouragement and the added strength of your united support? I realize the magnitude and
 difficulty of the duty I am undertak- ; ing. I am poignantly aware of its grave responsibilities. I am the ser want of the nation. I can have nc private thought or purpose of my own
 in performing such an errand. I go
 to give the best that is in me to the l common settlements which I must now assist in arriving at in conference with the other working heads of the
 associated governments. I shall count upon your friendly countenance and l encouragement. I shall not be inac- cessible. The cables and the wireless will render me available for any coun- , sel or service you may desire of me, and I shall De happy in the thought , that I am constantly in touch with !, the weighty matters of domestic pol , icy with which we shall have to deal. ] I shall make my absence as brief as } possible and shall hope to return with ) the happy assurance that it has been , possible to translate into action the great ideals for which America has striven.
 EISNER L0SING