Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-12-16


was officially welcomed to France to-
day as "the great European interrcga-
tion.'i
The expression was employed by Ad-
rion. Mithouard, president Of the mu-
nicipal council. while addressing tho
president in behalf of the city and the
nation. 1t was accepted as meaning
that Wilson is regarded by Europe as
the enigma at the peace conference
the man around whom the interpreta-
tion of the various principles at issue
will be conferred
Mithouard's s speech was on the occa-
sion of the official reception to the
president at the city hall, Tho French
official paid high compliment to Mrs.
Wilson for her decision to accompany
the president.
Wilson, in brief address, thanked
Paris and France for the reception ac-
corded him and paid tribute to
France s part in the war.
"Your greeting has raised man.
emotions Within me. 1t is with no ordis
nary sympathy that the people of the
United States, for whom | have the
privilege Of speaking, have viewed the
sufferings of the peoples of France.
Many of our own people have been
themselves witnesses of those suffer
ings. We were the more deeply moved
by the wrongs of the war because we
knew the manner in which they were
perpetrated.
Were Witnesses of Rum
II beg that you will not suppose
that because a wide oceai separated I'M
in space we we've not in effect eye wit
nesses of the shameful ruin that was
wrought and the cruel and unnecessary
sufferings that were brought upon you.
These sufferiDgs have filled our hearts
with indignation. We know what they
were, not only, but we know what they
signified and our hearts were touched
to the quick by them, our imaginations
filled with the whole picture of what
France and Belgium in particular had
experienced When the United States
entered the war, therefore, they enter
ed it not only because they were NOV
ed by conviction that the purposes
Of the central empires were wrong and
must be resisted by men everywhere
who loved liberty and the right, but
also because the illicit ambitions which
they were entertaining and attempt
ing to realize had led to the practices
which shocked our hearts as much as
they offended our principles
"Our resolution was forIaed because
we knew how profoundly great prin'
ciples Of right were affected, but our
hearts moved also with our resolutions.
"Have Been Generous"
"You have been exceedingly gener-
Gus in what you have been gracious
enough to say about me, generous far
beyond my personal deserts. But you
have interpreted with real insight the
motives and resolution of the people
of the United States. Whatever influ-
ence exercise, whatever authority |
speak with, derive from them. / know
what they have thought, | know what
they have desired and when have
spoken what | know was in their
minds it has been delightful to see
how the c0nsciences and purposes of
free men everywhere responded. We
have merely established our right to
the full fellowship CT thesu peoples
here and throughout the world who
reverence the right of genuine liberty
and justice.
Your welcome to Paris shall al
ways remember as one Of the unique
and inspiring experiences Of my hfe
and, while feel that you are honoring
the people Of the United States in my
person, | shall nevertheless, carry away
with me a very keen personal gratifi-
cation in looking back upon these me-
movable days. Permit me to thank yor
from full heart.
"You have made me feel very much
at homo here, not merely by the delight
full warmth of your welcome, but also
by the manner in which you have made
me realize to the utmost the intimate
community Of thought and ideals which
charaeterizes your people and the great
nation which / have the honor for the
time to represent.
M1tnOudrd WolcOme
Adrion Mithouard, president of the
municipal council Of Paris, addressing
President Wilson, said:
III have the honor, in the presence
of the president of the republic, to pre-
sent to you the municipal council Of
Paris, whose interpreter | am in wei
coming the chief Of the great nation
whose aid, arriving 50 opportunelyi
brought lis victory, and the upright
man whose conscience fashioned his
policy and whose diplomacy was made
of loyalty.
Turning to Mrs. Wilson, Mithousrd
said:
Madame, Paris Is infinitely happy
and Is touched that YOU who have ac
eompanied the president have been
good enough to add to this occasion