New-York tribune., 1918-01-13
Lansing Brings Message
Of Optimism to City

friend. south of us undergoing tenn.
porary troubles. But we have to finish
our work and finish it we'll. so that it
President Wilson'S declaration be-
tore Congress concerning Americas
determination "that the wrong done to
France by Prussia in 1871 in tho mat
Ter or Alsace- Lorraine should be
righted." had been received with JOY in
France, said the ambassador.
No day of my Tong diplomatic ca
reer," he continued. "has been hap
pier one than that when the successor
Of Washington, speaking as Washing
ton himself would have spoken, dcliv-
cred a statement which will be en-
graved until the end Of time in every
French heart"
Honor Memory of Choatc
Following the completion of the
business Of the convention the mcm-
bers devoted themselves in the after
noon to honoring the memory of the
late Joseph II. Choatc. former presi-
dent of the association and nestor of
! the American bar. President Hughes,
Chief Judge Edgar NJ. Cullen of the
| Court of Appeals and several init
mate friends Of Mr.. Nhoate Joined in
paying tribute to his memory The
silence of the meeting chamber was
unbroken as Judge A. T. Clearwater,
former president of the association,
told of conversation which he had
! had with Mr. Choate lust before the
latter's death.
81 have .pondered much over the
question OF DEATH he quoted Mr..
Choate as saying, "and know l must
soon solve the grave question as to
whether man does survive physical
death. | do not for a moment believe
there is any communication between
the spirits of the departed and the
living. but it may be possible that
former activities, especially the place
where they worship"
The association adopted a resolution
incorporating the draft of a bill to
be submitted to Congress providing in:
creased compensation for Federal
are receiving what Mr.. Hughes de-
scribed us "shockingly low salaries"
Officers were elected for the ensuing
year as nominated yesterday. The ex-
ecutive officers named are: President,
Charles f. Hughes; vice presidents, De
Lancey Nicoll, New York; Luke D. Sta
pleton. Brooklyn; Frank H. Osborn,
Catskill; Charles S. Nisbet. Amsterr-
dam; David +. Costello, Syracuse; A.
II. sewcll, Walton; Arthur f. Suther-
land, Rochester; Maurice c. Sprat,
Buffalo; Charles II. Young. New Ro-
chelle; secretary. Frederick +. Wad-
hams, Albany; treasurer, Albert Hess
berg. Albany.
That the unselfshness and purity OF
purpose Of Italy in the war has been
: questioned and miAimized by German
was declared by Count di Cellarc
SDeoLirer fCr his government
Perverted by Enemy
"Italy's position in this war has been
perverted by clever propaganda OF
our common enemy" he said. 1--WE
have been accused Of faithlessness
This German propaganda has centred
around two points-tirst, that we were
traitors to the Triple Alliance; second
} that we entered the war only for self
: ish ends. The word treason is I'M
: known to Italy in principle and in fact
and only Teutonic mentality could ap-
ply it to us. Italy did not betray her
. former allies. She was brutally and
repeatedly betrayed by them. One
needs merely to consider the spirit
and the wording of the treaty of the
Triple Alliance to be at once CON
e, WINGED of the truth of my statement
5 Italy joined the Austro- German com
e bination at a period when her nationa
existence had hardly begun. Unable
to Withstand the dangers of isolation
i Italy became a party to the treaty, but
: stipulated that the alliance should be
S purely defensive and that no stel
= whatever should be taken by any O
the signatories without previous con
S sultaton with the others.
/ Italy kept her word to the last How
$ the Teutonic powers kept theirs is de
/ Y moi t11,,1 ar
i. bla without even letting Italy know
! they were contemplating such a tre
d mendous step. What Italy's attitud,
: would have been if she had known wha
: the Central Powers were preparing i
= demonstrated by the efforts she mad
c with England to prevent war which
everybody knew would be the ruin O
: Europe and would involve the whole o
. the world.
s 1--WE are all paying dearly for tn
| blind faith that no nation would dar
3 to break a peace which the world ha
G expended so much to secure. Let m
: say, gentlemen, that in the bloody sac
t rifice civilization is making to over
o throw barbarism Italy is second t.
e none"
Y Devonshire Thanks America
> The Duke of Devonshire cxtende
: Canada's thanks to the United State
n Luz HeI HeIP during tne Hall1aX dis
/, aster.
: "The magnitude and horror of tina
j" disaster will rank among the most ter
st rible in history" he said, "but at tn
= same time, the part the United State
II played will always be cherished as on
II OF our most precious possessions"
s In speaking of the war and the trial
n that beset the Allies, the Governo
N General of Canada remarked:
t. 1T has been said that democrati
h, government is not we'll equipped TO
re argue that, but I am prepared to as
" sert that a democratic government
c. the best equipped for maintainn
le peace"
'e He also spoke Of the strengthenin
'e OF the ties that bind America and Bri,
ar ain.