The Washington herald., 1918-12-17
President
In Tribute
To France
Thanks City Of Paris, in
Brief Address, for We'll
come Accorded Him and
Mrs. Wilson.

Paris, Dec. 16.-President Wilson's
speech in reply to the greeting ex-
tended him at City Hall today fol-
lows in full:
Your greeting has raised many
emotions within me.
1T is with no ordinary sympathy
that the people of the United States,
for whom 1 have the privilege Of
speaking. have viewed the suffer-
ings of the people of France. Many
of our own people have been them
selves witnesses of those sufferings.
We were the more deeply moved by
the wrongs of the war because we
knew the manner in which they
were perpetuated.
II beg that you will not suppose
that, because a wide ocean separated
US in space. We were not in efect eye
witnesses of the shameful ruin that
was wrought and the cruel and unnec-
essary sufferings that were brought
upon you. These sufferings have filled
our hearts with indignation. We know
what LntN "tItr IOL Oll4As buA VIC
know what they signified. and our
hearts we're touched to the quick by
them. our imaginations filed with the
whole picture of what France ana
Belgium in particular had expert
enced.
Shocked Our Hearts.
when the United States entered the
war, therefore they entered it not
only because they were moved by a
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 attempting
to realize had led to the practices
which shocked our hearts as much as
they offended our principles.
Our resolution was formed because
We knew how profoundly great prinCi-
pies of right were affected, but our
hearts moved also with our resolu
ton.
You have been exceedingly generous
in what you have been gracious enough
to say about me, generous far beyond
my personal deserts, but you have in
terpreted with real insight the motives
and resolution of the people of the
United States. Whatever influence 1
exercise, whatever authority I speak
with, derive from them. know what
they have thought, I know what they
have desired, and when have spoken
what I know was in their minds it
has been delightful to see how the
consciences and purposes of free men
everywhere responded.
right to the fun fellowship of those
peoples here and throughout the world
who reverence the right Of genuine
liberty and justice.
You have made me feel very much
at home here, not merely by the de-
lightful warmth of your welcome. but
also by the manner in which YOU have
made me realize to the utmost the in
inmate community of thought and
ideal which characterizes your peOpIe
and the great nation which 1 have the
honor for the time to represent.
VIII Remember Welcome.
Your welcome to Paris 1 shall al
ways remember as one of the uni1ue
and inspiring experiences of NV life
and, while feel that you are honor
ing the people of the United States in
my person. I shall nevertheless carry
away with me a very keen personal
qualification in looking back upon
these memorable DAYS.
Permit me to thank you from a
full heart"
In addressing President Wilson
Adrlen MithOuard. president of the
municipal council of Paris, said:
have the honor, in the presence
OF the President of the republic. to-
present to YOU the municipal council
OF Paris, whose interpreter 1 am. in
welcoming the Chief of the great ma
ton whose aid, arriving so oppor-
tunely. brought US victory, and the
upright man whose conscience fash
ioned his policy and whose diplomacy,
was made of loyalty"
Mrs. Wilson Acclaimed.
Turning to Mrs. Wilson, NJ. Mithou-
ard said:
Madame, Paris is Infinitely happy,
and is touched, that you who have ac-
companied the President. have been
good enough to add to/this occasion
the charm and the grace of your
presence.
We have long been aware of YOUR
devotion and of the wise and benef-
cent activity you have shown by the
side of your illustrious husband. Yet
nothing touches so much the heart of
the people of Paris as>to be permitted
to know those who already have con-
quered by their goodness. Thus Paris.
by my voice, acclaims you, and laws
at your feet, madame, the homage of
its gratitude and IFS raSpaots u