Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-12-03
FULL TEXT OF WILSON'S
SPEECH TO CONGRESS-

be of common benefit TO all the
nations concerned may be made
fully manifest. The peace set
Elements which are now to be
agreed upon are of tranSccndcnt
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 sea
have consciously fought for the
ideals which they knew to be the
ideals OF their country; | nave
sought TO express those Ideals,
they have accepted my state
mentS of them as the substance
OF their own thought and pur-
pose, as the associated govern
ments have accepted them; l owe
il to them to see to II, so TAR as
in me lies, that no false or mis-
taken Interpretation is put upon
them and no possible effort omit
ted 10 realize them. II is now
my duty to play my full part IN
making good what they offered
their life's blood TO obtain. L
can think of no call to service
which could transcend this.
Censorship Entirely Removed
7 shall be in close touch with
YOU and with affairs on this side
of the water. and you viii know
all that l do. At my request the
French and English governments
have absolutely removed the CEN
sorship of cable news which un-
til within a fortnight ago they
have maintained, and there is
now no censorship whatever eH-
ercised at this end except upon
attempted trade communications
with enemy countries. 1t has
been necessary to keep an open
wire constantly available ne
tween Paris and the department
of state and another between
France and the department OF
war In order that this might
De done with the least poSSlDle
interference with the other us
cs OF the cables. / have tempo
rarily taken over the control OF
both cables in order that they
may be used as a single system.
| did so at the advice of the
most experienced cable officials,
and I hope that the results VIII
justify my hope that the news
of the next few months may
pass with the utmost freedom
and with the least possible de-
lay from each side OF the sea 20
Inc other.
Asks United Support
Nav I not hope. gentlemen Of
the congress, that in the deli
cate tasks 1 shall have to per-
form on the other side of the
sea. in my efforts truly and
faithfully TO interpret the prln-
ciples and purposes of the coun-
try we love, L may have the en-
couragement and the added
strength of your united sup
porte 1 realize the magnitude
and difficulty of the duty L am
undertaking; l am polgnantly
aware of its grave responsible
ties. l am the servant of the
nation. l can have no private
thought or purpose of my own
in performing such an errand.
/ go to give the best that is IN
me to the common settlements
which / must now assist IN ar
irving at in conference with the
other working heads OF the as
ISOLATED governments. i shalI
count upon your friendly coun-
tenance and encouragement. L
shall not be inaccessible. The
cables and the wireless Will
render me available for any
counsel or service you may de-
sire of me, and / shall be happy
in the thought that / am con-
Stantly in touch with the
weighty matters OF domestic
policy with which we shall have
10 deal. 1 shall make my alb
sence as brief as possible and
shall hope to return with the
happy assurances that it has
been possible to translate into
action the great ideals for which
America has StrlNen.