El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-07-10

BILE rs statesmen found the newly
planned league OF nations to be
for the execution of the present
plans OF peace and PREPARATION,
they saw in II new aspect be-
fore their work was finished.
They saw II as the main object
Of the peace, rs the only thing
that could complete II or make il
worth while. They saw IL as the
hope Of the world and that hope
they did not dare to disappoint.
Shall we or any other free people
hesitate 10 accept this great dutyf
Dare we reject IL and break the
heart of the EOrlds
and so the result Of the conference
of peace, so far as Germany is con-
cerned. stands complete The diff
culties encountered were very many.
Sometimes they seemed insuperaD bic
It was impossible to accomm odate the
interests of so great body OF na-
tions=interests which directly or in
directly affected almost every nation
in the world-without many minor
compromises The treaty, as a result,
is not exactly what we would have
written. It is probably not what any
one of the national delegations would
have written But the results were
worked out which on the whole bear
test I think that It viii be 1o0nu
that the compromises which were &C
cepted as inevitable nowhere cut 70
the heart OF any principle The Work
OF the conference squares as whole
with the principles agreed upon as me
basis OF the peace as well as with
the practical possibilities OF the N
ternational situations which had TO be
faced and dealt with as facts
Treaty With France Later.
sI shall presently have occasion 70
F1T +rn-~U with
France. whose object is the temporary
protection Of France from unproVokeo
zzgression BY the power with whom
this treaty Of peace mas oeen neg9-
tiated. It's terms link It with TINS
treaty. I take the liberty Of reserV-
ing Il for Special explanation on an
other occasion
play in the conference seemed qeter-
mined. as I have said, before my col
leagues and I got 10 Paris II vas
universally recognized that America
had entered the war to promote no
0rivate or peculiar interest OF her
own. but only as the champion OF
rights which she was glad 20 snare
with free men and lovers OF Justice
evervvThere- we had formulated the
principles upon which the settlement
was to be made-the principles upon
which the armistice had been agreed
to and the parleys Of peace under
taken-and no one doubted that our
desire was to see the treaty OF peace
formulated along the actual lines OF
those Drincinles-and desired nothing
else We were welcomed as disin-
terested friends. We were resorted
TO rs arbiters in many difficult mat
ter. It was recognized that our ma
terial aid would be Indispensable in
the DAYS TO come. when industry and
credit would have to be brought back
to their normal operation again and
communities. beaten to the ground.
assisted 10 their feet once more. and
it was taken for granted. I am proud
to say, that We would play the help
full friend in these things as IN all
others without prejudice or favor We
were generously accepted as the I'M
affected champions OF what was right.
II was q very responsible role TO play;
but I am happy 10 report that the fine
group Of Americans who helped with
their expert advice in each part Of
the varied settlements sought in ev-
cry transaction to Justify the high
confidence reposed in them
Opportunity Is Measured.
And that confidence, it seems to
me. is the measure OF our opportunity
and Of our duty in the days to come,
in which the new hope Of the peoples
Of the world Is to be fulfilled or dis
appointed The fact that America is
the friend OF the nations. whether
they be rivals or associates, IS no new
fact It is only the discovery of it /
by the rest Of the world that is new
''-America may be said to have Just
reached her majority as a world /
power. It was almost exactly q years |
ago that the results Of the war with |
Spain put US unexpectedly in posses !
sion Of rich islands on the other side
of the world and brought us into as
ISOLATION with other governments in /
the control Of the West Indies. It |
was regarded as sinister and omni- |
nous thing by the statesmen Of more
than one European chancelory that we 4
yond the confines Of our continental I
dominions. They were accustomed TO 4
think Of new neighbors as q new 4
menace, Of rivals as watchful enemies.
There were persons amongst US at 1
home who looked with deep disap-
proval and avowed anxiety on such 4
extensions Of our national authority 4
over distant islands and over peoples /
whom they feared we might exploit 4
not serve and assist. But we have not /
exploited them. We have been their
friends and have sought to serve |
them. And our dominion has been a
menace to no other nation. We re-
deemed our honor to the utmost in
our dealings with Cuba She is weak
but absolutely free. and It is her trust
in US that makes her free. Weak
peoples everywhere stand ready TO
give Us any authority among them
that will assure them a like friendly
oversight ana direction They know
that there is no ground for fear in
receiving US as their mentors and
guides
aOur isolation was ended 20
years nEOs and now fear OF us is
ended alsOs our counsel and aSsO-
eintion sought after and desired.
There can be no question Of our
ceasfnG TO he n world power. The
only question Il whether we can
refuse the moral leadership that