Evening journal., 1919-07-11
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS

In the Senate follows.
"Gentlement Of the Senate:
''The treaty OF peace with Germany
was signed at Versailles on the 2sth OF
June. | avail myself OF the earliest
opportunity TO lay the treaty before
YOU for ratification and TO inform you
with regard TO the work OF the con-
ference by which that treaty was
formulated
"The treaty constitutes nothing less
than a world settlement. Il would not
be possible for me either TO summarize
or TO construe its manifold provisions
In an address which must OF necessity
be something less than treatise. My
services and all the information ] pos
sess will be at your disposal and at the
disposal OF your Committee on Foreign
Relations at any time either Informally
or in session, as you may prefer, and
] hope that you VIII not hesitate TO
make use OF them. ] shall at this time,
prior TO your own study Of the docu-
ment. attempt only a general charac-
terlzation OF its scope and purpose.
Calls Address Report.
in one sense. no doubt, there Is no
need that / should report to you what
was attempted and done at Paris. You
have been daily cOgnizant OF what was
going on thereof the problems with
which the Peace Conference had TO deal
and Of the difficulty OF laying down
straight lines OF settlement anywhere
on a field on which the old lines OF
International relationship and the new
alike followed so intricate a pattern
and We're, for the most part, cut so
deep by historical circumstances, which
dominated action even where 10 would
have been best TO ignore or reverse
them.
THE cross currents OF politics and
Of interest must have been evident to
YOU. 70 would be presuming In me TO
attempt 10 explain the questions which
arose or the many diverse elements That
entered into them. / shall attempt
something less ambitious than that and
more clearly suggested by my duty TO
report 10 the Congress the part IL
seemed necessary for my colleagues and
me TO play as the representatives OF
the Government OF the United states.
"That part was dictated by the role
America had played IN the war and by
the expectations that b. 4 IN created
I'm the minds OF the peoples ith whom
VIC had associated ourselves in. that
great struggle.
"The United States entered the war
upon a different footing from any other
nation except our associates on this
side the sea. We entered it not because
our material interests were directly
threatened or because any special
treaty obligations TO which we were
parties had been violated. but only be-
cause we saw the supremacy and even
the validity OF right everywhere put In
jeopardy and free government likely
90 he everywhere imperiled by the in
tolerable aggression OF a power which
respected neither right nor obligation
and whose very system Of government
il0uted the rights OF the citizen as
against the autocratic authority OF his
governors. And in the settlement OF
the peace we have sought no special
reparation for ourselves, but only the
restoration Of right and the assurance
OF liberty everywhere that the effects
OF The settlement were to be felt. We
entered the war as the disintercsted
champions Of right and we interested
ourselves in the terms OF the peace in
no other capacity.
Allies Hopes Very Low.
%The hopes Of the nations allied
against the Central Powers were at a
very low ebb when our soldiers began
TO pour across the sea. There was
everywhere among them, except in
their stoutest spirits. a somber fore
bod.ng OF disaster. The war ended in
November. eight months ago. but we
have only 10 recall what was feared
in midsummer last. four short months
before the arm'stice, 10 realize what
ID was that our timely aid accom-
plished alike for their moral and their
physical safety.
"That first. never-to-be-forgotten ac-
ton at Chateau Thierry had already
taken place. Our redoubtable soldiers
acd marines had already closed the
cap the enemy had succeeded in open
ing for Their advance upon Paris-had
already turned the tide Of battle back
toward the frontiers or France and
begun the rout that was to save
Europe and the world. Thereafter Inc
Germans were to be always forced
back. back. were never 10 thrust sue
cessfully forward again. And yet there
was no confident hope Anxious men
and women. leading spirits OF France,
attended The celebration OF the Fourth
OF July last year in Paris out OF gen.
erous eourtesy-with no heart for fes-
uviiv Ttle zest for hope But they
came away with something new at
their hearts. They have themselves
told rs so.
-The mere sight Of our men-of
'heir vigor. OF the confidence that
showed itself in every movement OF
their stalwart figures and every turn
Of their swinging march. N their
steady comprehending eyes and easy
discipline. in the indomitable air that
added spirft to everything they id
made everyone who saw them that
memorable day realize that something
had happened that was much more
than mere incident in the fighting.
something very different from the
mere arrival OF fresh troops.
"a great moral force had ilung IL
self into the struggle. The fine phys.-
cal force OF those spirited men spoke
Of something more than bodily vigor
They carried the great ideals OF free
people al their hearts, and with that
vision were unconquerable. Their very
presence brought reinsurance; their
fighting made victory certain.
Went As Crusaders.
"They were recognized as crusaders
and as their thousands swelled to mil
lions their strength was seen TO mean
salvation. And they were fit men TO
carry such a hope and make good the
assurance 70 forecast Finer men never
went into battle, and their officers were
worthy Of them.