The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-09-04


fellow citizens" began the president
1T Is with great pleasure that
greet you. / have long chafed al
confinement in Washington. I have
wanted to report to you and to other
citizens of the United States. 1t has
become increasingly necessary that
should report to you. After all of the
various angles tb~t the treaty has
been held up to " think that you
want to know W. :, in that treaty.
1t Is unique. y : OF do you a bet
ter service, nor ; peace of the world
a better serviS 4 an to tell you what
this treaty d :: 1t seeks to punish
nation tha' smpted to perpetrate
one of the : est wrongs in history.
The men : : .ris wanted to do JUS
tice. tn. anted to punish Ger
many foL utter disregard for hu-
man rigs or wrongs to women and
childrenSS he people of Europe not
only saw their country devastated
but a reign of terror inaugurated.
"The people who framed this treaty
had no desire to overwhelm Germany.
But they intended to burn into the
souls Of the German people the
wrongs they permitted their rulers to
perpetrate.
II believe from what can learn
that there is a consciousness in Ger
man hearts of the wrongs committed.
The Austrian delegates admitted that
the war was a crime.
Everything in the treaty was
designed not to humiUate Germany
but to right the wrongs that she has
done. No indemnity is claimed in
this treaty, only reparation. There
is no indemnity-do not forget that.
And in the terms of reparations, they
are framed with an object which con-
siders Germany's ability to pay.
Critics Not Using Facts"
| II am astonished at some of the
| speeches made. They carry state
ments, not facts. This treaty Is not
! intended to end this single war. 1t
| is intended to serve notice on any
| nation that attempts such aggression
| in the future that the nations of the
world are united to punish such at
| tempts."
The president paid high tribute to
the allied causes, declaring the prom
ises made to the people of the United
States must be carried out. He de-
clared that in taking the flower of
American youth" to fight the war
the nation had promised that the OBJ
ject would be end of wars. Disre-
gard of this promise would be an in
fanny, the president said.
'"This Is what the league of ma
tions is for" said the president. at
is to prove to the nations of the
world that the nation will combine
against any nation that would emu
late Germany's example.
THE league of nations is based on
the experiences of the present war.
Germany never would have entered
this war If she had known Great
Britain and the United States would
enter II.
Is to Prevent War.
when you are told that the league
of nations Is for any purpose but to
prevent war, tell them 1t is not so.
The passions and the rivalries Of this
war are not ended. Unless there is
a league of nations the most ambi-
tious nations will be ready to at
tempt aggressions the moment the
world has recovered from the finan-
cial strain of the present war. This
treaty builds up nations that never
could have gained their freedom in
any other way. They are Euilt up
by gifts. The Austro- Hungarian gov
tary force. It's people did not want
to live together. Hungary, a willing
partner because she wanted Austria's
strength, sympathized entirely with
Jugo- Slavia. Bohemia was an un-
happy partner. So was Poland, di-
vided between Russia, Austria and
Germany. Poland would never have
won her independence if it had not
been for the peace treaty. Small
nations had been crushed by the
combined power of Europe; they did
not intend the smaller nations should
have the right to live their own lives.
Fought for American Principle.
"The American principle was that
they have the right. That is what
we fought for in Paris. Strategic
reasons did not count. we gave the
people their own rights.
strategic reasons did not count.
No one .sympathiZcd with Italy more
than 7, but 1 had to refuse to give
Italy territory inhabited by Slavic
people. They wanted the Adriatic
for military reasons. If there is no
league of nations, italy needs this
territory. But if there is league OF
nations Italy need not fear. The ma
tions of the world will protect Italy.
II had rather have everybody on
my side than to be armed to the
teeth. Sympathy of mankind will be
behind the league of nations"
The president declared that he be-
heved he could interpret the settle
ment to the people better than some
Of his critics.