Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-07-01
WILSON DECLARES
TREATY CHARTER
FOR A NEW ORDER
Presidents Message to the
American People Given Out
at White House as Docu-
n7ent Is Signed

News of the signing of the peac
treaty, flashed to America, was fol
lowed by proclamation by Presi
dent Wilson ISSUED by Secretar!
Tumulty, at the White House. 1t fol
lows:
My Fellow Countrymen:
The treaty of peace has been
signed. If it is ratified and &ct
ed upon in full and sincere eX
ccution of it's terms, it will fur
nish the charter for "a new olCei
Of affairs in the world. 1t. is -
severe treaty in the duties arc
PENALTIES it imposes upon Ger
many, but it is severe only be.
,;ause great wrongs done by Ger
MANY are to be righted and re
paired; it imposes nothing tina
Iarmany cannot do; and she car
regain her rightful standing u,
the world by the prompt and
honorable fulfillment of its
'erms.
And ii is much more than
treaty of peace with Germany
II liperateS great peoples who
have never before been able to
rind the way to liberty. 1t ends,
once for all! an old and intoler
able order under which small
group of selfish men could use
the peoples of great empires to
serve their ambition for power
and dominion 1t associates the
free governments of the world
in permanent league in which
united power to maintain peace
by maintaining right and JUS
t:ce.
1T makes international law a
reality supported by imperative
sanctions. 1t does away with
the right of conquest and rejects
the policy of annexation and sub
stitutes new order under which
backward nations - populations
which have not yet come to po-
liitcal consciousness and peo-
pies who are ready for independ-
ence, but not yet quite prepared
to dispense with protection and
guidance-shall no more be sub
jected to the domination and
exploitation Of a stronger nation.
but shall be put under the
the helpful assistance of govern
ments which undertake to be re-
sponsible to the opinion of man
kind in the execution of their
task by accepting the direction
of the League of Nations.
III recognizes the lnallSnaDle
rights of nationality: the rights
of minorities and the sanctity
of religious belief and practice.
1t lays the basis for conventions
which shall free the commercial
intercourse OF the world from
unjust and vexatious restrictions
and for every sort of interna-
tional cooperation that will
serve to cleanse the life of the
world and facilitate it's common
action in benefcient service Of
every kind. 1t furnishes guaran-
tees such as were never given
or even contemplated for the fair
treaty of all who labor at the
daily tasks of the world.
"It is for this reason T have
spoken of it as a great charter
for a new order of affairs. There
is ground here for deep satisfac-
ton. universal reinsurance and
confident hone.
(signedl WOODROW WILSON"
Immediately after receiving tn
news of the signing of the treat,
Acting Secretary Polk sent thi
message TO the president. over I'll
special direct wire from the stat
demo rtment to Versailles: -
"Permit me ia offer nv heartfe'
congra tulations on the completion c
YOUR great work. The American pee
n1e will be ever nroud IF what vo
did as their Representative for TIL
ne0ce of tho world "