Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-09-08

Wilson 5 Speech
AT Omaha Today


this morning so much to expound
upon the treaty as to talk about these
things we call reservations. A reser-
walton is an assent with but to It..
We agree, but Now / want to call
your attention to some Of these butts.
I will take them as far as I can in
the order in which they deal with the
clauses Of he league itself,
I'm the first article of the cove
nant 1t is providedthat q nation can
withdraw from the league on two
years nottce-proWded that. at the
time Of this withdrawal-that is to
years, 1t has fulflied all its interna-
ticnal obligations and all its obliga.
tions under the covenAnt.
But some of our friends are very
uneasy about that. They want to sit
close to the door and with their hand
on the knob. and they want to say,
We are in this thing, but we are in
it with infinite timidity and we are
in it only becauses you aover-persuaded
US, and wanted US to come in, but we
are going to sit here and try this
door every once in while and see
that, it isn't locked and just as soon
as we see anything we don't like we
are going to scuttle.' daughter and
applause.) 5..
Now, what is. the trouble?. I want
you to put this to every man you
know, who makes this objection.
What is he afraid of? rs he afraid
that when the United States wishes to
withdraw, it will not have fulfilled its
international obligations? Is he
willing to bring that indictment
against this beloved country?
dy fellow citizens. we never did
m f,11Q -
made. (Applause.) And God ia
guide and help us, we never will.
Want World Respect.
I'VE always have been at pains tc
earn the respite of mankind and We
shall always be at pains to retain it
l for one, am too proud as an Amer.
ican. to say that no doubt will eve,
hang upon. our right to withdraw up.
on the conditions Of the fulfiilment Of
our International obligations. Gap.
plause:o We cannot live without TAX.
ing sides. We devoted ourselves te
justice and'liberty when we were borr
and we are not going: to get senile
and forget it.
Are there any patriotic American.
that desire the method changed
(Cries Of no. a,i tlsl
HDo they want me to- ask the Ger.
mans IT may read the treaty to- them
expressed in the words the United
been written in? So you see, the res.
ervations come down tosthis, that they
want to change the Language of the
treaty without changing its meaning
satisfied. s1 'ssj s.,'sas I.
"BIt i must mot turn away from
this great subject without attention
to the Shantung clause, the pfovfsion
with regard to the transfers Of certain
German rights In the; e;gSTDVinte 81
tShantung to Japan. fr1 1el said tc
my Japanese colleagues IT. the con.
ference ce-thefefore, can without I'M.
prOpriety saysit here--khat I.sWaa tefy
deeply satisfied with tina part 81 tn
treaty. japan agreed At that very
time and as part of the understanding
upon which these caluses were put
into the treaty, that she would relin.
quish every item of sovereignty tina,
Germany. .enjoyed, to Chipa, and she
would retain what other nations have
elsewhere in China, certain economic
concessions witho regard to the. rail.
ways and the mines, which she was
to operate under q corporation and
subject to the laws Of China. As say
wish she could have done more, but
suppose, as some have suggested, that
we dissent from that clause in the
treaty. You can't sign Rllrof treaty
but one part, my fellow citizens: It is
like the presidents veto; he can't veto
provisions of q bill: he has got either
to sign the bill or veto. \ We can't sign
the treaty with the Shantung provi-
sion out Of it and II we could what
sort of service would that be doing
China. 4
: IF felt that I personally in any
way stood in the way Of this settle
ment would be glad to die that it
might be .consummated because
have visionL my fellow citizens, that
If this thing should by some mishap
not be accomplished there would arise
from that upon the fair name Of this
people q stain swhich never could be
effaced which would be intolerable to
every lover Of America