The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-31
MANY THOUSANDS HEAR PRESIDENT
 PAY TRIBUTE ID
 AMERICAS DEAD
Says American Youths Went Over to Defeat Things for Which Central Powers Stood and to Prevent
 Future Wars
By Associated Pres.


 Paris, May 30.-In the Amer ican cemetery at Suresnes, near Paris, today, during the cere- mony of paying tribute to the American dead on the occasion of Memorial Day, President Wilson made his first reference to the league of nations since the covenant of the society which will have as its object the prevention of future wars was completed.
 His words were delivered in the presence of thousands of American sol- diers and many civilians and the off cial representatives of the French gov ernment, including Marshal Foch. Mum. erous distinguished members of allied officialdom who had come to pay tribute to the American dead also heard the Presidents words.
 Touching on the reasons which
 had brought the American troops
 across the seas, the President said
 they had come to defeat the things
 for which the central powers stood
 -'.the arrogant, selfish dOniinatiOn
 which they intended to establish;
 and they came, moreover, to see to
 to that there never should be
 war like this again."
 'It is for us. particularly for us, who are civilized, the President continued. Ito use our proper weapons of coun- sel and agreement to see to it thai there never is such a war again. Tee nation that should now fling out of this common concord of council wouid betray the human race. So it is our duty to take and maintain the safe- guards which will see to it that tae mothers of America and the mothers of France and England and Italy and Belgium and all other suffering nations should never be called upon for th's sacrifice again. This can be done. Jt must be done. And it will be done.
 DID NOT DIE IN VAIN
 The things that these men left us, though they did not in their counscls conceive it. is the great instrument which we have just credited in tho league of nations. The league of na- tions is the covenant of government that these men shall not have died in vain. 1 look forward for the time when every man who now puts h:s counsel against the united service Uf mankind under the league of nations will be just as ashamed of it as if he now regretted the union of the states.
 The President declared that the
 day of secret councils was past,
 because the people were in the
 saddle. The private councils Of
 statesmen, he added, would II"
 longer determine the destinies of
 nations.
 Bareheaded. in the glare of the sun, President Wilson spoke for more than half an hour, most of the time in an impassioned defense of the league of nations and in appeal for its support.
 The cemetery is situated on the hill side of the ancient fortress of Mount Valerien. With the old buildings at his back the President looked over tue graves of the American soldiers and down into the city of Paris, which stood in the distance like a panorama. The approaches to the cemetery and the paths winding their way through the burial ground were lined with sol diers standing at attention, American on one side and French on the other. as the President arrived.
 The greater part of the khaki clothed listeners to the Presidents speech were grouped in the shade of the old fort, but a crowd of other sol diers and civilians pressed close to the speakers stand.
 There was unwavering attention by all to the Presidents utterances and when he concluded his auditors warm ly applauded him. Capt Andred Tar dieu, French high commissioner. wno was in the stand with President Will son listened attentively to the speech. The President never faltered in his dic- tion Earnestness pervaded his words.
 MRS WILSON PRESENT
 From nearby point Mrs Wilson iis- tened to her husband. She and the President drove to the cemetery in dir- ferent automobiles and Mrs. Wilson remained in her car instead of going to the speakers stand
 Before President Wilson began his speech message to the President from Premier Clemenceau dealing with the fellowship between the French and
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