Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-10

great d pOuN VI
which directly or indirectly affect
ed almost every nation in the
world-without many minor com
promises. The treaty, as result
is not exactly what we would
have written.
1t is probably not what any one
of the national delegations would
have written. But results were
worked out which on the whole
bear test I think that il will be
found that the compromises which
were accepted as inevitable no.
where cut to the heart of any prin-
ciple. The work of the conference
squares. as a whole, with the prin-
ciples agreed upon as the basis of
the peace as well as with the
practical possibilities of the inter
national situations which had to be
faced and dealt with as facts.
to lay before you a special treaty
with France. whose object is the
temporary protection of France
from upprovoked aggression by
the power with whom this treaty
Of peace has been negotiated. Its
terms link 1t with this treaty. l
take the liberty. however. of re-
serving it for special explica ton
on another occasion.
The role which America was to
play in the conference seemed de-
termined. as l have said, before my
colleagues and ] got to Paris
determined by the universal ex-
pectations of the nations whose
representatives. drawn from all
quarters Of the globe. we were to
deal with. 1t was universally
recognized that America had en-
tered the war to promote no pri-
vate or peculiar interest of her
own, but only as the champion Of
rights which she was glad to share
with freA men and lovers Of justice
everywhere. We had formulated
the principles upon which the
settlement was to be made.-the
principles upon which the arm:stice
had been agreed to and the parIeys
Of peace un6ertakeR,-and no one
doubted that our desire was to see
the treaty of peace formulated
along the actual lines of those
principles.-and desired nothing
else We were welcomed as dis
interested friends. We were re-
sorted to as arbiters in many
difficult matter.
1t was recognized that our ma
terial aid would be indispensable
in the days to come. when indus
try and credit would have to be
brought back to their normal oper-
alton again and communities beat
en- to the ground assisted to their
feet once more. and it was taken
for granted, am proud to say.
that we would play the helpful
friend in these things as in all 9TH
ers without prejudice or favor.
We were generously accepted as
tho unaffected champions of what
was right. 1t was very respon-
sible role to play; but 1 am happy
to report that the fine group Of
Americans who helped with their
expert advice in each part of the
varied settlements sought in every
transaction to justify the high con-
fidence reposed in them.
And that confidence. it seems to
me. is the measure of our oppor-
tunity and of our duty in the days
to come. in which the new hope of
the peoples of the world is to be
fulfilled or disappointed. The fact
that America is the friend of the
nations, whether they be rivals or
associates. is no new fact: it is only
the discovery of it by the rest of
the world that is new
America may be said to have Just
reached her majority as a world
power. 1t was almost exactly
twenty-one years ago that the re-
suits of the war with Spain put us
Unexpectedly in possession of rich
islands on the other side of the
world and brought US into associa-
ton with other governments in the
control of the West Indies. 1t was
regarded as a sinister and orinous
thing by the statesmen of more
than one European chancellery
that " eshould have extedned our
power beyond the confines of orr
continental dominions. They were
accustomed to think Of new neigh
bors as new menace, of rivals as
watchful enemies. There were per-
sons among US at home who look
ed with deep >disapproval and
avowed anxiety on such extensions
Of our national authority over dis
tant islands an dover peoples whom
they feared we might exploit, not
serve and assist. But we have not
exploited them. We have been
their friends and have sought to
serve them. And our dominion has
been a menace to no other nation.
We redeemed our honor to the ut
most in our dealings with Cuba.
She is weak, but absolutely free;
and it 10 her trust In US that makes
her free.
Weak people everywhere stand
ready to give us any authority
among them that will assure them
a like friendly oversight and direc-