The Washington times., 1919-02-15
President Wilson's Speech on League Of Nations

trying to do, which was hearten-
ing throughout every meeting.
Result Reached Unanimously.
Because we felt that in a way
this conference did intrust unto
us the expression of one of it's
highest and most important pur-
poses: 30 see to that the con-
cord Of the world in the future
with regard to the objects of jus
tice should not be subject to doubt
or uncertainty; that the co-Opera-
tion of the great body Of nations
should be assured in the main
tenance OF peace upon terms of
honor and Of international Obliga-
tions.
The cOmpulsion Of that task
was constantly upon us, and ut
no point was there shown the
slightest desire TO do anything
but suggest the best means to ac-
cOmplish that great object There
is very great significance, there
fore, in the fact that the result
was reached unanimously.
Work of Fourteen Nations.
Fourteen nations were repre-
sentcd, among them all of those
powers which for convenience
VIC have called the great powers,
and among the rest a representa-
tion Of the greatest variety Of
circumstances and interests. 50
that I think we are justified in
saying that the significance Of
the result, therefore, has the
deepest Of all meanings, the un-
ion OF wills in a common purpose,
a union OF wills which cannot be
resisted, and which ! dare say
no nation will run the risk of
attempting to resist.
"NOw as to the character Of the
document. While it has con-
sumcd some time, you will see at
once that IT is very simple. and
In nothing SO simple as in the
structure which il suggests for a
League Of NatiOnS-a body of dele
gates. an executive council and a
permanent secrctariat.
Popular Guidance Sought.
"Whcn it came to the question
OF determining the character Of
the representation in the body Of
delegates, We were all aware Of
a feeling which is current
throughout the world.
'lnaSmuch as / am stating IL
in the presence Of the official
representatives OF the various
EONcrnmCnts here present. inciud-
ing myself, I may say that there
is a universal feeling that thc
world cannot rest satisfied with
merely official guidance. There
has reached Us through many
channels the feeling tnat II the
celebrating body Of the lcaGuc
of nations was merely TO be a
body of officials representing the
various governments the peoples
OF the world would not be sure
that some Of the mistakes which
prcoccupicd officials had admit
tcd.y made might not be repeat
Cd.
RcprrNCnt I."OO.OOO,OOO People.
1t WAS impossible to conceive
method or an assembly 20 largo
and various as 10 be really repre-
sentative Of the great bod Of the
peoples Of the world, because, as
! roughly reckon il. We represent.
as We sit around this table. more
than twelve hundred million pco-
pic.
You cannot have a representa-
tive assembly of twelve hundred
million people. but if YOU leave il
Ia each government 20 Lave. if II
p'eascs. one or two or three rep
rrscutativos. though only with
single vote. it may vary lis rep
TCScntation from time to time
rot only. but IL may originate
the choice Of its several repre-
scntativcS.
wireless here unint'lligihlel
wherefore. We thought that this
was proper and "A very prudent
concession To the practically uni
versaI opinion Of plain mon
everywhere that thcy wanted ;he
door left open to a variety or rcp-
rcscutation instead oC being CON
fined to single OffciaI bodv
with which they could or might
not find themselves ia sympa.Lv
War "IsvcrybOdy's HuSIness.-
And YOU will notice that this
body has unlimited rights of dis
CUSTOM mean 81 discussion Of
anything that falls within the