The Washington times., 1919-07-10

new aspect before their work was
finished. They saw II a. the main.
object Of the peace, as the only thing
that could complete II or make 81
worth while. They saw II as the
hope OF the world, and that hope
they did not dare to disappoint.
Shall we or any other free people
hesitate to accept this great duty?
Dare we reject It and break the
heart of the world?
Result II Complete.
And so the result OF the conference
of peace, so far as Germany Is con-
cerned, stands complete. The diff
culties encountered were very many.
Sometimes they seemed insuperaole.
II was impossible to accommodates the
interests of 30. great q body Of ma
tions-interestS which directly or in
directly affected almost every nation
in the world-without many minor
compromises. 49,,
The treaty, as a result, Is not ex-
actly what we would have written. II
| Is. probably not what any one Of the
national delegations would have writ
ten. But results were worked out
which on the whole bear test I think
that Il will be found that the coThpro-
misses which were accepted As newt
able nowhere cut to the heart OF ANY
principle.
The work OF the conference squares.
as a whole, with the principles agreed
upon as the basis OF the peace as wen
as with the practical possibilities of
the international situations which
had to be faced and dealt with as
facts.
shall presently have occasion to
lay before you a special treaty with
| France, whose object IS the tempo
rary protection OF France from IN
provoked aggression By the power
with whom this treaty Of peace has
been negotiated. Its terms link It
with this treaty. I take the liberty,
however, Of reserving 1t for special
exploitation on another occasion.
| All Quarters Of Globe.
The role which America was to
play in the conference seemed deter
mined, as have said, before my col
leagues and / got to Paris-deter-
mined by the universal expectations
Of the nations whose representatives,
drawn from all quarters of the globe.
we were to deal with. It was uni
IversaIly recognized that America had
entered the war to promote no pri-
vate or peculiar interest OF her oW3
but only as the champion Of rights
which she was glad to share with
free men and lovers Of justice every
where. We had formulated the prin-
ciples upon which the settlement was
to be made-the principles upon
which the armistics had been
agreed to and the parleys Of peace un-
Idertaken-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
disinterested friends. We were re-
sorted to as arbiters In many a diff
cult matter. II was recognized thar
our material aid would be indiSpen-
sable in the days to come, when in
dustry and credit would have to be
brought back to their normal opera
ton again and communities beaten to
| the ground assisted to their feet once
more, and IL was taken for granted,
In am proud to say, that we would
play the helpful friend in these things
as in all others without prejudice or
favor. We were generously accepted
as the unaffected champions OF what
was right. It was e very responsible
| role to play; but am happy to report
that the nne group OF Americans who
helped with their expert advice in
each part OF the varied settlements
sought in every transaction to justify
the high confidence feposed in them
] 1t was regarded as a sinister an ]
4 ominous thing by the Statesmen u
more than one European chancelisry
| that we should have extended our
power beyond the confines Of our Son-
| tinental dominions. They were ac-
/ customsd to think OF new netghbors
| as a new menace, Of rivals as RAt':h-
! full enemies. There were persons
among US at home who looked with
deep disapproyal and ayoyed anxiety
/ on such extensions Of our national
/ authority over distant islands and
| over peoples whom they feared We
might exploit, not serve and assist
Measure Of Opportunity.
And that confidence, It seems to
NE, is the measure Of our opportunity
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 dis
| appointed. 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
| il by the rest CT the world that Is
new.
America may be said to have just
reached her majority as q world
power. It was almost exactly twenty
| one years ago that the results OF the
war with Spain put US Unexpectedly
| in possession Of rich islands on the
| other side Of the world and brought
us into association with other gov
ernments in the control of the West
| Indies.
But we have not exploited them. We
/ have been their friends and have
sought to serve them. And our do
| minion has been a menace to no other
nation. We redeemed our honor to
| the utmost in our dealings with Cuba-
/ She is weak but absolutely free; and
! it is her trust in US that makes her
| free.
Weak peoples everywhere stand
ready to give US any authority among
| them that will assure them q like
| friendly oversight and direction. They
! know that there is no ground for fear
| in receiving US as their mentors and
| guides
Isolation Ended.
Our isolation was ended twenty
years ago; and now fear of US is end
ed also, our counsel and association
| sought after and desired. There can
| be no question Of our ceasing to be a
world power. The only question is
whether we can refuse the moral
IeadershiD that il offered US whether