The Washington times., 1919-02-25

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il seems TO go slowly; but l wonder
IL you realize the complexity OF the
task which ii has undertaken. 1t
seems as if the settlements of this
war affect, and affect directly, every
great, and l sometimes think every
small nation in the world and no
one decision can pTudently be made
which is not properly linked in with
the great series of other decisions
which must accompany it, and it
must be reckOned in with the final
result. if the real quality and char
aCter of that result is to be properly
judged.
THE confidence we have established
throughout the world imposes a
burden upon us. ANY man who op-
poses the tide will find himself
thrown upon barren ground.
If America were now to fail the
world what would become Of it?
America is the hope OF the world,
and II she does not justify that hope
the results will be Unthinkable.
Scrap of Paper.
Suppose we sign the treaty of
peace and do no more-we will have
nothing but a modern scrap OF paper.
NO assurance would be given to
a downtrodden people that they would
be safe We set this nation up to
make men free and now we will make
men free.
What we are doing is to hear
the whole case; hear il from the
mouths of the men most interested; {;
hear it from those who are official
ly commissioned TO state It; hear
rival claims: hear the claims that ar
feet new natiOnalities: that affect new
areas of the world; that affect new
commercial and economic conditions
that have been established by the
great world war through which we
have gone And l have been struck
by the moderateness of those who
have represented national claims. 1
can testify that I have nowhere seen
the CLEAN Of passion. l have seen
earnestness, ! have seen tears come
to the eyes OF men who plead for
down trodden people whom they were
privileged to speak for; but they were
not the tears OF anger. they were
the tears Of ardent hope.
Il don't sec how any man can fail
10 have been subduel by these pleas,
subdued to this feeling. that he was
not there to assert an individual
Judgment OF his own. but 10 try 10
assist the cause of humanity.
And in the midst Of it all, every
interest seeks out. first OF all, when
il reaches Paris. the representatives
or the United States. Why? Because
and | think ! am stating the most
wonderful fact IN history because
there is no nation in Europe that
suspects the motives of the United
States.
was there ever so wonderful a
so moving a thing? Was there ever
any fac. that so bound the nation
that had won that esteem forever TO
deserve it,
Great Minds nited.
'T would nor have you understand
that the great men who repres mt
the other nations there in confer
ence are disestcemed by those who
know them. Quite the contrarr.
But YOU understand that the nations
of Europe have again and aClrn
cIashed with one another in COIN
petitiye interests. II is impossible
for men TO forget those sharp Issues
that were drawn between them IN
times past
"It Is impossible for men to b.
Gove that all ambitions have all uf
sudden been forcRone. They re-
member territory that was covcteI.
they remember rights that it wrs
attempted to eXtort: they remember
political ambitions which il was at
tempted 10 TcaliZe-and while they
believe that men have come into
different temper. they cannot forget
these things, and so they do not re-
sort TO one another for a dispassion-
ate view OF the matters in conJ~o-
versy. They resort to that nation
which has won the enviabIe distinc-
tion Of being regarded as the friend
OF mankind.
Whenever it is desired to send a
small force Of soldiers to occupy a
piece Of territory where il is thought
nobody else Will be welcome. they ask
for American soldiers. And where
other soldiers would be looked upon
with suspicion. and perhaps met with
resistance. the American soldier =
welcomed with acclaim.
Il have had so many grounds for
pride on the other side OF the water
that ] am very thank fuI that they
are not grounds for personal pride,
but for national pride. II they were
grounds for personal pride, I'd be the