The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-08-16
CHIEF OF UNITED STATES NAVY
SPEAKS TO DELEGATES AT
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CON-
VENTION-GlVES VIEWS ON
WAR AND ON PROBLEMS OF
PEACE.

| EfASEs
| Admiral Benson, chief of the bu
reau of naval operations and ranking
officer in the United States navy, was
met at the station in Buffalo by com
mittee from the Knights and the city
commissioners.
| Admiral Benson is convert, a
staunch Catholic and a daily commu-
meant. He afterwards addressed the
| delegates, speaking as follows:
The AdmiraPs Address.
AS you know, in the latter part of
last October, it was quite evident that
the German empire was crumbling
and that the call for peace would soon
be made. | was appointed by Presi-
dent Wilson to go abroad with Colonel
House. We arrived in Paris on Oc-
tober rs. On our way over we inter-
cepted various messages that were
going forth between Berlin and Wash
ington and which resulted in a re-
quest for an armistice.
1t was my privilege to take a prom
inent part in drawing up the naval
terms both for Germany and Austria
and the terms that were submitted
and accepted. And, of course, this
was Immediately followed by the
terms of peace. My position was that
of naval adviser to the peace commits
sion.
1t put me in the side lines, as it
were, and l could watch the game
probably with a little more real inter
est than one who was really com
missioner and taking active part.
There are many ideas that were
suggested to me that | would be very
glad to give you, but under present
conditions | feel that it
would be better for me not to give ex-
preston to them. I can say this that
the terms submitted and the bearing
and general stand that our represent
atives took did make a very decided
and fine impression upon the foreign
countries. They could not help but
be impressed with their earnestness,
I1GIl olHCSlIIy anu tHeIl unoSlllollilSoS.
We went there to prevent future
wars, and l can assure you that our
commissioners never lost sight of that
fact l was particularly impressed by
men who were there to advise and
draw UP the different principles sub
mitted with their thorough American
ideals.
Of course, there are two side to this
question. And we must realize it.
There is the European or foreign
question. And there is the American
idea. And | believe that SO long as
the ocean rolls between us that con-
dition will continue.
& 70 American Influence. @ars
l do believe that we have made a
worthy impression on all the world
and that impression has been for
lasting good. While we have not &C
all that was desired, some
thing has been begun that will bear
fruit in the future and in time will, ii
carefully followed out and if properly
accomplish what we are
aiming for.
The world is now facing new prob
lens. There are many that we do not
and we are unable to
remedy or to solve, but the Holy
Church during the last 1000 years
has in some form or other had to face
every kind of problem and she has
done it successfully.
In order to stabilize the world con-
ditions it imposes upon every Cath
Ollie renewed duty and renewed
Each one of us must
look down into his own heart and
realize his own individual RESPONSE
bility not only to the Holy Mother
Church, but to his own country.
In the Spanish war a majority of
the people thought Catholics would