The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-07-18
PRESIDENT TELLS
OF TREATY WORK
AMERICA HELD THE REGARD OF
NATIONS WHO LOOKED FOR
RELIEF, HE SAYS
ENTERED WAR AT CRISIS
Germans Were Defeated After Chateau
Thierry.-Chief Executive Outlines
Some of Views of the Recent
Peace Conference

Washington, July II. - President
Wilson, in presenting the peace treaty
and the league of nations to the SEN
ate Thursday, spoke as follows:
Gentlemen of the Senate: The
treaty of peace with Germany was
signed at Versailles on the 2Sth of
June. l avail myself of the earliest
opportunity to lay the treaty before
you for ratification and to inform you
with regard to the work of the con-
ference by which the treaty was form
uated.
1.-The treaty constitutes nothing less
than d world settlement. 1t would
not be possible for me either to sum-
Marie or to construe its manifold pro-
| visions in an address which must OF
necessity be something less than
| treatise.
at would be presuming in me to at
tempt to- explain the questions which
arose or the many diverse elements
that entered into them. I shall at
| tempt something less ambitious than
that and more clearly suggested by my
duty to report to the congress the part
| it seemed necessary for my colleagues
| and me to play as the representatives
| Of the government of the United States.
1.-THE hopes of the nations allied
against the central powers were at a
very low ebb when our soldiers began |
to pour across the sea. There was |
everywhere amongst them, except in
their stoutest spirits, sombre fore
boding of disaster. The war ended |
T.. L,.tl
you have only to recall what was
feared in midsummer last, four short
months before the armistice, to rea
lie what it was that our timely aid
accomplished alike for their morale
and their physical safety. That first,
never to be forgotten action at Cha
teau Thierry had already taken place.
Our redoubtable soldiers and marines
had already closed the gap the enemy
had succeeded in opening for their adj
vance upon Paris-had already turn
ed the tide of battle back towards
the frontiers of France and begun the
rout that was to save Europe anA the
world. Thereafter the Germans were
to be forced back, back, were never to I
thrust successfully forward again.
at was the imperative task of those
who would make peace and make 1t
to establish new order {
which would rest upon the free choice
of peoples rather than upon the arbi-
trary authority of Hapsburgs or Ho-
''Undeveloped peoples and peoples
ready for recognition, but not yet
10 f,,11 | {
Of statehood were to be given ade-
luate guarantees of friendly protec-
ion, guidance and assistance.
Americas Leadership.
1--WE we're generously accepted as the v
unaffected champions of what was Z
light. 1t was a very responsible role !.
o play; bufI am happy to report that | -
he fine group Of Americans who help =
d with their expert advice in each y
art of the varied settlements sought !, !,
n the transaction to justify the high q
onfidence reposed in them. -
america may be said to have Just a.
cached her majority as a world power. ~
was almost exactly p years ago -
hat the results of the war with Spain a. :,
ut us unexpectedly in possession of =,
ch islands on the other side of the ~
'orld and brought us into association -
18th other governments in the control
the West Indies. 1t was regarded TO
8 sinister and ominous thing by III
lie statesmen of more than one Euro ie
can chancellory that we should have a
Itended our power beyond the con- 10
mes of our continental dominions. OF
hey were accustomed to think of new ci'
sighbors as new menace, or rivals as
watchful enemy. There were per-
ms among us at home who looked de
it'll deep disapprovaI and avowed anx- tn
ty on such extension of our national te'
lthority over distant islands and ne
er peoples whom they feared de
e might exploit, not serve and assist.
1T we have not exploited them IN
"We have been their friends and se'
We sought to serve them. And our SCI
minion has been menace to no other GA
ton. We redeemed our honor to the wv
most In our dealings with Cuba. Do
e is weak, but absolutely free; and va
is her trust In us that makes her Di'
,e. Weak peoples everywhere stand 10,
ady to give US any authority among
I'm that Will assure them like co'
endly interest," LUZ
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