Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-20
DEPUTIES
HEAR PRESIDENT
Expresses Deepest Appreciation
Of Generous Welcome Ex-
tended to Him.
SAYS WILL CREATE EMBASSY
Ir Brief Luncheon Speech He
Pays Gracious Tribute to
Royal Couple.

L S E LIS, juno 1o-President
Wilson. upon his return to Washing
ton. will propose to Congress to raise
the American legation here to the
rank Of an embassy and send a United
States ambassador. instead OF a mnis-
ter. in recognition OF Belgium's COM
plete independence and equality In the
ranks OF the free nations.
Tremendous cheers greeted tho
president as he announced this in the
course OF a long speech in the Belgium
Chamber of Deputies here today.
The burden of the address was a
which the President said. virtually
had its beginning in the formation OF
the league of rights that bound the
civilized nations OF the world together
in Fastening TO the marytr Kingdoms
defense.
Again. the chamber broke into
tumultous applause when the Presi-
dent said plan was now being work
ed out in Paris 10 secure for Belgium
the necessary priority In getting raw
materials, machinery and credits to
iide her over the reconstruction period.
He paid a warm and eloquent tribute
TO Belgium's part in the war.
Denounces German War Methods.
Briefly touching the fundamental
President denounced the German war
methods IN bitter terms. He said:
Your Majesty and Gentlmen: 1t Is
with such profound emotion that l eX-
press my deepest appreciation of the
generous welcome you have given me
that l am not at all sure that l can
tind the words TO say what is in my
heart to say.
M Hymans has repeated to you
some OF the things which America tried
and sympathy with Belgium. but NJ
Hymans was not BILE to testify. as
am. TO the heart OF America that was
back of her efforts. for America did
conceived IL her duty TO do them, but
because she retoiced in this way TO
show her real humanity and her real
and faithful friend, and these things,
l hope. Will be dearer in your memory
because of the spirit which was be-
selves.
IopeA Spirit VIII he Remembered.
I'VE often had the feeling that we
were not doing as much as We could
do. We knew all the time that we
We're not doing AS much as We wanted
to do, and 1t is this spirit, and not
what was done. which deserves. hope.
1T is very delightful to find myself
at last in Belgium: 1 have come at
the frst moment that 1 was relieved
come for my own pleasure and in neg
lect of duty, to a country where l
knew / should meet a sovereign who
had constantly Identified himself with
the interests and the life Of his people
at every necessary sacrifice to himself:
where should be greeted by a Bur
gomaster who never allowed the enc
my 10 thrust him aside and always as
serted the majesty and authority OF the
municipality which he represented:
e!;. where l should have the privilege of
shepherd of his flock. and the ma
jesty Of whose spiritual authority
awed even the unscrupuious enemy
dare lay hand upon this servant
God. and where should have the PRIV :
ilege OF graspinG the hand Of gen
every hand should meet men who had
known their duty and done it,"
Makes Address mt Luncheon.
Only realities make you wise and
just" said President Wilson In a brief
speech AZ the luncheon today at the
american legation in honor Of the
King and Queen of Belgium. The
the royal ia Couple, emphasizing S''t theil 10
close association with the Belgian
people President Wilson spoke as
follows:
II want TO express my pleasure. not
only Of being in Belgium, bur to be
personally associated with the King
and Queen. We have found them
they were: perfectly genuine. perfect
~ delightful and perfectly devoted to
the Interests of the people. and not only
so, but, what Is very rare just now,
very just in their Judgments of tn
events of the past and of the events
that are now taking place.
II could not help expressing tho
opinion which | did yesterday: namely
that that must arrive from the fac
that they had intimately associated
themselves in life with their people.
II YOU live with the takers you get
one impression: if you live with Tina
livers YOU get another impression. You
come into contact with the realities
and only realities make you wise and
just.
Il want. with this very. brief pre-
face in which I am speaking from my
heart. to propose the health and long
life of His Majesty. the King ana
Her Majesty. the Queen"
President and Mrs. Wilson left Brus-
sells tonight.