The sun., 1919-09-06
PLEADS FOR TREATY
IN ST. LOUIS SPEECH
Wilson Tells of Alternatives
If Pact Is Rejected.

ST. Louis, Sept. 5.-In his address n
the Coliseum tonight President Waso,
said:
Ny FELLow CoUNTRYMEN We
have met upon an occasion which is
much too solemn to care how we
look We ought to care how we
think, and ] have come here tonight
to ask permission to discuss with you
some of the very curious alterations
of thinking that have taken place in
this country OF late.
have sought, think have
sought, without prejudice, to under
stand the point of view OF the men
who have been opposing the treaty
and the covenant of the League of
Nations. Many of them are men
whose judgment OF patriotic feeling
/ have been accustomed to admire
and respect. And yet l must admit
to you, my fellow countrymen, that it
is very hard for me to believe that
they have followed their line of think
ing to its logical and necessary con-
clusion, because when you reflect
upon their position II Is either that
We ought to reject this treaty alto
gether or that we ought to change it
in SUCH a way as will make II neces-
many and reconsider the settlements
of the peace in many. essential par
ucu!ars.
We cannot do the latter alone. and
other nations will not join Us in do
ing it. The only alternative Is to re-
tect the peace and to do what some
OF our fellow countrymen have been
advising US to do. stand alone In the
world.
/ suppose that most OF you realize
that 1t is going to be very difficult
for the other nations that were en-
gagged in this war TO get financially
on their feet again l dare say you
read the other day the statement of
Herbert Hoovers opinion. an opinion
which / always greatly respect, that
1t will be necessary for the United
States Immediately to advance s4,-
000.000,000 or $4,000, 100000 for the
rehabilitation OF credit and industry
on the other side OF the water, and
1 must say to you that 1 learned
nothing in Paris which would leave
me to doubt that conclusion. And
I think the statement OF the sum is a
reasonable and conservative state
ment.
worlds Fate Affects America.
II the world is going bankrupt.
IL credit Is going to be DESTROYED,
IL the industry of the races OF the
world Is going to be interrupted, our
market confined to the United
States. trade will be impossible ex-
cept within our own borderA II we
are to save our own markets and re-
habilltate our own industries we
must save the financial situation Of
the world and rehabilitate the mar
kets of the world.
Germany can't pay for this war
unless her industries are revived and
the treaty of peace sets I'D a great
commission known as the reparation
commission in which It was intended
that there should be a-nember from
the United States as we'll as from
other countries, and the business of
this commission will be in part to
see that the Industries OF Germany
are revived in order that Germany
may pay this great debt which she
owes 10 civilization.
That reparation commission can
determine the currents of trade. the
conditions Of credit. of international
credit 1t can determine how much
that Germany is going to buy, where
1t is going to buy and how IL is
going to pay for it. and IL we must,
to save ourselves. contribute to the
financial rehabilitation of the world
then without being members OF this
partnership we must put our money
In the hands OF those who want to
get tire markets that belong to us.
That is what these gentlemen call
playing a lone hand. II is indeed
playing lone hand-it Is playing a
hand that is frozen out We must
contribute the money which other
nations are to use In order to re-
habilitate their industry and credit,
and we must make them our antago-
nists and rivals and not our part
ners. I put that proposition to any
business man, young or old, in the
United States and ask him how he
likes 1t and whether he considers
that a useful way for the United
States to stand alone. We have got
to carry this burden OF reconstruct
ton whether we will or not or be
ruined. and the question Is shall we
carry II and be ruined anyhow, for
that IS what these gentlemen pro-
pose. that at every point we shall be
embarrassed by the whole financial
affairs Of the world being In the
hands OF other nations.
The men who propose these things
do not understand the selfish inter
esis " tho United States. Because
here is the rest of the picture hot
rivalries, burning suspicious, jeal-
ousies. arrangements made every
where II possible to shut US out be-
cause II we won't come in as equals
we ought to be shut out
AZ 1t stands now every nation
trusts us. They look to us. They
long. that We shall undertake any
thing for their assistance rather than
that any other nation should undertake.
It. And N we say we are In this world
TO live by ourselves and we get what
we can out Of II by any selfish process
then the reacpon will change the
whole heart and attitude OF the world
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