Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-07-10

6uCe SO uaTCSy d6 d HuOlCp Will
the principles agreed upon as
the basis of the peace as well
as with the practical possibili-
ties of the international situa-
tons which had to be faced
with and dealt with as facts.
Refers to French Pact.
l shall presently have oc-
casion to lay before you a spec
ial treaty with France, whose
object is the temporary protecr
ton OF France from unprovok-
ed aggression by the power
with whom this treaty OF peace
has been negotiated. Its terms
link it with this treaty. / take
the liberty, however, Of resery-
ing it for special exploitation on
another occasion.
The role which America was
to play in the conference seem
ed determined, as have said,
before my colleagues and / got
to Paris-determined by the
Universal expectations of the
nations whose representatives,
drawn from all quarters of the
globe, we were to deal with. 1t
was universally recognized that
America had entered the war to
promote no private or pecuni-
airy interest of her own, but
only as the champion Of rights
which she was glad to share
with free men and. lovers Of
Justice everywhere. We had
formulated the principles upon
which the settlement was to be
made-the principles upon
which the armistice had been
agreed to and the parties of
peace undertaken-and no one
doubted that our desire was to
see the treaty of peace formu-
lated along the actual lines of
those principles.
Welcomed as Friends.
We were welcomed as dis
interested friends. We were re-
sorted to as arbitrators, on
many a difficult matter. 1t was
our material aid that would be
dispensable in the days to
come. when industry and credit
would have to be brought back
to their normal operation again
and communities beaten to the
ground, assisted to their feet
once more, and it was taken for
granted, I am proud to say. that
we would play the helpful
friend in these things as In all
others without prejudice or
favor. We were generously ac-
cepted as the unaffected cham
pions of what was right 1t was
a very responsible role to play;
but I am happy to report that
the fine group of Americans
who helped with their expert
advice in each part of the varied
settlements, sought in every
transaction to justify the high
confidence reposed in them.
And that confidence, II seems to
me is the measure of our oppor-
tunity and of our duty in the
days to come, in which the new
hope of the peoples of the
world is to be fulfilled or dis
appointed. The fact that Amer
lea is the friend of the nations
whether they be rivals or as
sociates, is no new fact. 1t is
only the discovery of it by the
rest of the world that is new.
Just Reaches Majority.
America may be said to have
just reached her majority as
a world power. It was almost
exactly 81 years ago that the
results of the war with Spain
put US Unexpectedly in posses
sion of rich islands on the
other side Of the world and
brought US into association
with other governments in the
control of the West Indies. 1t
was regarded as a sinister and
ominous thing by the states
men OF more than one Euro
pean chancellory that we
should have extended our pow
er beyond the confines of our
continental 6ominions. They
were accustomed to think OF
our new neighbors as a new
menace, of rivals, as watchful
enemies. There were persons
among US at home who look
ed with deep disapproval and
avowed anxiety on such extern
sions of our national authority
over distant islands and over
peoples whom they feared we
might exploit, not serve and
assist. But we have not ex-
plotted them.
Trusted by All.
We have been their friends
and have sought to serve them.
And our dominion has been as
no other nation. We redeem
ed our honor to the utmost in
our dealings with Cuba. She
is weak, but absolutely free,
and it is her trust in US that
makes her free. The nations
know that there is no ground
for fear in receiving US as
their mentors and guides. Our
isolation was ended 20 years
ago; and now fear of us it
ended also, our counsel and
association sought after and
desired. There can be no
question of our ceasing to be a
world power. The only ques-
ton is whether we can refuse
the moral leadership that is
offered US, whether we shall
accept or resist the confidence
of the world.
Must Retain Position.
The war and the conference
of peace now sitting in Paris
seem to me to have answered
that question. Our participa-
ton in the war established our
position among the nations
and nothing Int our own unis-