Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-09-13
WILSON'S SPEECH AT
SPOKANE, WASH.

Spokane, WASH, Sept. 1.-THE
president said:
"Mr. Mayor. MY Fellow Country
men: I esteem 1t a rea} pleasure to
stand ace to face with a representa-
tive audience OF this great city be-
tngton, my fellow c~ountrymen, not to
make speeches but to get into con-
tact with just such bodies of men and
women as this and feel that 1 have
exchanged ideas with them with the
utmost frankness Of which I was ca
pable. I have not come to paint pic
lures Of fancy. I have come to dis
close to you what I understand to be
facts and I want as much as possible
to get down to the very essence and
marrow Of the. things that we are now
talking about.
II therefore want to discuss with
you very frankly, indeed, just-.as
frankly as I know how. the diftculty
that has been suggested. because I
think. not in the spirit of criticism,
but in a spirit Of intended fairness,
that not n Of the qualifications
which has been suggested in this dis
cussion is justified by the language of
the instrument. !.
The Question of Withdrawal.
Let me take them one by me-. In
the first article Of the covenant Of the
League it is provided that any mem
Der state may withdraw from the
League upon two years notice. pro-
vided that at the time of withdrawal
1t has fulfilled its national obligations
and the obligations under the owe
nant. And gentlemen object that 1t is
not said who shall determine wheth-
er it has fulfilled its international OBJ
1j0otinra o~A tee ohli~n<f>-o ,,~1o- <ho
covenant or not. 9
Having sat at the table where the
instrument was drawn. I know that
cause that is a matter which no ma
ton a sit in judgment upon anoth-
er. That is left to the c~onsciences
and the Independent determination Of
the nation that Is Withdrawing. And
there is only one jury that it need
fear, and that is the great embodied
jury expressing opinions of mankind
(applause).
Guarding Against External Aggression
THE second duty, taking them in
order in which they come in the COW
enant itself, is Article x. Article x
says that il the promise to respect
and preserve as against external ag-
gression-I left those words out in
advertently-if the promise to respect
and preserve against external ag.
gression the trial integrity existing
the political independence Of the
members, peace is broken. Then the
council shall adv4se what Is to be
done.
II do not know any but one mean
ing for the word advise and 1 have
been very curious and interested to
learn how many other meanings can
be put into it. Inimy surprise l have
looked in the dictionary to be sure
that I was not mistaken, and So fal
as 1 can find out. advise lei 'ad-
wise and more than that, and more
interesting than that, the advice can
vote of the United States (applause),
Unanimity Is Essential.
There must be a unanimous de-
ctsion Of the council before there il
advice. And the United states is q
lation OF the League itself. 4 member
now and always q member. So thai
neither the United States nor any
other country can.be advised to 60 tx
wa for the redemption OF that prom.
ise without the concurrent amrrnA-
tive vote OF the Tilted States. CAP.
plause).
And yet / hear gentlemen say thai
this ID ar invaAon OF our sovereignty
Why, my fellow citizens. IL It 10 any,
thtng. It is an e~xasgerattonr OF our
ereignty in a way to put = veto OF
that advice being given to anything
Our present sovereignty merely makes
4 choice ~ 10 whether Va Will go Il
war or not. But this extends oul
s3veralgnty to saying whether othel