The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-06-20

They desired a place that was
not exceptional, but in the. ranks
of free peoples under all govern
ments. 1 honored this instinct in
them, and it was for that reason
that the first time I had occasion
to speak of what the war might
accomplish for Belgium I spoke
OF her winning a place of equality
among the nations.
So Belgium has. so to say, once
more come into her own through
this deep valley Of suffering
through which she has gone; not
only that, but her cause has linked
the governments of the civilized
world together, as II instinctively,
into league of rights.
They have put the whole power
OF organized mankind behind this
conception of justice, which is COM
mon to mankind.
That is the significance, gentle
men, Of the League of Nations. The
League OF Nations was an inevita-
bic consequence of this war. 1t
was a league of rights, and no
thoughtful statesman who let his
thoughts run into the future could
wish for moment to sIacken those
bonds.
An Appeal to Conscience.
His first thought would be to
strengthen them and to perpetuate
this combination of the great gov
ernments OF the world for the
maintenance of justice. The league
of nations is a child of this great
war. for it is the expression OF
those prevalent reasons which
grew out Of the temporary necessi-
ties of this great struggle, and any
natlon which declines to adhere to
this covenant deliberately turns
away from the most telling appeal
that has ever been made to its con-
science and to its manhood.
The nation that wishes to use
the League Of Nations for its con-
venience and not for the service
Of the rest of the world deliber-
ately chooses to turn back to those
bad days Of selfish contest in which
every nation thought first and al
ways Of itself and not of its
neighbors; thought of its rights
and forgot its duties; thought of
its power and overlooked its re-
sponsibility.
Moral Power Win Rule.
Those bad days, hope, are
gone, and the great moral power,
backed, If need be, by the great
physical power of the civilized
nations of the world, will now
stand firm for the maintenance of
the fine partnership which we
have thus inaugurated.
1t cannot be otherwise. Perhaps
the conscience of some cnancellories
was asleep, and the outrage of Ger
many awakened it You cannot see
one great nation violate every prin-
ciple Of right without beginning to
know what the principles OF right
are, and to love them, and to de-
spiSe those who violate them, and to
form the firm resolve that such
a violation shall now te punished
and in the future be prevented.
These are the feelings with which
I have come to Belgium, and it has
been my thought to propose to the
Congress of the United States as a
recognition. as q welcome, OF Be-
GUM into her new status of COM
plete independence, to- raise the
mission Of the United States Of
America to Belgium to the rank Of
an embassy and send an ambassa-
dor.
FriendshIp In the Future.
This is the rank which Belgium
enjoys in our esteem. Why should
she not enjoy it in form and in fact?
So, gentlemen, we turn to the fu-
ture. NJ. Hymans has spoken in
true terms Of the necessities that
lie ahead of Belgium and of many
another nation that has come Q
through this great war.
We have shown Belgium, in the
forms which he has been generous
enough to recite, our friendship in
the past 1t is now our duty to or
ganize our friendship along new
lines. The Belgian people and the
Belgian leaders need only the tools
to restore their life. Their thoughts
are not crushed. their purposes are
not obscured. their plans are COM
plete, and their knowledge Of what
Is involved in industrial revival is
complete.
What her friends must do is to
see to 1t that Belgium gets the
necessary priority with regard to
obtaining raw materials, the neces-
sary priority in obtaining the
means to restore the machinery by
which she can use these raw mate
rails, and the credit by which she
can bridge over the years which it
will be necessary for her to wait to
begin again.
Tasks for Business Men.
These are not so much tasks for
governments as they are tasks for
thoughtful business men and finan-
ciers, and those who are producers
in other countries. 1t is a question
Of shipping, also, but the shipping
of the world will be relieved of it's
burdens OF troops in a compare
lively near future and there will be
new bottoms in which to carry the
cargoes, and the cargoes ought
readily TO impeI the master of the
ship to steer for Belgian ports.
believe, after having consulted
many times with my very compe-
tent advisers, in the matter that an
organized method OF accomplishing
these things can be found. 1t is a
matter Of almost daily discussion in
Paris, and / believe that as we dis
cuss il from day to day we come
nearer and nearer to a workable
solution and a probable plan.
l hope not only, but / believe,
that such a plan will be found, and
you may be sure that all America
will be pleased. l will not say more
than any other friend of Belgium,
but as much as any other friend Of
Belgium.
This is the healing peace OF