The sun., 1919-07-11


for their morale and their physical
safety.
THAT FIRST, never to be forgotten ac-
ton at Chateau Thierry had already
taken place. Our redoutable soldiers
and marines had already closed the
gap the enemy had succeeded in OPEN
ing for their advance upon Paris--and
already turned the tide of battle back
toward the frontiers of France and be-
gun tho rout that was TO save Europe
and the world. Thereafter the Germans
were to be always forced back. back.
were never to thrust successfully for
ward again. And yet there was no con-
fident hope.
Anxious men and women, leading
spirits Of France, attended the celebra-
ton OF the Fourth of July last year in
Paris out Of generous courtesy-with no
heart for festivity, little rest for hope.
But they came away with something
new at their hearts: They have them
selves told US so. The mere sight OF
our meh-of their vigor. of the conf
dence that showed itself in every move
ment OF their stalwart figures and every
turn OF their swinging march; in their
steady comprehending eyes and easy
discipline, in the indomitable air that
added spirit 10 everything they did
made every one who saw them that
memorable day realize that something
had happened that was much more than
mere incident in the fighting, some
thing very different from the mere ar
rival OF fresh troops.
"a great moral force had flung itself
Into the struggle. The fine physical force
OF those spirited men spoke of something
more than bodily vigor. They carried
the great ideals OF a free people at their
hearts and with that vision were un-
conquerable. Their very presence
brought reinsurance their fighting made
victory certain.
Our Troops Seen as Crusaders.
They were recognized as crusaders,
and as their thousands swelled to
millions their strength was seen to mean
salvation. And they were At men to
carry such a hope and make good the
assurance II forecast. Finer men never
went into battle. and their officers were
worthy OF them
This is not the occasion upon which
TO utter a eulogy of the armies America
sent to France, but perhaps since l am
speaking of their mission I may speak
also OF the pride I shared with every
American who saw or dealt with them
there. They were the sort of men
America would wish to be represented
by; the sort of men every American
would wish to claim as fellow country
men and comrades in a great cause.
They were terrible in battle and gentle
and helpful out of II. remembering the
mothers and the sisters, the wives and
the little children at home. They were
free men under arms. not forgetting
their Ideals OF duty In the midst OF tasks
or violence. / am proud to have had
the privilege OF being associated with
them and Of calling myself their leader.
But l speak now OF what they meant
TO the men by whose sides they fought
and to the people with whom they
mingled with such utter simplicity, as
friends who asked only to be OF service.
They were for all the visible embodi-
ment of America What they did made
America and all that she stood for
living reality in the thoughts not only
OF the people OF France but also of
tens of millions OF men and women
Throughout all the toiling nations Of a
world standing everywhere in peril of
its freedom and of the loss of every
thing 1t held dear, in deadly fear Chat
its bonds were never to be loosed, its
hopes forever to be Knocked and dis
appointed.
And tho cpmpulsion of what they
stood for was upon us who represented
America at the. peace table. II was our
duty TO see to II that every decision we
took part In contributed. so far as we
were able TO influence IT, to quiet the
fears and realize the hopes of the peo-
pies who had been living in that shadow,
the nations that had como by our as
sistance to their freedom. 1t was our
duty to do everything that II was within
our power to do to make the triumph
of freedom and of right a lasting
triumph in the assurance of which men
might everywhere live without fear.
Old EntansIements in the Way.
"Old entanglements of every kind
stood in the way-promises which Gov
ernments had made to one another in
the days when might and right were
confused and the power of the victor was
without restraint. engagements which
contemplated any dispositions OF terri
tory, any extensions OF sovereignty that
might seem to be TO the interest OF those
who had the power to insist upon them
had been entered into without thought OF
what people concerned might wish or
profit by and these could not always be
honorably brushed aside.
1T was not easy 10 graft the new
order of ideas on the old. and some OF
the fruits of the grating may. | fear,
for time be bitter But with very few
exceptions the men who sat with us at
the peace table desired as sincerely as
we did to get away from the bad in
fiucnces, the illegitimate purposes. the
drmoralizing ambitions, the international
counsels and eXpedients out of which the
sinister designs OF Germany had sprung
as natural growth.
1T had been our privilege to formulate
the principles which were accepted as
the basis OF the peace. but they had
in to hasten and assure the victory and
Insisted upon them but because they
were readily acceded TO as Ire principles
to which honorable and enlightened
minds everywhere had been bred. They
spoke the conscience OF the world as well
as the conscience OF America, and am
happy to pay my tribute OF respect and
gratitude TO the able, forward looking
men with whom II was my privilege to
cooperate for their unfailing spirit of CO.
operation, their constant effort to ac-
commodate the interests they repre-
scented to The principles we were all
agreed upon
1.-THE difficulties. which were many, lay
In the circumstances. not often in the
men. Almost without exception the me n
who led had caught the true and full
vision of the problem OF peace as an in
divislble whole, problem not OF mere
adjustments OF interest but OF justice
and right action.
Atmosphere OF Conference. ,
THE atmosphere in which the confer