New-York tribune., 1919-01-21
Wilson Calls
Peril TO France
Peril TO World
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Continued from page
the Premiers of Italy, Rumania an,
Czecho-Slovakia, while next to Presi
dent Poincare We're the Premiers O
Greece, Serbia and China OPPOSITE
sat Premier Clcmenceau and the For
elgn Ministers of nations from al
parts of the world.
The American guests included Sec
retary OF State Lansing, Henry White
General Tasker H. Bliss, Rear Admira
Grayson, Brgadier General William
W. Harris, Robert Woods Bliss, Amer
can Charge d'Affaires, and Presiden
wilson's two stenographers.
President Wilson Speaks
President Wilson, addressing NJ. pu
bost and President Poincare, said:
Mr.. President of the Senate; Mr..
President Of the Republics: You have
>made me feel your welcome in words
as generous as they are delightful,
and | feel that you have gracously
called me your friend. May l not in
turn call this company company of
my friends, for everything that you
have so finely said, sir, has been cor
roborated in every circumstance of
our visit to this country? Everywhere
we have been welcomed not only, but
welcomed in the spirit and with the
same thought, until it has seemed as
If the spirits of the two countries
came together in an unusual and
beautiful accord.
1--WE know the long period of peril
through which France has gone.
France thought us remote in compre-
henslon and sympathy, and | dare
say there were times when we did
not comprehend, as you compre-
hended, the danger in the presence of
which the world stood. There was no
time when we did not know how near
it was. and | fully understand, sir,
that throughout these trying years,
when mankind has waited for the
catastrophe, the anxiety of France
must have been the deepest and most
constant Of all, for she did stand at
the frontier Of freedom. She had
carved out her own fortunes through
long period of eager struggle. She
had done great things in building up
a great, new France. And just across
the border, separated from her only
by a few Notifications and little
country whose neutrality, it has
turned out, the enemy did not re-
spect, lay the shadow cast by the
cloud which enveloped Germany, the
cloud of intrigue, the cloud of dark
purpose, the cloud of sinister design.
This shadow lay at the very borders
of France.
France Did Not Tremble
"And yet, it is fine to remember
here that for France this was not
only peril, but challenge France
did not tremble. France quietly and
IN her own way prepared her sons for
the struggle that was coming. She
never took the initiative or did a
single thing that was aggressive. She
had prepared herself for defence, not
in order to impose her will upon 9TH
or people. She had preared herself
that no other eople might impose its
will upon her.
"As | stand with you, and as I mix
with the delightful people of this
country l see this in their thoughts:
America always was our friend.
/ Now she understands. Now she com
prehends, and now she has come to
bring us this message; and that, un-
derstanding, she will always be ready
to help and while, as you say, sir,
this danger may prove to be con-
! tlnulng danger, while it is true
/ that France will always be near
est this threat if we cannot turn it
from threat into promise, there
are many elements that ought to re-
!. assure France.
New Awakened World
There is a new, awakened world.
1t is not ahead of US, but around us.
1t knows that it's dearest interests
are involved in it standing together
Tor common purpose. 1t knows that
the peril of France, if it continues.
will be the peril of the world 1t
knows that not only France must or
ganlze against this peril, but that the
world must organize against it,
$50 | see in these welcomes not
only hospitality, not only kindness,
not only hope, but a purpose, a defn-
J lite, clearly defined purpose, that men.
understanding one another, must now
support one another and that all the
sons OF freedom are under a common
oath to sec that freedom never suf
fers this danger again That, to NV
mind, ls the impressive element of
this welcome. l know how much of
1t, sir, and know how little of it. To
appropriate to myself.
Delights in Welcome
II know that have tho very
distinguished honor to represent a
nation whose heart is in this bust
ness, and am proud to speak for the
! people whom | represent. But knou,