Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-10-11
White House Makes
Public Alleged Official
Version OF Wilson's
Speech At Paris Meet
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OpeeCn Al FarlS meet
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Associated powers guarantee to main
tain them. 1t is perfectly evident,
upon a moments reflection. that the
chief burden of their maintenance
Will fall upon the greater powers. The
chief burden of the war fell upon the
greater powers. and if it had not been
for their action. their military action,
we would not be here to settle these
questions. And, therefore, we must
not close our eyes to the fact that in
the last analysis the military and
naval strength of the great powers
will. be the final guarantee Of the
peace of the world.
Would Be Unjust.
I'm those circumstances is it un-
reasonable and unjust that, not as
dictators, but as, friends the great
power should say to their associates:
We cannot afford to guarantee
territorial settlements which we do
not believe to be right, and we cam
not agree to leave elements of dis
turbance unremoved. which we be-
l!eve will disturb the peace Of the
world
Take the rights of minorities.
Nothing, ! venture to say, is more
likely to disturb the peace of the
world than the treatment which
might in certain circumstances be
meted out to minorities. And, there
fore, If the great powers are to guar
antee the peace of the world in any
sense is it unjust that they should be
satisfied that the proper and neces-
sary guarantees have been given?
Il beg our friends from Rumania
n Serbia to remember that while
Rumania and Serbia are ancient SOW
ereignties. the settlements of this con-
ference are greatly adding to their
territories. You cannot in one part of
our transactions treat Serbia alone
in all of the other parts treat
the kingdom of the Serbs, the Croats
n n Slovenes as a different entity
Tor they are seeking the recognition
o. inns conference as a single entity
ana IL this conference is going to rec
osn!ze these various powers as new
sovereignties within definite terri
tories, the chief guarantees are en-
Titled to be satisfied that the terri
torlal settlements are of a character
10 De permanent, and that the guaran-
tees given are, of a character to en-
sure the peace of the world.
1T is not, therefore. the interview
ions OF hose who would interfere,
put the action of those who would
help. l beg that our friends will take
thai view OF it, because I see no es-
cape from that view Of it.
'How can a power like the United
states, Tor example-for I can speak
for no other-after signing this
treaty, If it contains elements which
they do not believe will be perma-
nent, go three thousand miles away
across the sea and report to it's peo-
pie that it has made a settlement of
the peace of the world? 1t cannot do
SO. And yet. there underlies all of
THESE transactions, the expectation on
tne part, for example, OF .Rumania,
IN OF czecho-slovakia. and of Ser
ia, that IT any covenants of this set
tlement are not observed, the United
States will send her armies and her
navles to see that thy are observed.
Want Guarantees.
I'm those circumstances, it is un-
reasonable hat the United States
should insist upon being satisfied that
the settlements are correct? Observe
MI. Bratiano-and l speak of his sug-
seSt1ons With the utmost respect
suggested that we could not, so to saw.
invade the sovereignty of Rumania,
an ancient sovereignty, and make
certain prescriptions with regard to
the rights Of lminorities. But I beg
him to observe that he is overlooking
he fact that he is asking the sanction
OF the allied and Associated powers
for great additions of territory which
come to Rumania by the common vic
are either to say If we agree to
these additions of territory we have
the right to insist upon certain a
/. antees of peace
~ beg my friend. Mr.. Kramar, and
my friend, Mr.. Trumbic n my friend
Mr.. Bratiano, that l believe we should
feel that it is best to leave the words
which they have wished to omit in
the treaty, it is not because we want
lions but that we want the treaty to
accord to us the right Of judgment as
to whether those are things which we
can afford to guarantee.
Therefore the impressions with
which we should dispense ought to be
these. that we are all friends-of
course that goes without saying-but
that we must all be associates in a
common effort unless there is a COM
mon agreement Is to what the rights
and settlements are.
A Dangerous Idea.
Now if the agreement is a separate
agreement among groups of us, that
does not meet h obpect. If you
should adopt the language suggested
Ly tn" Czccho-Slovakian delegates
and the Serbian delegation-the Jugo
-Slovak delegation-that it should be
left to negotiation between the prin-
cipal Allied and Associated powers
and their several delegates, that
would mean that after this whole
conference is adjourned groups of
them would determine what is to be
the basis of the peace of the world.
It seems to me that that would be a
most dangerous idea to entertain, and,
therefore, l beg that we may part
with a sense not of interference with
each other. but of hearty and friend
ly cooperation Upon the only possible
basis of guarantee. Where the great
forces lies there must be the sane
ton Of peace. ,
II sometimes wish, in hearing an
argument like this, that l were the
representative of a small power so
that what l said might be robbed OF
any mistaken Significance, but I think
you will agree with me that the Unit
ed States has never shown any temper
of aggression anywhere n it lies in
the hearts of the people of the other
great powers, to form a common part
nership Of right, and to do service to
our associates, and no kind of dis